The Illinois State Redbirds came painfully close to winning a national championship last season, and they’re loaded as they look to finish their quest this season.
The Redbirds came one point short in the FCS title game against Montana State a season ago, and now they’re hoping they can win the title as they bring back several key contributors to last season’s squad.
Their status as one of the top teams in the nation was cemented by the release of the first FCS coaches’ poll on Monday, which put the Redbirds at No. 4 in the country.
Montana State, the team that beat Illinois State in the national title game, received 25 of the 26 first-place votes in this year’s first poll to grab the top spot. Montana checked in at No. 2, with South Dakota State at No. 3 and Tarleton State at No. 5 to round out the top-five.
An in-state rival of the Redbirds also made some noise in the poll, as Southern Illinois clocks in at No. 16.
Headlining the returning stars for Illinois State is quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, who threw for 3,568 yards and 40 touchdowns in leading his team to the national title game last year.
Top-rusher Victor Dawson is also back after gaining 1,377 yards and scoring five touchdowns last season, and Dylan Lord, who hauled in 74 catches for 734 yards and five touchdowns, is also back in the mix for the Redbirds.
Even with those returning stars, there are plenty of tough games ahead for the Redbirds, including a two-game stretch in October when they face South Dakota State on October 3 and Southern Illinois on October 17.
Their finish to the season is also possibly one of the hardest in the country, as they’ll travel to No. 10 North Dakota on November 7 and then to No. 9 Youngstown State on November 14. They’ll then wrap up the regular season in Bloomington when they host No. 12 South Dakota on November 21.
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