Game 13 | NCAA FCS Playoffs First Round | No. 15/17 Southeastern (9-3) vs. Illinois State (8-4)
Nov. 29, 2025 | Noon | Strawberry Stadium (7,408) | Hammond, La.
Series History: SLU leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: SLU 28, Illinois State 21 (Sept. 27, 1980 | Normal, Ill.)
Television: ESPN+
            Announcers: Jack Benjamin and Forest Conoly
Radio: Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM, The Boss 97.7 FM/WFPR 1400 AM
            Announcers: Mark Willoughby, Robbie Mahfouz, Allen Waddell and Robbie Rhodes
 
HAMMOND, La. – The No. 16 national seed Southeastern Louisiana University football team will welcome Illinois State for a first round contest in the NCAA FCS Playoffs Saturday at noon in Strawberry Stadium.
 
The game between SLU (9-3) and the visiting Redbirds (8-4), ranked 17^th in both national polls, will be televised live on ESPN+ and can be heard on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network (Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM, The Boss 97.7 FM/WFPR 1400 AM).
 
"There are 24 (FCS) teams still playing and we're proud to be one of them," Southeastern head coach Frank Scelfo said. "There's eight FCS games in the nation and one of them is right here in Hammond, America. We've got a special group and we want everyone to come out to Strawberry Stadium to see two great teams compete Saturday."
 
Southeastern garnered an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs for the fourth time in program history and will be making its sixth appearance overall in the FCS playoffs. The Lions closed out the regular season with a 38-26 win over Nicholls in the River Bell Classic last Thursday.
 
Carson Camp (1,674 passing yards, 14 TD, 4 INT) and Kyle Lowe (770-8 TD-3 INT) have split time under center for a SLU offense that is averaging 33.3 points per game - including 39.0 points per game versus FCS foes. All-Southland Conference wide receiver Jaylon Domingeaux is the top target in the passing game, leading the team with 46 catches for 779 yards and 11 touchdowns - the fourth-highest total in FCS.
 
On the ground, All-SLC running back Deantre Jackson leads the team with 566 yards and seven touchdowns. Lowe (429 yards, five touchdowns), Calvin Smith Jr. (413-5 TD) and Jaedon Henry (391-5 TD) have all been key contributors to the rushing attack.
 
Southland Conference Player of the Year and Buck Buchanan Award finalist Kaleb Proctor (eight sacks, 12.0 TFL) and SLC Defensive Player of the Year KK Reno (118 tackles) are the leaders of a Southeastern defense that is among the FCS leaders in yards per game allowed (295.5, 9th), points per game allowed (17,.8, 12th), sacks per game (3.17, 7th) and first downs allowed (184, 5th).
 
All-SLC defensive back Ian Conerly-Goodly leads Southeastern with three interceptions, while Zach Johnson has broken up a team-high 11 passes for a SLU pass defense that is seventh nationally with 162.4 passing yards per game allowed. 
 
The most productive return tandem in FCS highlights the Southeastern special teams. Two-time first team All-SLC kick returner Brandon Hayes is fourth in FCS with a 30.7 kick return average and is one of five FCS players with multiple kickoff return touchdowns this fall. Lion punt returner Dkhai Joseph has two punt return scores and is ninth in FCS with 14.3 yards per return.
 
The Redbirds compete in the MVFC and are making their 10th all-time trip to the NCAA FCS playoffs. Eight appearances have been under 17th-year head coach Brock Spack, including a trip to the 2014 FCS final.
 
Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse (2,345 passing yards, 28 TD, 2 INT) is the efficient leader of an Illinois State offense that average 30.6 points per game.
 
The tandem of Daniel Sobkowicz (49 catches, 686 yards, 11 TD) and Dylan Lord (47-448-2 TD) leads the ISU passing game, while Victor Dawson has rushed for a team-high 739 yards.
 
The Illinois State defense yields 27.2 points per game and features its own Buck Buchanan Award finalist in Tye Niekamp, who has a team-high 126 tackles and 12.0 tackles for loss.
 
The winner of Saturday's contest will face No. 1 seed and reigning national champion North Dakota State at noon on ESPN+.
 
TICKETS
For ticket information, contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net. Southeastern will continue offering mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets. All tickets will be available via e-mail or text message in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Football, follow @LionUpFootball and @Coach_Scelfo on X, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and follow @lionupfootball on Instagram.
 
TOUCHDOWN CLUB/S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the football program are encouraged to join the Touchdown Club. Lion football alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Touchdown Club and S Club (football) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern football program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics observes a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.