Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Illinois State
10/30/2026 9:59:00 AM | Football
Murray State continues MVFC play at No. 9 Illinois State
Date (Time): Saturday, Oct. 31 (1 p.m. CDT)
Opponent: Illinois State Redbirds
Location (Venue): Normal, Ill. (Hancock Stadium)
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
NORMAL, Ill. — The Murray State Racers (1-7, 0-4 MVFC) are facing their second consecutive road test for the first time in 2026, as they are set to face the 2025 FCS runners-up Illinois State Redbirds (6-2, 2-2 MVFC).
While the Racers are coming off a 42-9 loss at South Dakota State last Saturday, the Redbirds have won two straight over Southern Illinois and Indiana State after stumbling against Northern Iowa and South Dakota State.
In the loss to the Jackrabbits, kicker Tyler Dorn had a career day, hitting 3 field goals from 30, 33, and 51 yards. His first made field goal also snapped a 7-game stretch without a field goal for the Racers, stretching back to the beginning of the season. Several Racer defenders also had strong days, as Ryan McCall led the team with 9 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 1 sack, all career highs. Dylan Rowsey had 8 tackles, all solo, and Jayden Walker continued to be a backfield threat with 2 sacks on the day. Tomorris Green also had a career high with 9 tackles on the day.
Dimitri Howard leads the team and is sixth in the MVFC with 685 all-purpose yards, featuring 352 kick return yards, 240 receiving yards, and 93 rushing yards. Ontario native Tyrell Campbell leads the Murray State rushing attack with 311 yards and adds 2 touchdowns, while Jaxon Potter and Trey Firestone are the leading receivers. Potter has 292 yards and 2 touchdowns on a team-high 30 receptions, and Trey Firestone has a team-high 314 yards and 2 touchdowns on 26 catches.
Safety Dylan Rowsey is fifth in the MVFC with a team-high 62 tackles and adds an interception and 1 tackle for loss. After returning from injury, Jayden Walker has continued to wreak havoc on opposing backfields, second in the MVFC and leading the team with 11 tackles for loss and 5 sacks, the third-most in the MVFC. The Aberdeen, Miss., native also adds 3 quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
Scouting the Redbirds
Since becoming head coach of the Redbirds in 2009, Brock Spack has amassed a record of 129-81, becoming the winningest coach in Illinois State history in 2021. The Redbirds are coming off a 2025 season that saw them reach the FCS Championship but ultimately fall to Montana State in overtime.
This season, the Redbirds seem to have righted the ship with recent wins over Southern Illinois and Indiana State after dropping their first two MVFC games to Northern Iowa and South Dakota State. The Redbirds boast the second-best total defense in the conference, allowing just 295.63 yards per game. That unit is led by Tye Niekamp, who features 61 total tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, and a pass breakup. His brother, Dexter Niekamp, features a pair of sacks and 2 interceptions.
Offensively, the Redbirds are led on the ground by Victor Dawson with 413 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. Quarterbacks Gage Roy and Beckham Pellant have both thrown for over 800 yards, while Roy has 10 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, and Pellant has 6 touchdowns to 4 interceptions.
Up Next
The Racers return home to Rudolph Family Field at Roy Stewart Stadium next week to face No. 4 Youngstown State on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. CDT.
