EIU Releases 2015 Football Schedule

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois football will host three teams that advanced to last year’s NCAA FCS playoffs as the Panthers released their 2015 schedule.  The season includes five home games and six road contests as the schedule converts back to 11 games for FCS schools.
 
The season will open on Thursday, Sept 3 at Western Illinois as the two in-state schools renew their rivalry in a two-year home and home series.  The opener in Macomb will mark the first time the two schools have met in the regular season since 1997.  They have met one time since that season with WIU winning a 2002 playoff game over the Panthers.
 
EIU stays in-state for its second non-conference game as the Panthers travel to Northwestern on Sept. 12.   This will mark the second time EIU has played at Northwestern and the seventh time EIU has played a school from the Big Ten Conference.
 
The Panthers home opener will be the Mid-America Classic as EIU hosts NCAA national runner-up Illinois State at O’Brien Field on Sept. 19.  The game will kick off at 6 p.m. and serve as the Panthers Athletic Hall of Fame Game.  This will be the 104th playing of the Mid-America Classic.
 
Following an open date EIU will start Ohio Valley Conference play on the road with an Oct. 3 game at Austin Peay.  Additional road OVC games will be on Oct. 17 at Tennessee State, Oct. 31 at Murray State and Nov. 14 at UT Martin.
 
The Panthers will host four OVC games at home starting on Oct. 10 with Southeast Missouri visiting O’Brien Field for the Panthers Family Weekend game.  EIU’s 98th homecoming contest will take place on Oct. 24 with the Panthers hosting Tennessee Tech.  OVC regular season champion Jacksonville State comes to Charleston on Nov. 7 while FCS playoff qualifier Eastern Kentucky closes out the regular season on Nov. 21 at O’Brien Field.
 
This year’s FCS playoff opening round is set for Nov. 28.
 
In addition EIU head coach Kim Dameron has announced the dates for the Panthers Practice Schedule with the Spring Game set for Saturday, April 25.   Spring practices will take place on March 24, 25, 26, 28, and 30 along with dates on April 1, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21 and 23.
 
Season ticket information for the 2015 Eastern Illinois football season will be available in early April.
 
2015 EIU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
 
Sept. 3 - at Western Illinois

Sept. 12 - at Northwestern

Sept. 19 – Illinois State (HOF)

Oct. 3 – at Austin Peay *

Oct. 10 – Southeast Missouri * (FW)

Oct. 17 – at Tennessee State *

Oct. 24 – Tennessee Tech * (HC)

Oct. 31 – at Murray State *

Nov. 7 – Jacksonville State *

Nov. 14 – at UT Martin *

Nov. 21 – Eastern Kentucky *

Nov. 28 – FCS Playoffs