The four FCS programs in Illinois all face a battle to reach the playoffs
Here's a season preview for the four Illinois college football teams that play in the NCAA's championship subdivision:
Illinois State
Last year: 6-5 (4-4 in Missouri Valley)
Head coach: Brock Spack (10th season)
Preseason poll: Ranked No. 21 in STATS FCS poll
Opener: home vs. St. Xavier on Saturday, 6:30 p.m.
Big game: South Dakota State on Oct. 27 in Normal. Last year, ISU lost in OT to the Jackrabbits, who reached the FCS playoff semifinals.
What's new: Memphis transfer Brady Davis was named starting quarterback ahead of two-year starter Jake Kolbe (Naperville Central). The 6-foot-4 Davis spent three years at Memphis and appeared in one game.
Player to watch: Junior RB James Robinson ranked third in the MVC in rushing yards last season.
Local spotlight: DE Jason Harris of Barrington is the son of former Bears DE Al Harris and collected 3.5 sacks last season. … Former Crystal Lake Central DE Romeo McKnight transferred from Iowa. … Former walk-on RB Nick Kielbasa (Hampshire) was named special teams captain.
Outlook: Spack has definitely turned things around at Illinois State, but a three-year streak of playoff appearances ended last fall. He replaced both coordinators during the offseason. This year the Redbirds are likely to build around the RB duo of Robinson and Markel Smith. The defense is rebuilding, though, and leading tackler Tyree Horton was dismissed from the team in June.
Western Illinois
Last year: 8-4 (5-3 in Missouri Valley)
Playoffs: Lost in first round to Weber State 21-19
Head coach: Jared Elliott (first season)
Opener: at Montana State on Thursday, 8 p.m.
Big game: Defending national champion North Dakota State under the lights in Macomb on Oct. 13 at 6 p.m.
What's new: When head coach Charlie Fisher left to become wide receivers coach at Arizona State, WIU promoted offensive coordinator Elliott to the head job. Elliott, a native of Franklin, Tenn., and former Miami of Ohio QB, was 31 when he accepted the job in January.
Player to watch: Senior DL Khalen Saunders was named a first-team preseason all-American by STATS.
Local spotlight: Sophomore Kyle Sanft (Bartlett) and redshirt freshman Michael Ross (Montini) will open the season as starters at center and left guard, respectively. … Former Warren LB Jalen Powe transferred from College of DuPage.
Outlook: Western has some weapons with third-year starting QB Sean McGuire, top rushers Steve McShane and Max Morris, along with eight returning starters on defense. But the Leathernecks must replace most of the offensive line.
Eastern Illinois
Last year: 6-5 (5-3 in Ohio Valley)
Head coach: Kim Dameron (fifth season)
Opener: at Arkansas on Saturday, 3 p.m.
Big game: The Panthers visit four-time defending OVC champ Jacksonville State on Oct. 13.
What's new: RB Jamal Scott, one of the stars from the latest season of the Netflix show "Last Chance U," is in Charleston looking to get some carries.
Player to watch: Senior RB Isaiah Johnson rushed for 683 yards last season and the hope is defenses won't be able to key on the run game this fall.
Local spotlight: Junior LB Joe Caputo (Hersey) is the team's top returning tackler. … Senior left tackle Grant Branch (Montini) is a third-year starter.
Outlook: Jimmy Garoppolo isn't walking through that locker room door. EIU struggled to throw the ball last season and are hoping for improvement from two QB newcomers. Junior college transfer Harry Woodberry and Tulane transfer Johnathan Brantley, both Houston natives, are listed as co-starters. New offensive coordinator Scott Parr is trying to install an "Air Raid" offense.
Southern Illinois
Last year: 4-7 (2-6 in Missouri Valley)
Head coach: Nick Hill (third season)
Opener: at Murray State on Thursday, 6 p.m.
Big game: Southeast Missouri (Sept. 15 in Carbondale) became an official rivalry this week when the schools announced an annual trophy game with a ship's wheel as the prize.
What's new: The Salukis have five transfers from Power Five schools this season, but none are listed as starters on this week's depth chart.
Players to watch: Senior QB Sam Straub suffered a hand injury in Week 8 against South Dakota, prompting a four-game losing streak by SIU to finish the season. … Sophomore DE Anthony Knighton led the team in sacks and was named a freshman all-American.
Local spotlight: DE Chucky Sullivan (Stevenson) played in all 11 games last year as a true freshman. … Former walk-on OT Bryce Wagner (Richmond-Burton) was awarded a scholarship before last season.
Outlook: Hill, a former SIU quarterback, basically began a ground-up rebuild two years ago. The Salukis are hoping to show some improvement, but it's tough to gain ground in the competitive Missouri Valley Conference. SIU has no senior starters on defense. Maybe it will help that Jerry Kill, head coach during the glory years of SIU football, is back on campus as athletic director.