The 2026 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team will represent Western Illinois University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Leathernecks will be led by third-year head coach Joe Davis and will play their home games at Hanson Field in Macomb, Illinois.
Schedule
Game Summaries
No. 24 (NAIA) Northwestern (IA)
Statistics NWCWIU First downs 9 28 Plays–yards 49–168 75–539 Rushes–yards 19–9 50–321 Passing yards 159 218 Passing: comp–att–int 17–30–2 20–25–1 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 23:35 36:25 Team Category Player Statistics Northwestern (IA) Passing Colby Duncan 15/28, 140 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Gardner Casey 2 carries, 9 yards Receiving Caleb Moore 6 receptions, 72 yards, TD Western Illinois Passing Kennedy McGill 15/17, 194 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kennedy McGill 15 carries, 98 yards, 3 TD Receiving Christian Anaya 5 receptions, 88 yards
No. 4 Illinois State
Statistics ILSTWIU First downs 29 15 Plays–yards 82–496 63–315 Rushes–yards 47–239 23–52 Passing yards 257 263 Passing: comp–att–int 16–35–1 23–40–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 34:11 25:49 Team Category Player Statistics Illinois State Passing Beckham Pellant 8/22, 132 yards, TD, INT Rushing Chase Kwiatkowski 4 carries, 76 yards Receiving Dylan Lord 5 receptions, 72 yards Western Illinois Passing Cason Carswell 9/18, 140 yards Rushing Josh Robinson 5 carries, 22 yards Receiving Christian Anaya 4 receptions, 78 yards
at Wisconsin (FBS)
Statistics WIUWIS First downs 15 16 Plays–yards 62–302 53–406 Rushes–yards 38–154 31–233 Passing yards 15–148 12–173 Passing: comp–att–int 15–24–0 12–22–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 34:57 25:03 Team Category Player Statistics Western Illinois Passing Kennedy McGill 13/22, 139 yards Rushing Kennedy McGill 18 carries, 88 yards Receiving Jacob Kania 2 receptions, 58 yards Wisconsin Passing Colton Joseph 12/22, 173 yards, TD Rushing Abu Sama 8 carries, 112 yards, TD Receiving Tyrell Henry 4 receptions, 91 yards
Morehead State
Statistics MOREWIU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Morehead State Passing Rushing Receiving Western Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at North Alabama
Statistics WIUUNA 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 North Alabama Passing Rushing Receiving
Tennessee State
Statistics TNSTWIU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Tennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving Western Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at Southeast Missouri State
Statistics WIUSEMO 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 Southeast Missouri State Passing Rushing Receiving
UT Martin
Statistics UTMWIU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics UT Martin Passing Rushing Receiving Western Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at Charleston Southern
Statistics WIUCHSO 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 Charleston Southern Passing Rushing Receiving
at Eastern 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
Gardner–Webb
Statistics GWEBWIU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Gardner–Webb Passing Rushing Receiving Western Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at Lindenwood
Statistics WIULIN 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 Lindenwood Passing Rushing Receiving
References