Illinois State HC Brock Spack said Saturday's 49-21 loss at North Dakota was ISU's worst defensive performance since the 37-7 loss to SIU in last fall's regular season finale. "They really attacked our youth. Our youth is in the secondary. We had some eye violations on defense."
Southern Illinois versatile threat Tae Marrero Jr. is the Missouri Valley Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. The fifth-year player compiled 239 all-purpose yards with 187 coming on punt and kickoff returns.
Western Illinois is receiving votes in this week's Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll. The last time the Leathernecks were ranked in the Top 25 was in 2017 under head coach Charlie Fisher. WIU finished 13th in that season's final poll.