Sports

It's been a busy week of postseason awards accumulation for Illinois State defensive stalwarts Keondre Jackson and Tye Niekamp, as the duo were both named FCS All-Americans by football analyst Phil Steele on Friday. In addition, Niekamp earned Second-Team honors as part of the 2024 FCS Coaches' All-America Team announced by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

More All-America honors continue to roll in for a pair of Illinois State defensive stalwarts, as Tye Niekamp and Keondre Jackson named to the 2024 Stats Perform FCS All-America Team, as announced by the organization on Wednesday.

Illinois State defensive standouts Keondre Jackson and Tye Niekamp were among 20 student-athletes representing Missouri Valley Football Conference schools that were named to the 2024 Associated Press All-America Teams, as announced by the AP on Tuesday.

Illinois State standouts Ryan Gudaitis and Tommy Rittenhouse are among a list of 46 student-athletes named to the 2024 All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Scholar-Athlete Team on Wednesday by the league office. Each were named Second Team selections in the annual vote by the league's sports information directors.

After No. 12 Illinois State took an early lead, No. 5 UC Davis answered with 28 unanswered points as the Aggies (11-2) pulled away for a 42-10 win over the Redbirds (10-4) Saturday afternoon at UC Davis Health Stadium in the second round of the FCS Playoffs.

Coming off a first round road victory at Southeast Missouri State, No. 12 Illinois State (10-3, 6-2 MVFC) will fly to the West Coast for a match up with No. 5 UC Davis (10-2, 7-1 Big Sky) in the second round of the 2024 FCS Playoffs with a berth in the quarterfinals on the line.

ISU head coach Brock Spack and his staff announced the 2025 Illinois State football early signing class Wednesday, as 18 student-athletes were added to the roster on National Signing Day.