Eastern Illinois football schedule includes Northwestern

CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) - Eastern Illinois will open its football season this fall with a pair of road games, one of them against a Big Ten opponent.

The Charleston school said Thursday that it will open at Western Illinois on Sept. 3 before travelling to Northwestern on Sept. 12.

Northwestern is the only Bowl Championship Subdivision school on the Panthers' schedule this fall.

Eastern Illinois' home opener will be Sept. 19 against Illinois State.

In all the Football Championship Subdivision school will play six regular-season home games.

The Panthers finished 5-7 and missed the FCS playoffs last season.