American college football season
The 2023 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team represented Eastern Illinois University as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by second-year head coach Chris Wilkerson, the Panthers played home games at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois.
Preseason
Preseason coaches' poll
The Big South-OVC released their preseason coaches' poll on July 25, 2023. The Panthers were picked to finish in eighth place.[1]
Predicted finish
|
Team
|
Votes (1st place)
|
1 |
Southeast Missouri |
96 (6)
|
2 |
Gardner-Webb |
86 (2)
|
3 |
UT Martin |
85 (1)
|
4 |
Tennessee Tech |
58 (1)
|
5 |
Tennessee State |
57
|
6 |
Bryant |
48
|
7 |
Lindenwood |
45
|
8 |
Eastern Illinois |
33
|
9 |
Charleston Southern |
30
|
10 |
Robert Morris |
12
|
Preseason Watchlist
The Panthers had ten players selected to the preseason Big South-OVC watchlist.[2]
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
| 5:00 p.m. | at Indiana State* | | ESPN+ | W 27–0 | 4,355 |
September 9 | 1:00 p.m. | at Bowling Green* | | ESPN+ | L 15–38 | 12,312 |
September 16 | 2:00 p.m. | Illinois State* | | ESPN+ | W 14–13 | 6,602 |
September 23 | 2:00 p.m. | McNeese* | - O'Brien Field
- Charleston, IL
| ESPN+ | W 31–28 | 6,565 |
September 30 | 6:00 p.m. | at Northwestern State* | | ESPN+ | W 19–10 | 6,021 |
October 7 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 18 UT Martin | - O'Brien Field
- Charleston, IL
| ESPN+ | L 27–28 OT | 8,078 |
October 14 | 2:00 p.m. | at Southeast Missouri State | | ESPN+ | L 28–35 | 7,263 |
October 21 | 2:00 p.m. | Bryant | - O'Brien Field
- Charleston, IL
| ESPN+ | W 25–24 OT | 3,690 |
November 4 | 2:00 p.m. | at Lindenwood | | ESPN+ | W 16–10 | 3,788 |
November 11 | 12:00 p.m. | Tennessee State | - O'Brien Field
- Charleston, IL
| ESPN+ | W 30–17 | 3,423 |
November 18 | 11:00 a.m. | at Robert Morris | | ESPN+ | W 28–14 | 2,118 |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Central time
|
[3][4]
References
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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National championship seasons in bold |