# Illinois State Redbirds football

The Illinois State Redbirds football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Illinois State University located in the U.S. state of Illinois. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). The school's first football team was fielded in 1887. The team plays its home games at the 13,391 seat Hancock Stadium. They are coached by Brock Spack.

## History

Prior to 1923, the Illinois State football team was known as the Teachers or Fighting Teachers. When Clifford E. Horton began coaching the team in 1923, he proposed the Cardinals as the team's new nickname, after its red and white colors. The Pantagraph sports editor Fred Young changed the name to the Redbirds to distinguish the team from the nearby St. Louis Cardinals.

### Classifications

* 1906–1956: None
* 1956–1972: NCAA College Division (Small College)
* 1973–1975: NCAA Division II
* 1976–1977: NCAA Division I
* 1978–1981: NCAA Division I–A
* 1982–2006: NCAA Division I–AA
* 2006–present: NCAA Division I FCS

### Conference memberships

* 1887–1907: Independent
* 1908–1949: Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
* 1950–1969: Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
* 1970–1972: Independent
* 1973–1975: Division II Independent
* 1976–1977: Division I Independent
* 1978–1980: Division I–A Independent
* 1981–1985: Missouri Valley Conference
* 1986–present: Gateway Football Conference/Missouri Valley Football Conference

## Conference championships

Illinois State has won 10 conference titles, four outright.
| Year | Conference | Coach | Overall record | Conference record |
| 1937† | Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Howard Hancock | 5–1–2 | 3–1–1 |
| 1940 | Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Howard Hancock | 5–3–1 | 3–0–1 |
| 1941† | Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Howard Hancock | 3–4–1 | 3–0–1 |
| 1945 | Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Edwin Struck | 4–3 | 3–0 |
| 1950 | Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Edwin Struck | 7–1–2 | 5–0–1 |
| 1967† | Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Larry Bitcon | 8–2 | 2–1 |
| 1968† | Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Larry Bitcon | 6–4 | 2–1 |
| 1999 | Missouri Valley Football Conference | Todd Berry | 11–3 | 6–0 |
| 2014† | Missouri Valley Football Conference | Brock Spack | 13–2 | 7–1 |
| 2015† | Missouri Valley Football Conference | Brock Spack | 10–3 | 7–1 |
† Co-championship

## Postseason appearances
### NCAA Division I-AA/FCS playoffs

The Redbirds have made nine appearances in the Division I–AA/FCS playoffs, with a combined record of 11–9.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1998 | First Round | Northwestern State | L 28–48 |
| 1999 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals | Colgate Hofstra Georgia Southern | W 56–13 W 37–20 L 17–31 |
| 2006 | First Round Quarterfinals | Eastern Illinois Youngstown State | W 24–13 L 21–28 |
| 2012 | Second Round Quarterfinals | Appalachian State Eastern Washington | W 38–37 $^{OT}$ L 35–51 |
| 2014 | Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship | Northern Iowa Eastern Washington New Hampshire North Dakota State | W 41–21 W 59–46 W 21–18 L 27–29 |
| 2015 | Second Round Quarterfinals | Western Illinois Richmond | W 36–19 L 27–39 |
| 2016 | First Round | Central Arkansas | L 24–31 |
| 2019 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals | Southeast Missouri State Central Arkansas North Dakota State | W 24–6 W 24–14 L 3–9 |
| 2024 | First Round Second Round | Southeast Missouri State UC Davis | W 35–27 L 10–42 |

## Bowl games

Illinois State has one bowl appearance, going 0-1.
| Year | Coach | Bowl | Opponent | Result |
| 1950 | Edwin Struck | Corn Bowl | Missouri-Rolla | L 6–7 |

## Wins over FBS teams

| Season | Opponent | Result |
| 1987 | Western Michigan | 20–6 |
| 1991 | Akron | 25–3 |
| 2012 | Eastern Michigan | 31–14 |
| 2016 | Northwestern | 9–7 |
| 2018 | Colorado State | 35–19 |

## Head coaches

| Years | Name |
| 1895 | George Dygert |
| 1896 | Louis H. Galbreath |
| 1897 | B. C. Edwards |
| 1903–1906 | John P. Stewart |
| 1907 | John A. H. Keith |
| 1908–1909 | George Binnewies |
| 1912–1922 | Harrison Russell |
| 1923–1924 | Clifford E. Horton |
| 1925–1926 | Don Karnes |
| 1927–1930 | Joe Cogdal |
| 1931–1944 | Howard Hancock |
| 1945–1964 | Edwin Struck |
| 1965–1971 | Larry Bitcon |
| 1972–1976 | Gerry Hart |
| 1977–1980 | Charlie Cowdrey |
| 1981–1987 | Bob Otolski |
| 1988–1995 | Jim Heacock |
| 1996–1999 | Todd Berry |
| 2000–2008 | Denver Johnson |
| 2009–present | Brock Spack |

## Rivalries
### Eastern Illinois

The Mid-America Classic is the rivalry game between Illinois State and Eastern Illinois. The rivalry began in 1901 and is the oldest in the state of Illinois. With the 100th game in the series, representatives from both schools met and developed the Mid-America Classic renaming for the rivalry. The two schools also collaborated on a traveling trophy, which holds plaques with the results of the previous 100 games in the series and has room for results of future games in the series. The two teams have played 111 times in total, with Illinois State holding a 59–43–9 advantage in the all-time series as of the 2023 season.

## National award winners

Mosi Tatupu Award
* Ryan Hoffman, 2005
The Mosi Tatupu Award was given annually to the College Football Special Teams Player of the Year by the Maui Quarterback Club and the Hula Bowl, from 1997 to 2006.
Buck Buchanan Award
* Zeke Vandenburgh, 2023
The Buck Buchanan Award is given annually to the College Football Best Defensive Player in the FCS by Stats Perform, from 1995 to present.

## Notable former players

Notable alumni include:
* B. J. Bello
* Duane Butler
* Aveion Cason
* Luke Drone
* Kevin Glenn
* Boomer Grigsby
* Chris Faletto
* Jim Fitzpatrick
* Larry Fitzpatrick
* Davontae Harris
* Shelby Harris
* Brent Hawkins
* Estus Hood
* Jason Johnson
* Andy King
* John Kropke
* Cameron Meredith
* Jim Meyer
* Matthew Goldsmith (CFL)
* Tom Nelson
* James O'Shaughnessy
* Nate Palmer
* Mike Prior
* Tre Roberson
* James Robinson
* Laurent Robinson
* Joe Vodicka
* Cody White
* Mike Zimmer
* Colton Underwood
* Michael Liedtke

## Redbirds drafted into the NFL

| Draft Year | Player | Position | Round | Overall | NFL Team |
| 2018 | Davontae Harris | CB | 5 | 151 | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 2015 | James O'Shaughnessy | TE | 5 | 173 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 2014 | Shelby Harris | DE | 7 | 235 | Oakland Raiders |
| 2013 | Nate Palmer | LB | 6 | 193 | Green Bay Packers |
| 2007 | Laurent Robinson | WR | 3 | 75 | Atlanta Falcons |
| 2006 | Brent Hawkins | DE | 5 | 160 | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| 2005 | Boomer Grigsby | LB | 5 | 138 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1990 | Bill Miller | WR | 10 | 258 | Detroit Lions |
| 1986 | Jim Meyer | T | 7 | 167 | Cleveland Browns |
| 1985 | Mike Prior | DB | 7 | 176 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 1984 | Clarence Collins | WR | 3 | 62 | San Diego Chargers |
| 1978 | Estus Hood | DB | 3 | 62 | Green Bay Packers |
| 1976 | Calvin Harper | T | 6 | 172 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1973 | Ron Bell | RB | 6 | 140 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1970 | Guy Homoly | DB | 15 | 385 | Cleveland Browns |
| 1969 | Dennis Nelson | T | 3 | 77 | Baltimore Colts |

## Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of February 28, 2025.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 |
| at Oklahoma | at Northern Illinois | at Missouri | Eastern Illinois | at Wisconsin |
| Morehead State | Eastern Illinois | at Eastern Illinois | at Illinois | |
| at Eastern Illinois | | | | |
| North Alabama | | | | |