The 2026 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team represents Eastern Illinois University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Panthers are led by fifth-year head coach Chris Wilkerson and play their home games at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois.
Schedule
Game summaries
at Murray State
Statistics EIUMUR First downs 20 18 Plays–yards 65–368 66–320 Rushes–yards 47–267 26–63 Passing yards 101 257 Passing: comp–att–int 11–18–0 26–40–2 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 33:11 26:49 Team Category Player Statistics Eastern Illinois Passing Cole LaCrue 11/18, 101 yards, TD Rushing Charles Kellom 19 carries, 171 yards, 3 TD Receiving Samuel Gonzalez 3 receptions, 50 yards Murray State Passing Collin Shannon 26/40, 257 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Mykel Allen 10 carries, 54 yards Receiving Tyrell Campbell 5 receptions, 66 yards
at Minnesota (FBS)
Statistics EIUMINN First downs 4 24 Plays–yards 43–110 71–495 Rushes–yards 28–51 38–147 Passing yards 59 348 Passing: comp–att–int 9–15–0 26–33–0 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 23:39 36:21 Team Category Player Statistics Eastern Illinois Passing Cole LaCrue 7/12, 51 yards, TD Rushing Cole LaCrue 5 carries, 22 yards Receiving Tyren Buggs 2 receptions, 38 yards, TD Minnesota Passing Drake Lindsey 19/24, 264 yards, TD Rushing Darius Taylor 14 carries, 56 yards, 3 TD Receiving Javon Tracy 5 receptions, 98 yards
Indiana State
Statistics INSTEIU First downs 26 20 Plays–yards 71–492 66–466 Rushes–yards 37–208 32–184 Passing yards 284 282 Passing: comp–att–int 21–34–1 20–34–0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 29:56 30:04 Team Category Player Statistics Indiana State Passing Elijah Owens 21/33, 284 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Elijah Owens 17 carries, 98 yards, 2 TD Receiving BJ Wuest 6 receptions, 142 yards, TD Eastern Illinois Passing Cole LaCrue 20/34, 282 yards, 3 TD Rushing Charles Kellom 14 carries, 106 yards, TD Receiving Samuel Gonzalez 4 receptions, 78 yards
at No. 5 Illinois State (Mid-America Classic)
Statistics EIUILST First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Eastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Illinois State Passing Rushing Receiving
at No. 2 South Dakota State
Statistics EIUSDST First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Eastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving South Dakota State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Gardner–Webb
Statistics EIUGWEB First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Eastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Gardner–Webb Passing Rushing Receiving
Lindenwood
Statistics LINEIU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Lindenwood Passing Rushing Receiving Eastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
Southeast Missouri State
Statistics SEMOEIU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Southeast Missouri State Passing Rushing Receiving Eastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at UT Martin
Statistics EIUUTM First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Eastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving UT Martin Passing Rushing Receiving
Western Illinois
Statistics WIUEIU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Western Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Eastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at Tennessee State
Statistics EIUTNST First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Eastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Tennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving
Charleston Southern
Statistics CHSOEIU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Charleston Southern Passing Rushing Receiving Eastern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
References