EIU Releases Non-Conference Football Schedule

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Published on January 28 2021 6:32 am
Last Updated on January 28 2021 6:32 am

With the abbreviated conference only football schedule for 2020 set to open in  few weeks, Eastern Illinois football released its non-conference opponents for the 2021 fall season.

The Panthers will play three non-conference dates to open the year with games against South Carolina, Dayton and Illinois State.

EIU will open the season on Sept. 4 at South Carolina.  The game will be the first meeting between the two schools and the second time that EIU will face a Southeastern Conference opponent.  EIU previously opened the 2018 season at Arkansas.

EIU will travel to Dayton on Sept. 11 in the first game of a home-and-home series between the two schools.  The Flyers will make a return trip to O’Brien Field on August 30, 2025. This will be the first meeting between the two schools.

The Panthers final non-conference opponent will be Illinois State on Sept. 18 for the 109th edition of the Mid-America Classic.   EIU will host the Redbirds at O’Brien Field after last year’s meeting at Hancock Stadium in Normal was canceled.

The 2021 Ohio Valley Conference schedule will be released in the coming weeks as teams prepare to play a seven-game OVC spring schedule starting Feb. 21 that takes the place of the Fall 2020 schedule that was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols.

EIU will open play this spring on Feb. 21 at UT Martin with the Panthers home opener on Feb. 28 against Southeast Missouri.   EIU will host four of the seven games this spring at O’Brien Field with additional home games on March 21, April 3 and April 11. Games, with the exception of the weekend of April 3 (Easter Weekend), will be played on Sunday’s. Spectator capacity will be limited this spring at O’Brien Field and ticket information for the upcoming season will be publicized once a final capacity number has been set under current State of Illinois COVID-19 policies.