2025 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team

2025 Eastern Illinois Panthers football
ConferenceOVC–Big South
Record3–9 (2–6 OVC–Big South)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorKyle Derickson (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorAndrew Strobel (1st season)
Home stadiumO'Brien Field
2025 OVC–Big South football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 6 Tennessee Tech $^   8 – 0     11 – 2  
UT Martin   6 – 2     6 – 6  
Gardner–Webb   5 – 3     7 – 5  
Lindenwood   5 – 3     6 – 6  
Charleston Southern   4 – 4     5 – 7  
Southeast Missouri State   3 – 5     4 – 8  
Western Illinois   3 – 5     4 – 8  
Eastern Illinois   2 – 6     3 – 8  
Tennessee State   0 – 8     2 – 10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2025 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team represented Eastern Illinois University as a member of the OVC–Big South Football Association during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Panthers were led by fourth-year head coach Chris Wilkerson and played their home games at O'Brien Field located in Charleston, Illinois.

Offseason

Preseason poll

The Big South-OVC Conference released their preseason poll on July 16, 2025. The Panthers were picked to finish sixth in the conference.[1]

Transfers

Outgoing

Player Position Destination
Kaelin Drakeford DB Chattanooga
Nick Coates S Chattanooga
Nijhay Burt DB Michigan State
Elijawah Tolbert LB Montana
Jacob Horvath P North Carolina
Drew Wilder OL Tennessee Tech
MJ Flowers RB UConn
Cody Silzer DE Winona State
Aaron Rice WR Unknown
Joshua Johnson OL Unknown
Malik Rainey DB Unknown

Incoming

Player Position Previous school
Jordan Yandila OL Adams State
Charles Kellom RB Akron
Jack Tremblay WR Central Michigan
James Collins DL College of the Sequoias
Jerry Addo-Boateng DB Defiance
Noah Williams LB Dodge City
Aaron Rice P DuPage
Mason Miller P Marian (IN)
Jefferson McKinnon LS Marist
Nick Vecchiarelli S Marist
Bruce Mitchell S Mississippi Valley State
Kefa Pereira DL Monterey Peninsula
Jihad McCall S Morehead State
Steven Arteaga LB Palomar
Dante Thompson OL Robert Morris
Brandon Worsley DB San Diego Mesa
Jesse Lajes RB San Jose City
Jourden Hale-Frater OL Tennessee State
Knowledge Davis DL Tyler
Cole LaCrue QB Wisconsin

[2][3][4][5]

Recruiting class

Name Position Height Weight Hometown High School
Kennyan Chandler LB 5-10 230 Kankakee, IL Kankakee
Michael Curry RB 5-10 180 Louisville, KY Atherton
Brady Ford QB 6-0 195 Toledo, OH Whitmer
Tyler Fortis DL 6-2 265 Park Ridge, IL Maine South
Dejan Guzina OL 6-8 345 Delta, B.C. (Canada) Football North Canada
Davian Humphrey LB 6-1 200 Chicago, IL Phillips
Carlyun Neal WR 5-11 180 Cincinnati, OH Withrow
Le'Javier Payne DB 5-8 170 Chicago, IL Chicago Mt. Carmel
Jett Reese LB 6-2 220 Chicago, IL DePaul College Prep
Barron Sholl DL 6-4 240 Rockford, IL Boylan Central Catholic
Cale Kimbro LB 6-1 205 Mattoon, IL Mattoon
Brock VanDeveer LB 6-1 210 Mahomet, IL Mahomet-Seymour

[6][7]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 286:00 p.m.Dayton*
ESPN+W 24–146,775
September 612:00 p.m.at Indiana State*
ESPN+L 14–385,281
September 132:00 p.m.No. 7 Illinois State*
ESPN+L 30–426,720
September 273:00 p.m.at Western Illinois
ESPN+W 31–232,183
October 42:00 p.m.Tennessee State
  • O'Brien Field
  • Charleston, IL
ESPN+W 31–73,315
October 112:00 p.m.Gardner–Webb
  • O'Brien Field
  • Charleston, IL
ESPN+L 10–216,085
October 182:00 p.m.at Southeast Missouri State
ESPN+L 13–425,076
October 251:00 p.m.at Charleston Southern
ESPN+L 16–173,891
November 12:00 p.m.UT Martin
  • O'Brien Field
  • Charleston, IL
ESPN+L 20–27 OT4,017
November 812:00 p.m.No. 5 Tennessee Tech
  • O'Brien Field
  • Charleston, IL
ESPN+L 9–212,266
November 152:00 p.m.at Lindenwood
ESPN+L 12–424,968
November 221:00 p.m.at No. 10 (FBS) Alabama*
SECN+/ESPN+L 0–56100,077
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[8]

Game summaries

vs. Dayton

See also: 2025 Dayton Flyers football team
Game One – Dayton Flyers (0–0) at Eastern Illinois Panthers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Flyers 7 0 0714
Panthers 0 3 71424

at O'Brien Field • Charleston, IL

  • Date: Saturday August 28, 2025
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny, 80 °F (27 °C)
  • Game attendance: 6.775
  • Referee: Chris Brison
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Mike Bradd (play-by-play), Dave Kidwell (analyst) and Kaylee Unruh (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
  • (9:55) DAY – Gavin Lochow 48 yard pass from Bryce Schondelmyer, Robby Smart kick (Drive: 6 plays, 70 yards, 3:02; DAY 7–0)
Second quarter
  • (6:12) EIU – Drew Schiller 25 yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 62 yards, 5:24; DAY 7–3)
Third quarter
  • (6:03) EIU – Cole LaCrue 11 yard run, Drew Schiller kick (Drive: 11 plays, 92 yards, 4:48; EIU 10–7)
Fourth quarter
  • (10:26) EIU – Cole LaCrue 1 yard run, Drew Schiller kick (Drive: 4 plays, 52 yards, 1:43; EIU 17–7)
  • (9:31) DAY – Michael Mussari 67 yard pass from Bryce Schondelmyer, Robby Smart kick (Drive: 2 plays, 76 yards, 0:49; EIU 17–14)
  • (2:15) EIU – Cole LaCrue 6 yard run, Drew Schiller kick (Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 7:16; EIU 24–14)
Statistics DAY EIU
First downs 9 25
Total yards 292 465
Rushing yards 31 336
Passing yards 261 129
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–31–0 9–18–1
Time of possession 19:43 40:17
Team Category Player Statistics
Dayton Passing Bryce Schondelmyer 17/31, 261 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Mason Hackett 8 carries, 24 yards
Receiving Gavin Lochow 6 receptions, 124 yards, 1 TD
Eastern Illinois Passing Cole LaCrue 9/17, 129 yards, 1 INT
Rushing Cole LaCrue 26 carries, 193 yards, 3 TD
Receiving DeAirious Smith 2 receptions, 58 yards

at Indiana State

See also: 2025 Indiana State Sycamores football team
Game Two – Eastern Illinois Panthers (1–0) at Indiana State Sycamores (1–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 0 000
Sycamores 0 0 000

at Memorial Stadium • Terre Haute, IN

  • Date: Saturday September 6, 2025
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m.
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Joey O'Rourke (play-by-play) and Jim Leisure (analyst)
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics EIU INST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Eastern Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Indiana State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

vs. No. 7 Illinois State (Mid-America Classic)

See also: 2025 Illinois State Redbirds football team and Mid-America Classic
Game Three – Illinois State Redbirds (1–1) at Eastern Illinois Panthers (1–1) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 7 Redbirds 7 14 71442
Panthers 0 10 02030

at Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL

  • Date: Saturday September 13, 2025
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: • Temperature: 91 °F (33 °C) • Wind: S at 12 miles per hour (19 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 6,720
  • Referee: Drew Myers
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Mike Bradd (play-by-play), Dave Kidwell (analyst) and Kaylee Unruh (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics ILST EIU
First downs 24 20
Total yards 485 446
Rushing yards 186 35
Passing yards 299 411
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–35–0 28–44–2
Time of possession 30:30 29:30
Team Category Player Statistics
Illinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 24/35, 299 yards, 3 TD
Rushing Wenkers Wright 14 carries, 94 yards, 3 TD
Receiving Luke Mailander 5 receptions, 109 yards, TD
Eastern Illinois Passing Connor Wolf 28/44, 411 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Charles Kellom 15 carries, 22 yards
Receiving CJ Nelson 7 receptions, 194 yards, 2 TD

at Western Illinois

See also: 2025 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team
Game Four – Eastern Illinois Panthers (1–2) at Western Illinois Leathernecks (1–3) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 7 14 01031
Leathernecks 0 6 10723

at Hanson Field • Macomb, IL

  • Date: Saturday September 27, 2025
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m.
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Russ Eisenstein (play-by-play), Aiden Dersien (analyst) and Caden Strenz (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics EIU WIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Eastern Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Western Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving

vs. Tennessee State

See also: 2025 Tennessee State Tigers football team
Game Five – Tennessee State Tigers (1–3) at Eastern Illinois Panthers (2–2) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Tigers 0 0 077
Panthers 7 10 7731

at O'Brien Field • Charleston, IL

  • Date: Saturday October 4, 2025
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m.
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Mike Bradd (play-by-play), Dave Kidwell (analyst) and Kaylee Unruh (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics TNST EIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Tennessee State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Eastern Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving

vs. Gardner–Webb

See also: 2025 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team
Game Six – Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (3–2) at Eastern Illinois Panthers (3–2) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Runnin' Bulldogs 7 14 0021
Panthers 0 3 7010

at O'Brien Field • Charleston, IL

  • Date: Saturday October 11, 2025
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m.
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics GWEB EIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Gardner–Webb Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Eastern Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Southeast Missouri State

See also: 2025 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team
Game Seven – Eastern Illinois Panthers (3–3) at Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (2–4) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 0 000
Redhawks 0 0 000

at Houck Stadium • Cape Girardeau, MO

  • Date: Saturday October 18, 2025
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m.
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics EIU SEMO
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Eastern Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Southeast Missouri State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Charleston Southern

See also: 2025 Charleston Southern Buccaneers football team
Game Eight – Eastern Illinois Panthers (3–4) at Charleston Southern Buccaneers (2–6) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 0 000
Buccaneers 0 0 000

at Buccaneer Field • North Charleston, SC

  • Date: Saturday October 25, 2025
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics EIU CHSO
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Eastern Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Charleston Southern Passing
Rushing
Receiving

vs. UT Martin

See also: 2025 UT Martin Skyhawks football team
Game Nine – UT Martin Skyhawks (3–5) at Eastern Illinois Panthers (3–5) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Skyhawks 0 0 000
Panthers 0 0 000

at O'Brien Field • Charleston, IL

  • Date: Saturday November 1, 2025
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m.
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics UTM EIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
UT Martin Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Eastern Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving

vs. No. 5 Tennessee Tech

See also: 2025 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles football team
Game Ten – No. 5 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (9–0) at Eastern Illinois Panthers (3–6) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 5 Golden Eagles 0 0 000
Panthers 0 0 000

at O'Brien Field • Charleston, IL

  • Date: Saturday November 8, 2025
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m.
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics TNTC EIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Tennessee Tech Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Eastern Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Lindenwood

See also: 2025 Lindenwood Lions football team
Game Eleven – Eastern Illinois Panthers (0–0) at Lindenwood Lions (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 0 000
ions 0 0 000

at Harlen C. Hunter Stadium • St. Charles, MO

  • Date: Saturday November 15, 2025
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m.
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Statistics EIU LIN
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Eastern Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Lindenwood Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at No. 10 (FBS) Alabama

See also: 2025 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
Game Twelve – Eastern Illinois Panthers (3–8) at No. 10 (FBS) Alabama Crimson Tide (8–2) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 0 000
No. 10 (FBS) Crimson Tide 14 14 141456

at Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL

  • Date: Saturday November 22, 2025
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny, 77 °F (25 °C)
  • Game attendance: 100,077
  • Referee: Lee Hedrick
  • TV announcers (SECN+/ESPN+): Jay Alter (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst) and Tori Petry (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
  • ALA - Jam Miller 1-yard run (Conor Talty kick), 9:45. Crimson Tide 7-0. Drive: 8 plays, 46 yards, 3:09.
  • ALA - Daniel Hill 7-yard run (Conor Talty kick), 4:49. Crimson Tide 14-0. Drive: 5 plays, 38 yards, 2:43.
Second quarter
  • ALA - Kevin Riley 1-yard run (Conor Talty kick), 10:04. Crimson Tide 21-0. Drive: 8 plays, 64 yards, 4:48.
  • ALA - Kevin Riley 2-yard run (Peter Notaro kick), 1:05. Crimson Tide 28-0. Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:16.
Third quarter
  • ALA - AK Dear 1-yard run (Conor Talty kick), 11:03. Crimson Tide 35-0. Drive: 8 plays, 59 yards, 3:53.
  • ALA - Austin Mack 20-yard run (Conor Talty Kick), 1:05. Crimson Tide 42-0. Drive: 2 plays, 40 yards, 0:47.
Fourth quarter
  • ALA - Richard Young 2-yard run (Reid Schuback kick), 7:34. Crimson Tide 49-0. Drive: 13 plays, 65 yards, 6:45.
  • ALA - AK Dear 5-yard run (Tucker Cornelius kick), 1:15. Crimson Tide 56-0. Drive: 7 plays, 53 yards, 3:41.
Statistics EIU ALA
First downs 2 32
Total yards 34 539
Rushing yards 14 269
Passing yards 20 270
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 4–9–1 23–30–2
Time of possession 21:51 38:09
Team Category Player Statistics
Eastern Illinois Passing Connor Wolf 4/8, 20 yards
Rushing Charles Kellom 14 carries, 25 yards
Receiving Landers Green 1 reception, 15 yards
Alabama Passing Ty Simpson 11/16, 147 yards, 2 INT
Rushing Jam Miller 11 carries, 62 yards, TD
Receiving Jaylen Mbakwe 2 receptions, 39 yards

References

  1. ^ "Tennessee Tech Voted 2025 Preseason OVC-Big South Football Association Favorite". www.bigsouthovcfootball.com. July 16, 2025. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  2. ^ "2025 FCS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports. December 16, 2024.
  3. ^ "2025 FBS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports. December 16, 2024.
  4. ^ "2025 FCS-to-FBS Transfers". herosports. December 14, 2024.
  5. ^ "Football Adds 16 Mid-Year Transfers To Roster". eiupanthers. January 21, 2025. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  6. ^ "Football Adds Ten On December Signing Day". eiupanthers. December 18, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  7. ^ "Football Adds Two On February Signing Day". eiupanthers. February 5, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  8. ^ "2025 Eastern Illinois Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
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