Coming off a bye week following a dominant 45-0 win in the season-opener against Butler, No. 14 Illinois State travels to Charleston, Illinois, to face longtime in-state rival Eastern Illinois in the 106th Mid-America Classic at O'Brien Field.

 

Transfer running back Markel Smith made an immediate impact for the Redbirds in his first game in an ISU uniform. The St. Louis native carried the ball 10 times for 88 yards and scored his first touchdown for the Redbirds in the 45-0 rout over Butler.

 

Mitch Kimble hit six straight passes during the Panthers final drive including a 15-yard touchdown to Dennis Turner with three seconds remaining that gave EIU the 22-20 win at Indiana State.

 

The Panthers lost at Northern Illinois last Saturday afternoon.

 

Hear Saturday's action on The Big 1520 AM/92.3 FM WHOW starting at 1 pm.