The Illinois State football teams flies to the west coast this weekend for its second-round FCS [Football Championship Subdivision] playoff game against California-Davis.
Redbird coach Brock Spack said the competition is always tough in the postseason, and ISU's experience in the Missouri Valley Football Conference has them well prepared.
“The Valley gets you ready for these kinds of games, no doubt. Particularly on the road. We had to play a lot of games on the road and we’ve done pretty well so far,” Spack said, referring to ISU’s 6-1 road record this season. ISU’s only road loss of the season came in the opener at then-nationally ranked Iowa.
The Valley has won 11 of the last 12 national championships at the Football Championship Subdivision level. The league also has three of the top four seeds in the playoffs, behind No. 1 Montana State (North Dakota State, South Dakota State and South Dakota.)
During his weekly pregame news conference, Spack compared U.C.-Davis’ size and athleticism with some of the top teams in the MVFC, including South Dakota State, who the Redbirds did not play this season.
The Aggies are the No. 5 seed in the playoffs. ISU [10-3 on the season] is No. 12, coming off a 35-27 win at Southeast Missouri State last weekend.
Spack, who is in his 16th season as ISU’s head coach, said he's limiting reps in practice this week to keep players rested and healthy after a long season.
“We try to take some of the reps off of players as best we can but still be able to prepare for the game. It’s a magic potion. What’s enough? What’s too much?” Spack asked, adding that he believes experience in the playoffs has given him a good gauge for when to push and when to rest.
“We’ve been there before. We’ve done this quite a few times,” he said.
Spack has led ISU into the playoffs six times, most recently in 2019, when the Redbirds advanced to the national quarterfinals. A win Saturday would put them back in the quarterfinals.
The game in Davis, California, kicks off at 3 p.m. Central Time.
