Redbird Football Releases 2021 Schedule

ST. LOUIS, MO. – After months of uncertainty, the Missouri Valley Football Conference announced an eight-game conference schedule Thursday afternoon.

This comes two days after the NCAA Board of Directors approved NCAA Division I fall championships to be played in the spring. ISU Head Coach Brock Spack said he’s happy to finally have competition set for 2021.

“It’s exciting to have a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Coach Spack. “There have been so many unknowns for all of us the last several months, but having a direction set forth by the NCAA and the MVFC gives our players and staff a goal to look forward to. We are excited to have this schedule set for what should be a very exciting and interesting spring for all of us in the FCS.”

The Redbirds will open their season on the road Feb. 20 against the UNI Panthers. The Birds will then head to Missouri State on Feb. 27 before facing Western Illinois on Mar. 6 for their home opener at Hancock Stadium. ISU will wrap up its first half of the conference season on the road against the defending FCS National Champion North Dakota State Bison.

The Redbirds begin the second half of conference play with two straight games at home against MVFC newcomer North Dakota on Mar. 20 and South Dakota on Mar. 27. Then, ISU will have a road matchup with Indiana State on Apr. 3 before going on a bye week. The Redbirds will conclude the season at home against Southern Illinois on Apr. 17.

The FCS playoffs will feature 16 teams instead of a traditional 24 teams with the bracket and the bracket announced on Sunday, Apr. 18. The field will feature 16 teams with automatic bids and 5 teams with at-large bids. The FCS National Championship will still be played in Frisco, Texas.

Game times will be announced at a later date.