Wikipedia

2023 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team

The 2023 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team represented Eastern Illinois University as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by second-year head coach Chris Wilkerson, the Panthers played home games at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois.

2023 Eastern Illinois Panthers football
ConferenceBig South–OVC
Ranking
FCS CoachesNo. 24
Record8–3 (4–2 Big South–OVC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJoe Davis (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorClay Bignell (1st season)
Home stadiumO'Brien Field
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Big South–OVC football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Gardner–Webb +^   5 – 1     7 – 5  
No. 25 UT Martin +   5 – 1     8 – 3  
Eastern Illinois   4 – 2     8 – 3  
Bryant   4 – 2     6 – 5  
Southeast Missouri State   3 – 3     4 – 7  
Tennessee Tech   2 – 4     4 – 7  
Robert Morris   2 – 4     4 – 7  
Charleston Southern   2 – 4     4 – 7  
Tennessee State   2 – 4     6 – 5  
Lindenwood *   1 – 5     3 – 7  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
  • Note: Lindenwood ineligible for Big South–OVC title and FCS postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division II.
Rankings from STATS Poll

Preseason edit

Preseason coaches' poll edit

The Big South-OVC released their preseason coaches' poll on July 25, 2023. The Panthers were picked to finish in eighth place.[1]

Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Southeast Missouri 96 (6)
2 Gardner-Webb 86 (2)
3 UT Martin 85 (1)
4 Tennessee Tech 58 (1)
5 Tennessee State 57
6 Bryant 48
7 Lindenwood 45
8 Eastern Illinois 33
9 Charleston Southern 30
10 Robert Morris 12

Preseason Watchlist edit

The Panthers had ten players selected to the preseason Big South-OVC watchlist.[2]

Schedule edit

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 315:00 p.m.at Indiana State*
ESPN+W 27–04,355
September 91:00 p.m.at Bowling Green*
ESPN+L 15–3812,312
September 162:00 p.m.Illinois State*
ESPN+W 14–136,602
September 232:00 p.m.McNeese*
  • O'Brien Field
  • Charleston, IL
ESPN+W 31–286,565
September 306:00 p.m.at Northwestern State*
ESPN+W 19–106,021
October 72:00 p.m.No. 18 UT Martin 
  • O'Brien Field
  • Charleston, IL
ESPN+L 27–28 OT8,078
October 142:00 p.m.at Southeast Missouri State
ESPN+L 28–357,263
October 212:00 p.m.Bryant
  • O'Brien Field
  • Charleston, IL
ESPN+W 25–24 OT3,690
November 42:00 p.m.at Lindenwood
ESPN+W 16–103,788
November 1112:00 p.m.Tennessee State
  • O'Brien Field
  • Charleston, IL
ESPN+W 30–173,423
November 1811:00 a.m.at Robert Morris
ESPN+W 28–142,118
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[3][4]

References edit

  1. ^ "Southeast Missouri Voted 2023 Preseason Big South-OVC Football Association Favorite". bigsouthovcfootball.com. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  2. ^ "Big South-OVC Football Association Reveals Preseason Watch List". bigsouthovcfootball.com. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  3. ^ "2023 Eastern Illinois Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  4. ^ "2023 Football Schedule". Eastern Illinois University Athletics Eastern Illinois University Athletics. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
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