On the heels of Illinois State football’s trip to the Football Championship Subdivision [FCS] title game, the athletics department has announced a $2.5 million gift to the football program.
The donation comes from a former ISU quarterback who wishes to remain anonymous, according to a news release from ISU athletics.
ISU said the gift will help the program “recruit and retain first-class student-athletes to Normal.” It's the largest gift ever made to ISU’s football program and the second-largest gift in the department’s history.
“We are excited about the success of our football program this year and this investment will help us prosper and grow for years to come,” Athletics Director Jeri Beggs said in a statement.
The Redbirds will play No. 2 ranked Montana State in the FCS championship game at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville on Jan. 5 after an historic run through the playoffs. ISU is the first team to win four consecutive road games in the postseason, and ended the two longest home winning streaks in FCS football in the process.
Villanova had won 23 games straight at home and defending national champion North Dakota State had won 16 in a row in the Fargodome.
ISU athletics said the football program’s success since 2013 has come after sizable investments in the program and its facilities.
The Redbirds' trip to the 2015 FCS title game came one season after the university completed a major renovation to Hancock Stadium. The 2024 and 2025 postseason runs came after its indoor practice facility opened in 2023.
“Investments like this in our program are transformational for us and key to the future success of our team on a national scale,” said head coach Brock Spack. “We cannot thank this anonymous donor enough, and we are excited to see everyone in Nashville on Jan. 5.”
