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.
Transfers Outgoing Kaelin DrakefordDBChattanoogaNick CoatesSChattanoogaNijhay BurtDBMichigan StateElijawah TolbertLBMontanaJacob HorvathPNorth CarolinaDrew WilderOLTennessee TechMJ FlowersRBUConnCody SilzerDEWinona StateAaron RiceWRUnknownJoshua JohnsonOLUnknownMalik RaineyDBUnknown
Incoming Jordan YandilaOLAdams StateCharles KellomRBAkronJack TremblayWRCentral MichiganJames CollinsDLCollege of the SequoiasJerry Addo-BoatengDBDefianceNoah WilliamsLBDodge CityAaron RicePDuPageMason MillerPMarian (IN)Jefferson McKinnonLSMaristNick VecchiarelliSMaristBruce MitchellSMississippi Valley StateKefa PereiraDLMonterey PeninsulaJihad McCallSMorehead StateSteven ArteagaLBPalomarDante ThompsonOLRobert MorrisBrandon WorsleyDBSan Diego MesaJesse LajesRBSan Jose CityJourden Hale-FraterOLTennessee StateKnowledge DavisDLTylerCole LaCrueQBWisconsin
Recruiting class
Kennyan Chandler LB 5-10 230 Kankakee, IL KankakeeMichael Curry RB 5-10 180 Louisville, KY AthertonBrady Ford QB 6-0 195 Toledo, OH WhitmerTyler Fortis DL 6-2 265 Park Ridge, IL Maine SouthDejan 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
Schedule
Game summaries vs. Dayton
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 StatisticsDayton Passing Bryce Schondelmyer 17/31, 261 yards, 2 TD Rushing Mason Hackett 8 carries, 24 yards Receiving Gavin Lochow 6 receptions, 124 yards, 1 TDEastern 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
Statistics EIU INST First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsEastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Indiana State Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. No. 7 Illinois State (Mid-America Classic)
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 StatisticsIllinois 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, TDEastern 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
Statistics EIU WIU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsEastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Western Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Tennessee State
Statistics TNST EIU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving Eastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Gardner–Webb
Statistics GWEB EIU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Rushing Receiving Eastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at Southeast Missouri State
Statistics EIU SEMO First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsEastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Southeast Missouri State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Charleston Southern
Statistics EIU CHSO First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsEastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Charleston Southern Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. UT Martin
Statistics UTM EIU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsUT Martin Passing Rushing Receiving Eastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. No. 5 Tennessee Tech
Statistics TNTC EIU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee Tech Passing Rushing Receiving Eastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at Lindenwood
Statistics EIU LIN First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsEastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Lindenwood Passing Rushing Receiving
at No. 10 (FBS) Alabama
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 StatisticsEastern Illinois Passing Connor Wolf 4/8, 20 yards Rushing Charles Kellom 14 carries, 25 yards Receiving Landers Green 1 reception, 15 yardsAlabama 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