Illinois State at Youngstown State Preview: MVFC Title Stakes

No. 16 Illinois State (7-3, 3-3 MVFC) plays at No. 4 Youngstown State (8-2, 6-1) at noon ET Saturday, Nov. 14, at Stambaugh Stadium in Youngstown, Ohio. The game streams on ESPN+, and 570 WKBN has the radio call. Ranks are from our Week 10 FCS Top 25.

Youngstown State can clinch the Missouri Valley Football Conference's automatic FCS playoff bid Saturday. It needs a win and a South Dakota State loss at Southern Illinois. Illinois State is out of the title race and is playing for its at-large case.

How to watch Illinois State at Youngstown State

Kickoff is noon ET (11 a.m. CT) at Stambaugh Stadium. The game streams on ESPN+. It is Youngstown State's regular-season finale.

MVFC auto-bid scenarios

Youngstown State leads the Missouri Valley standings at 6-1. South Dakota State is 5-1 and plays at Southern Illinois at 2 p.m. ET.

According to the NCAA.com automatic-bid tracker, Youngstown State clinches if it wins and South Dakota State loses. South Dakota State clinches if it wins and Youngstown State loses. The Jackrabbits beat the Penguins 27-20 in Brookings on Sept. 19, and they still host Indiana State on Nov. 21. If Youngstown State and South Dakota State both win Saturday, the bid will be decided Nov. 21, after the Penguins' season is over.

Youngstown State was No. 5 in the selection committee's Nov. 5 top 10. Illinois State was not listed. As far as Redshirt Sports knows, the committee doesn't use our poll, but it can be a good indicator of how teams are viewed. The 24-team field is announced Nov. 22.

What the FCS-only numbers say

Our FCS ratings count only games between two FCS teams, so these numbers leave out FBS and non-Division I games. Through Week 10, Youngstown State is 8-1 against FCS teams and ranks second in strength of record. Illinois State is 5-3 against FCS teams and ranks 19th. Illinois State's FCS schedule ranks 15th in strength of schedule, and its remaining FCS schedule rates as one of the hardest in the country.

Illinois State's full-season record also includes a 28-24 win at FBS Northern Illinois on Sept. 12.

Youngstown State's season so far

Head coach Doug Phillips' team has won six straight since a 27-20 loss at South Dakota State. The Penguins beat South Dakota 47-28, Southern Illinois 28-16, Indiana State 57-24 and Northern Iowa 35-22. On Oct. 31, they beat North Dakota 31-28 after trailing 28-14 in the third quarter. Last week they won 62-35 at Murray State.

Quarterback Beau Brungard completed 31 of 34 passes for 423 yards and four touchdowns at Murray State. This season he has thrown for 2,752 yards and 26 touchdowns, and he leads the team with 742 rushing yards and 11 rushing scores. Lynn Wyche-El leads the receivers with 937 yards and 11 touchdown catches. Jaden Gilbert has 558 rushing yards and scored twice last week.

Youngstown State scores 40.6 points per game and averages 480.4 total yards. It allows 24.8 points per game.

Illinois State's season so far

Head coach Brock Spack's Redbirds started 4-0, including the win at Northern Illinois. They lost 28-21 at Northern Iowa and 31-14 at home to South Dakota State, then won three straight over Southern Illinois, Indiana State and Murray State.

Last week, Illinois State lost 49-21 at North Dakota. The game was tied 14-14 after one quarter before North Dakota scored the next 28 points. Beckham Pellant threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns, and Mar'Quan Gary caught six passes for 101 yards and a score.

Illinois State scores 33.7 points per game and allows 19.3, fewer than Youngstown State's 24.8. Pellant has thrown for 1,295 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. Gage Roy, who led the offense earlier in the year, has 862 passing yards and 10 touchdowns. Victor Dawson leads the run game with 554 yards and nine touchdowns, and linebacker Tye Niekamp leads the defense with 75 tackles.

Series history

Youngstown State won last season's meeting 40-35 at Illinois State on Oct. 18, 2025.

Keys to the game

Illinois State's best path is the formula it used during its three-game winning streak: run the ball, hold it and keep Brungard on the sideline. The Redbirds average 168.1 rushing yards per game, with Dawson leading the way.

Youngstown State's offense finishes drives. The Penguins complete 75.2% of their passes, and Brungard is a threat on the ground too. Illinois State's defense has to slow him on early downs after giving up 49 points last week.

Turnovers are worth watching. Illinois State has forced 15 this season. Youngstown State has thrown four interceptions all year.

What's next

Illinois State hosts South Dakota on Nov. 21 to close the regular season. Youngstown State will learn its postseason path when the field is announced Nov. 22. For every conference's clinching math, see FCS playoff auto-bid scenarios: who can clinch in Week 11.