2025 Illinois State Redbirds football team

The 2025 Illinois State Redbirds football team represented Illinois State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by 17th-year head coach Brock Spack. The Redbirds played their home games at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois.

Illinois State was an at-large selection into the playoff field and were unseeded; however, they defeated #17 (tie) ranked Southeastern Louisiana, #1 North Dakota State, #11 UC Davis and #9 Villanova, all away from home, to become the first FCS team to reach the championship game by defeating four consecutive road opponents. The Redbirds appeared in their second FCS National Championship Game (first since 2015); they faced #2 Montana State in the title game, falling 34–35 in overtime.

Preseason

MVFC poll

The Missouri Valley Football Conference released its preseason poll on July 21, 2025, voted on by league athletic directors, coaches, and media members. The Redbirds were predicted to in finish fourth place within the ten-team conference.

Schedule

Game summaries

<small>All times are Central time</small>

at No. 18 (FBS) Oklahoma

Morehead State

at Eastern Illinois (Mid-America Classic)

North Alabama

No. 1 North Dakota State

at Murray State

Youngstown State (Homecoming)

at No. 21 South Dakota

Northern Iowa

at Indiana State

at No. 16 South Dakota State

No. 24 Southern Illinois (Senior Day)

NCAA Division I playoffs

at No. 17т (16) Southeastern Louisiana (first round)

at No. 1 (1) North Dakota State (second round)

at No. 11 (8) UC Davis (quarterfinal round)

at No. 9 (12) Villanova (semifinal round)

vs. No. 2 (2) Montana State (final round)

Rankings

References