Venue & Kickoff
Location: Hancock Stadium, Normal, Illinois
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM CT
Broadcast: ESPN+
Capacity: 12,440
Weather Forecast (Normal, IL – Kickoff)
Conditions: Mostly clear, mild evening
Temperature: ~74°F at kickoff, dipping into the upper 60s by the 4th quarter
Wind: Light WNW at 4–6 mph
Precipitation: <10%
Impact: Ideal football weather; no environmental advantage
Injury Report
Illinois State
No major injuries reported after Week 1 loss at Oklahoma
Morehead State
No significant injuries reported after Week 1 win over Allen (S.C.)
Recent Form
Illinois State: Faced largest crowd in program history at Oklahoma; QB Tommy Rittenhouse 10/20, 34 yds; RB Nigel White 121 rush yds, 5.0 YPC; defense allowed 495 total yds.
Morehead State: QB Carter Cravens 219 pass yds, 71 rush yds, 2 rush TD; WR BJ Byrd 6 rec, 88 yds; DB Sidney Webb 83‑yd kickoff return TD.
Key Player Matchups
QB Carter Cravens (MSU) vs. LB Zack Redd (ILST)
Cravens: Dual-threat; Redd: Defensive leader, sideline-to-sideline range.
RB Nigel White (ILST) vs. LB Wil Truelove’s Front Seven (MSU)
White: 5.0 YPC vs. Oklahoma; MSU allowed 136 rush yds to Allen.
WR BJ Byrd (MSU) vs. CB D’Marco Minor (ILST)
Byrd: Deep threat; Minor: Physical press corner.
QB Tommy Rittenhouse (ILST) vs. MSU Secondary
Rittenhouse: Needs bounce-back after 1.7 YPA in opener; MSU allowed 290 pass yds in 2024 vs. FCS playoff teams.
Series History
All-Time: Illinois State leads 3–1
First Meeting: 1971 — Morehead State 28–12
Last Meeting: 2019 — Illinois State 42–14 (Normal, IL)
Note: ISU has won last three meetings by average margin of +23.3 points
Betting Trends
Illinois State: 15–1 in home openers under Brock Spack; 67–24 at home since 2009; UNDER in 4 of last 6 home games
Morehead State: 4–1 ATS in last 5; UNDER in 6 of last 8 road games vs. FCS scholarship teams
ISU 3–0 SU vs. MSU since 1972 at Hancock Stadium
Game Odds
Morehead State Eagles 54.5
Illinois State Redbirds – 31.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 5, 2025
