Saturday, October 7
Charleston, Ill.
2 pm
UT Martin
at
Eastern Illinois
#18 SKYHAWKS HEAD TO LAND OF LINCOLN FOR RANKED SHOWDOWN AGAINST #25 EASTERN ILLINOIS
10/3/2023 7:51:00 AM | Football
*Weekly Interview with Jason Simpson is available below*
The No. 18 University of Tennessee at Martin football team heads to the Land of Lincoln for a nationally ranked showdown against No. 25 Eastern Illinois in a Big South-OVC Football Association matchup on Saturday, Oct. 7. Kickoff from O'Brien Field is scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
The Skyhawks (4-1, 1-0 Big South-OVC) enter the matchup having won four consecutive contests and ranked in both national polls – sitting No. 18 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and No. 23 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. UT Martin ranks in the top-25 nationally in 15 different team categories while sitting among the nation's top 10 teams in blocked kicks allowed (first, zero), blocked punts allowed (first, zero), rushing offense (third, 273.6 ypg), winning percentage (fourth, 80 percent), total offense (fifth, 488.4 ypg), net punting (fifth, 42.0 ypp), first downs offense (sixth, 117), team tackles for loss (ninth, 8.0) and kickoff returns (10th, 24.78).
When UT Martin and Eastern Illinois square off on Saturday afternoon, it will mark the first time that the two programs have gone head-to-head as nationally ranked opponents since the 2006 campaign. In the only other previously ranked matchup, the No. 12 ranked Skyhawks defeated the No. 14 ranked Panthers on Oct. 28, 2006 by a final score of 15-9 in a game which ultimately decided the conference championship bid. Despite both teams finishing with one loss in conference play, UT Martin received its first FCS playoff berth courtesy of the head-to-head victory.
Since the 2006 season, UT Martin ranks as the winningest active member in the Ohio Valley Conference with 83 victories. After winning just 20 games in the team's first 14 years in the league, the Skyhawks are 83-47 since 2006 while sitting 15 wins above the closest program in Eastern Illinois (68-60) during that span. The Skyhawks have finished .500 or above in conference play in 15 of the last 17 seasons - including six top-two finishes.
No. 25 Eastern Illinois (4-1, 0-0 Big South-OVC) is off to its best start since 2013 after picking up four non-conference FCS victories in the second season under head coach Chris Wilkerson. The Panthers lead the country with two defensive touchdowns while sitting second in interceptions (eight), third in turnovers gained (13), eighth in turnovers margin (1.4), 12th in scoring defense (17.8 ppg) and 12th in fumbles recovered (five).
Saturday's contest marks the 29th meeting between the two programs with Eastern Illinois holding a narrow 15-13 series advantage. The Skyhawks have won the last four meetings dating back to 2019 and hold a 12-5 record against the Panthers under head coach Jason Simpson.
The game will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+ while fans locally can tune into the Skyhawk Sports Network to hear Davis Gregory (play-by-play) and Julius McNair (analyst) call the action. Games are broadcast on WCMT "Talk and News You Can Use!" with simulcasts on 1410 AM, 100.5 FM, 92.7 FM, 96.1 FM, 99.7 FM and 103.3 FM. Those links – in addition to live stats – can be found at the top of the page.
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The No. 18 University of Tennessee at Martin football team heads to the Land of Lincoln for a nationally ranked showdown against No. 25 Eastern Illinois in a Big South-OVC Football Association matchup on Saturday, Oct. 7. Kickoff from O'Brien Field is scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
The Skyhawks (4-1, 1-0 Big South-OVC) enter the matchup having won four consecutive contests and ranked in both national polls – sitting No. 18 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and No. 23 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. UT Martin ranks in the top-25 nationally in 15 different team categories while sitting among the nation's top 10 teams in blocked kicks allowed (first, zero), blocked punts allowed (first, zero), rushing offense (third, 273.6 ypg), winning percentage (fourth, 80 percent), total offense (fifth, 488.4 ypg), net punting (fifth, 42.0 ypp), first downs offense (sixth, 117), team tackles for loss (ninth, 8.0) and kickoff returns (10th, 24.78).
When UT Martin and Eastern Illinois square off on Saturday afternoon, it will mark the first time that the two programs have gone head-to-head as nationally ranked opponents since the 2006 campaign. In the only other previously ranked matchup, the No. 12 ranked Skyhawks defeated the No. 14 ranked Panthers on Oct. 28, 2006 by a final score of 15-9 in a game which ultimately decided the conference championship bid. Despite both teams finishing with one loss in conference play, UT Martin received its first FCS playoff berth courtesy of the head-to-head victory.
Since the 2006 season, UT Martin ranks as the winningest active member in the Ohio Valley Conference with 83 victories. After winning just 20 games in the team's first 14 years in the league, the Skyhawks are 83-47 since 2006 while sitting 15 wins above the closest program in Eastern Illinois (68-60) during that span. The Skyhawks have finished .500 or above in conference play in 15 of the last 17 seasons - including six top-two finishes.
No. 25 Eastern Illinois (4-1, 0-0 Big South-OVC) is off to its best start since 2013 after picking up four non-conference FCS victories in the second season under head coach Chris Wilkerson. The Panthers lead the country with two defensive touchdowns while sitting second in interceptions (eight), third in turnovers gained (13), eighth in turnovers margin (1.4), 12th in scoring defense (17.8 ppg) and 12th in fumbles recovered (five).
Saturday's contest marks the 29th meeting between the two programs with Eastern Illinois holding a narrow 15-13 series advantage. The Skyhawks have won the last four meetings dating back to 2019 and hold a 12-5 record against the Panthers under head coach Jason Simpson.
The game will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+ while fans locally can tune into the Skyhawk Sports Network to hear Davis Gregory (play-by-play) and Julius McNair (analyst) call the action. Games are broadcast on WCMT "Talk and News You Can Use!" with simulcasts on 1410 AM, 100.5 FM, 92.7 FM, 96.1 FM, 99.7 FM and 103.3 FM. Those links – in addition to live stats – can be found at the top of the page.
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