Illinois State opens the 2017 season September 2 against Pioneer League foe Butler at Hancock Stadium with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. The Redbirds return 46 letterwinners and 14 starters from last year’s playoff squad, which finished 6-6 overall and advanced to the FCS Playoffs for the third-consecutive season in 2016, marking the first such streak in program history.
ISU returns five players selected to the 2017 preseason MVFC Team, including 2016 MVFC First-Team selection Davontae Harris and 2016 second-team picks Dalton Keene and Alec Kocour. The Redbirds were picked to finish fifth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in the annual preseason poll and was ranked No. 20 in the STATS FCS Preseason Top 25.
To purchase tickets for the home opener, and all Redbird football games this season, call the Illinois State Athletics Ticket Office at (309) 438-8000 or order online at GoRedbirds.com/Tickets.
