Brock Spack

In an era of NIL and the transfer portal, Caiden Abbs is a throwback … a student-athlete as invested in academics as athletics.

Illinois State football has started fall camp as the Redbirds look to make another run at a national championship.

From a three-win program to a second national championship appearance, Brock Spack has redefined Redbird football through a decade and a half of culture-shifting leadership. Hear from the players and voices who have been there since the beginning as ISU prepares for a historic title game in Nashville.

On the heels of Illinois State football’s trip to the Football Championship Subdivision title game, the athletics department has announced a $2.5 million gift to the football program.

The Redbirds will bring an eight-game road winning streak against FCS opponents to Villanova Stadium in Philadelphia against a Wildcat team that’s won an FCS-record 23 consecutive home games.

The Redbirds' improbable win over NDSU, two months after ISU lost to the Bison in Normal, lifted ISU into the FCS quarterfinals for a postseason rematch with UC-Davis at 4 p.m. Saturday.

The Redbirds received at at-large bid to the 24-team field and will play at No. 16 seed Southeastern Louisiana at noon, Saturday, Nov. 29, in Hammond, Louisiana.

Illinois State University has officially renamed its football field at Hancock Stadium in honor of former Board of Trustees member and alumnus Jay Bergman and his late wife Lori.

In 16 seasons, Brock Spack has compiled a 111-74 [60%] record and has led the Redbirds to six NCAA playoff appearances and two Missouri Valley Football Conference championships.

Illinois State's football coach is relying on experience as his team prepares for its second round playoff game at California-Davis on Saturday.