As the game clock hit 0:00, Illinois State football rushed onto the field at Villanova Stadium in triumph following an historic 30-14 win over No. 12-seeded Villanova on Saturday night.
The Redbirds advanced to the FCS national championship for the first time since 2015, when they lost to North Dakota State in Frisco, Texas. This is only the second time in history ISU has advanced to the title game – both under the 17-year leadership of Coach Brock Spack.
“This group has really good leadership,” Spack said. “They just don’t flinch and they’re an amazing group … we’re on a pretty good run.”
The Redbirds — who were unseeded in these playoffs — are the first FCS team ever to win four straight road playoff games, and they’re now 9-0 on the road this season. The Redbirds (12-4) will face No. 2 Montana State in the FCS national championship game at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5, in Nashville. The game will be televised on ESPN.
The Redbirds’ win at Villanova was remarkable, in part, because Villanova came into the game with a 23-game home winning streak. That was an FCS record. ISU's 16-point victory Saturday was the largest semifinal win by a road team in the last 30 seasons, according to the NCAA.
On Saturday the spotlight was on ISU QB Tommy Rittenhouse, who put himself into the Redbird history books with a pass over the middle to Scotty Presson Jr. The senior surpassed Tre Roberson’s 3,221 passing yards with his 251 against the Wildcats, adding up to a new single-season record of 3,256.
“I want to just put ourselves in a good position to win the game, and I felt I did that today,” Rittenhouse said. “It’s awesome, I’ll definitely look back in a few years at those accolades and really appreciate it. Right now, really enjoy this one, being with the boys and celebrate.”
Roberson set the record and led the Redbirds to that 2025 title game.
“Tre Roberson is probably the best athlete I’ve seen at Illinois State,” Spack said. “Tommy’s probably one of the greatest quarterbacks. He can do something that no one’s ever done here, and that’s win a national championship.”
Rittenhouse connected with his senior counterpart, Daniel Sobkowicz, for 53 yards down the right sideline for the first points of the game with 2:63 in the first. CJ Richard Jr.’s second interception in two games set ISU up in positive field position for the score.
“It just goes back to Tommy trusting his guys,” Sobkowicz said. “There’s certain plays and playcalls that we’re able to execute at such a high level.”
Rittenhouse and Sobkowicz have found the endzone seven times in the last three games.
“I feel like we were missing on those during the [regular] season, but that’s something we’ve been able to do in the playoffs,” Sobkowicz said.
“He makes my job easier,” Rittenhouse added. “When I don’t know what to do, I usually go to him.”
Running game and special teams
Victor Dawson played a crucial factor in ISU’s running game once again. The senior rushed for 158 yards and dove in for a 1-yard score in the second quarter.
“Just shoutout to the O-line,” Dawson said. “They gave great pushes and we just stayed consistent moving the chains.”
Jack Barnum knocked in a pair of field goals late in the first half to put the Wildcats on the board.
Following a 68-yard catch-and-run by Seth Glatz, Sobkowicz put the explanation point to close out the first half, 21-6, with his second score. Glatz walked off the field with an undisclosed lower leg injury in the third quarter.
A noticeable switch in the place-kicker position from Matt Maldonado to Michael Cosentino was in order from Spack.
“We’ve had a little problem getting the ball up,” Spack said. “Mike is very accurate and he gets the ball up fast. We’ve worked out a deal for him to be our kicker for next year.”
Cosentino took the opportunity and knocked down all of his first three collegiate field goals.
The Wildcats’ Pat McQuaide found Antoino Johnson for 16 yards with 3:18 left to play. The 2-point conversion was successful on a completion to Braden Reed.
Now being road warriors in the south (Southeastern Louisiana), north (North Dakota State), west (UC Davis) and now east (Villanova), ISU heads to the Music City for a shot at its first national title at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 5 from FirstBank Stadium.
