OVC Football Previews - Week 8

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There are four matchups set for Week Eight, including three Conference matchups. Eastern Illinois will host Southeast Missouri, Tennessee State welcomes Charleston Southern to Nashville and Western Illinois entertains UT Martin. In non-conference action Lindenwood will host Chicago State.

Saturday, October 24
Chicago State at Lindenwood, 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
*Southeast Missouri at Eastern Illinois, 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
*Charleston Southern at Tennessee State, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
*UT Martin at Western Illinois, 3:00 p.m. (ESPN+)

Chicago State Cougars (1-6) at Lindenwood Lions (2-4)
Saturday, October 24 • 2:00 p.m. CT
Hunter Stadium (6,000) • St. Charles, Mo.
Video (ESPN+): https://bit.ly/4ytYWri
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3BtZfYV
Series Record: First meeting

Noteworthy: Lindenwood hosts first-year football program Chicago State for its annual Homecoming Game. CSU is playing its second OVC opponent of the season, having lost at UT Martin on September 5 … Lindenwood snapped a four-game losing streak by winning 20-13 at Eastern Illinois last week. Pops Battle rushed for the game-winning score early in the fourth quarter; he passed for 230 yards and rushed for 27 in the victory … Linebacker Caleb Jacobmeier had a strip sack and interception in the victory. The Lions defense limited the Panthers to just 53 net rushing yards … Chicago State topped Kentucky Christian 78-7 on September 12 for the first win in program history. CSU is averaging 242.1 passing yards/game this season, with Ashton Pannell having thrown for 1,564 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (4-3, 2-0 OVC) at Eastern Illinois Panthers (2-5, 1-1 OVC)
Saturday, October 24 • 2:00 p.m. CT
O'Brien Stadium (10,000) • Charleston, Ill.
Video (ESPN+): https://bit.ly/4dM2n5p
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/2oWwWzR
Series Record: Eastern Illinois leads 18-15
Last Meeting: Southeast Missouri won 42-13 (10/18/25)

Noteworthy: Southeast Missouri has won the last eight matchups against Eastern Illinois, scoring 30 or more points in seven of those eight games. This is the 34th all-time meeting between the programs (the first coming in 1956) … SEMO improved to 2-0 in OVC play with a 40-30 win over Western Illinois. Kicker Justin Keller was named National Special Teams Player of the Week after making four field goals, including a 54-yarder in the win … Khyair Spain and Tyrell Reed Jr. each rushed for 111 yards for the Redhawks, who finished with 238 yards on the ground, which was almost double the year's average … EIU is in search of its first home victory of the season. The Panthers came up short against Lindenwood last week. QB Cole LaCrue passed for 203 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 26 yards in the game … Lonnie Burt had nine tackles (including 3.0 for loss); he is averaging 6.7 tackles/game this season.

Charleston Southern Buccaneers (3-4, 0-2 OVC) at Tennessee State Tigers (2-5, 0-2 OVC)
Saturday, October 24 • 2:30 p.m. CT
Nissan Stadium (69,143) • Nashville, Tenn.
Video (ESPN+): https://bit.ly/4iqnWel
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3b4F8CT
Series Record: Charleston Southern leads 2-1
Last Meeting: Charleston Southern won 7-6 (11/22/25)

Noteworthy: Charleston Southern heads to Nashville for the second time ever to challenge Tennessee State. Over the past two weeks, these two teams have wins over Top 25 squads (CSU over No. 21 South Carolina State two weeks ago and TSU over No. 24 Morgan State last week) … Charleston Southern played its final non-conference game last week, falling at FBS foe Clemson … Taivon Snipe had a career-high 10 tackles against the Tigers. Steve Zayachkowsky added seven tackles and ranks second in the OVC and 18th nationally in averaging 9.3 tackles/game … QB Daylin Lee passed for 220 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for a game-high 63 yards in the team's win last week. He leads the OVC in passing touchdowns (11) … Cam Bulluck caught his sixth touchdown of the season in the first quarter against Morgan State; he ranks 13th nationally in that category.

UT Martin Skyhawks (3-4, 2-0 OVC) at Western Illinois (3-4, 1-1 OVC)
Saturday, October 24 • 3:00 p.m. CT
Hanson Field (16,368) • Macomb, Ill.
Video (ESPN+): https://bit.ly/4seRQWl
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3Pyfr2i
Series Record: UT Martin leads 3-1
Last Meeting: UT Martin won 32-31 (10/11/25)

Noteworthy: The fifth all-time meeting between UT Martin and Western Illinois will take place in Macomb on Saturday. The Skyhawks have won the last four in the series, including last year's game by one point after scoring two touchdowns in the final nine minutes … With its 17-6 win over Gardner-Webb last week, the Skyhawks improved to 17-1 versus OVC opponents at home since 2020. UTM limited the Runnin' Bulldogs to just 168 yards of total offense (20 rushing) … UT Martin tallied three interceptions for the second-straight game and now have eight on the season, a mark that is 18th nationally … Western Illinois had 533 yards of total offense (including 269 rushing) in last Saturday's loss at SEMO. QB Kennedy McGill was named OVC Offensive Player of the Week after passing for 264 and rushing for 183 yards (and three TDs). He ranks sixth nationally in total offense (310.1 ypg) … Justin Buckner (15), LeBron Morgan (11) and Nick Reinicke (11) each reached double digit tackles last week.

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