Redbirds look to bounce back against No. 2 South Dakota State

Photo Courtesy of Illinois State Athletics

After suffering its first loss of the season last week, Illinois State football returns home Saturday for one of its biggest tests of the season.

The No. 10 Redbirds will host No. 2 South Dakota State at 6 p.m. at Hancock Stadium in a matchup between two of the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s top teams.

Illinois State enters the game 4-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play after falling to Northern Iowa 28-21 last Saturday. The Jackrabbits are 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the MVFC.

A physical matchup

Illinois State coach Brock Spack knows Saturday’s game will come down to physical play.

South Dakota State has built its reputation around running the football and stopping the run, according to Spack. He also praised the Jackrabbits’ defensive front and their ability to create pressure.

“They’re really good up front,” Spack said. “You’re going to have to earn everything you get. You can’t make mistakes because they’re going to compound on you.”

Spack also said the Jackrabbits have a strong group of receivers who bring size and physicality to the offense.

“They’re pretty good-sized kids, and they run and play hard,” Spack said. “As a group, I think that’s what makes them very good.”

Cleaning up mistakes

The Redbirds will enter Saturday’s game looking to fix several issues from last week’s loss to Northern Iowa.

Spack pointed specifically to penalties and missed tackles as areas Illinois State must improve.

“It’s like a broken record, right? Every week,” Spack said of the team’s penalties. “It’s not the number, it’s when they happen.”

Illinois State also struggled to tackle in the first half against the Panthers, something Spack said ultimately hurt the Redbirds’ chances.

“We did not tackle well in that first half,” Spack said. “You have to be able to tackle. Defense is tackling football.”

The Redbirds eventually played better defensively, but by then they were already trailing by two scores.

Execution will matter

Against a team as experienced as South Dakota State, Spack said Illinois State cannot afford to make the same mistakes.

The Redbirds will need to block the Jackrabbits’ defensive front, stay disciplined and execute their game plan in all three phases.

“We’re going to have to be very, very good executing our system,” Spack said. “If we don’t, then we will not.”

The Jackrabbits have also shown an ability to force turnovers. Spack said South Dakota State’s physical style has helped create opportunities for takeaways.

“They’re really good hitters,” Spack said. “They’re going to hit you.”

A test for a young team

Illinois State has relied on several younger players this season, including at quarterback.

Spack said the Redbirds are still learning how to handle the physicality and pressure that comes with Missouri Valley Football Conference play.

“We were in a scenario where, at the end of the game, I said no matter who’s playing quarterback, neither of them have been through this before,” Spack said.

Spack added that decision-making will be especially important at quarterback as the Redbirds continue through conference play.

“There’s going to be mistakes made there. They just are,” Spack said. “He’s starting to learn, you know, this is a different league.”

History favors a close battle

Saturday will be the 14th meeting between Illinois State and South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits lead the all-time series 7-6, but the Redbirds won the most recent meeting 35-21 in Brookings, South Dakota, last season.

That 2025 victory saw Illinois State jump out to a 35-0 first-quarter lead before holding on for the win.

This time, the matchup comes to Hancock Stadium, where Spack expects another physical Missouri Valley battle.

“I think there’s going to be a hell of a good physical game,” Spack said.

The Redbirds will look to use their home-field advantage as they try to respond from last week’s loss.

Spack called on fans to fill Hancock Stadium for the matchup.

“You know what helps us play harder, play better, play with full intensity? A full stadium,” Spack said. “That should be full Saturday night and I’m challenging fans to fill it up because if you want to be a national championship caliber football team every single season, you have to fill your stadium every single Saturday. This Saturday, there’s no excuse not to be there. It’s not family day, it’s not homecoming, it’s just a really good football game, and I would think you’d want to be there.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday at Hancock Stadium for the Redbirds second MVC test.

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