Saturday, October 31
Martin, Tenn.
2 p.m.
UT Martin
vs
Eastern Illinois
10/27/2026 9:56:00 AM | Football
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin football team returns to the friendly confines of Hardy M. Graham Stadium for one of the most anticipated games on the calendar as the Skyhawks welcome longtime Ohio Valley Conference rival Eastern Illinois for the university's annual Homecoming celebration on Saturday, Oct. 31. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. with the contest broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Halloween matchup serves as the centerpiece of UT Martin's 2026 Homecoming festivities, themed "A Haunted UTM Homecoming," as alumni, students, faculty, staff and fans return to campus for a week of traditions, celebrations and Skyhawk pride. The Skyhawks are 42-31 on Homecoming, including a 14-5 mark under the direction of head coach Jason Simpson.
UT Martin (3-5, 2-1 OVC) looks to bounce back from a road setback at Western Illinois last Saturday while continuing its pursuit of another strong finish in conference play. Meanwhile, Eastern Illinois (2-6, 1-2 OVC) makes the trip to Martin looking to snap a three-game losing streak after falling to Southeast Missouri in its most recent outing.
The Skyhawks have enjoyed considerable success against the Panthers in recent years, entering Saturday's matchup riding a seven-game winning streak in the series. The two programs have developed a longstanding conference rivalry, meeting every season since 1995 with UT Martin holding a narrow 16-15 advantage in the all-time series.
Under the direction of 21st-year head coach Jason Simpson, UT Martin has established itself as one of the conference's most consistent programs. Since taking over, Simpson has led the Skyhawks to 101 conference victories – the most in the OVC during that stretch – besting Eastern Illinois by 24 victories. Additionally, the Skyhawks have posted a 17-1 record against conference opponents since 2020.
Freshman running back Jaydon Peete was one of the team's bright spots in the road matchup against Western Illinois. The Milan native tallied a pair of rushing touchdowns to earn OVC Rookie of the Week honors while becoming the first freshman to rack up four or more rushing touchdowns since legendary running back Don Chapman in 2004.
Eastern Illinois (2-6, 1-2 OVC) enters the contest looking rebound from back-to-back home losses to Lindenwood and Southeast Missouri. The Panthers boast a strong defense, allowing just 15.6 points per game against league opponents but has struggled offensively, averaging just 14.6 points per game and 223.3 yards per game. Cole LaCrue leads the team offensively at quarterback, passing for 1,093 yards and eight touchdowns while Charles Kellom paces the squad with 646 all-purpose yards. Defensively, the tandem of Lonnie Burt and Ja'Wuan Nickson led the team with 53 tackles each while combining for 11 tackles for loss.
The game will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+ while locally fans can tune into the Skyhawk Sports Network to hear Davis Gregory (play-by-play), John Hatler (analyst) and Chris Brinkley (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.
The Halloween matchup serves as the centerpiece of UT Martin's 2026 Homecoming festivities, themed "A Haunted UTM Homecoming," as alumni, students, faculty, staff and fans return to campus for a week of traditions, celebrations and Skyhawk pride. The Skyhawks are 42-31 on Homecoming, including a 14-5 mark under the direction of head coach Jason Simpson.
UT Martin (3-5, 2-1 OVC) looks to bounce back from a road setback at Western Illinois last Saturday while continuing its pursuit of another strong finish in conference play. Meanwhile, Eastern Illinois (2-6, 1-2 OVC) makes the trip to Martin looking to snap a three-game losing streak after falling to Southeast Missouri in its most recent outing.
The Skyhawks have enjoyed considerable success against the Panthers in recent years, entering Saturday's matchup riding a seven-game winning streak in the series. The two programs have developed a longstanding conference rivalry, meeting every season since 1995 with UT Martin holding a narrow 16-15 advantage in the all-time series.
Under the direction of 21st-year head coach Jason Simpson, UT Martin has established itself as one of the conference's most consistent programs. Since taking over, Simpson has led the Skyhawks to 101 conference victories – the most in the OVC during that stretch – besting Eastern Illinois by 24 victories. Additionally, the Skyhawks have posted a 17-1 record against conference opponents since 2020.
Freshman running back Jaydon Peete was one of the team's bright spots in the road matchup against Western Illinois. The Milan native tallied a pair of rushing touchdowns to earn OVC Rookie of the Week honors while becoming the first freshman to rack up four or more rushing touchdowns since legendary running back Don Chapman in 2004.
Eastern Illinois (2-6, 1-2 OVC) enters the contest looking rebound from back-to-back home losses to Lindenwood and Southeast Missouri. The Panthers boast a strong defense, allowing just 15.6 points per game against league opponents but has struggled offensively, averaging just 14.6 points per game and 223.3 yards per game. Cole LaCrue leads the team offensively at quarterback, passing for 1,093 yards and eight touchdowns while Charles Kellom paces the squad with 646 all-purpose yards. Defensively, the tandem of Lonnie Burt and Ja'Wuan Nickson led the team with 53 tackles each while combining for 11 tackles for loss.
The game will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+ while locally fans can tune into the Skyhawk Sports Network to hear Davis Gregory (play-by-play), John Hatler (analyst) and Chris Brinkley (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.
Players Mentioned
RB
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