| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EIU
Eastern Illinois
|
0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
MINN
Minnesota
|
14 | 21 | 10 | 14 | 59 |
| Team | ATS (Margin) | O/U (Margin) |
|---|---|---|
|
EIU
Eastern Illinois
|
+43.5 | 52.5o (13.5) |
|
MINN
Minnesota
|
-43.5 (8.5) | 52.5u |
| 1st Quarter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 4:29 | |
0 - 7 | |
| 2:14 | |
TD
C. Cox
87 yard punt return
(
D. Jackson
kick)
|
0 - 14 |
| 2nd Quarter | |||
| 14:20 | |
0 - 21 | |
| 9:00 | |
TD
T. Buggs
8 yards passing from
C. LaCrue
(
D. Schiller
kick)
|
7 - 21 |
| 3:15 | |
7 - 28 | |
| 0:06 | |
7 - 35 | |
| 3rd Quarter | |||
| 13:26 | |
TD
C. Cox
69 yard punt return
(
D. Jackson
kick)
|
7 - 42 |
| 3:17 | |
FG
D. Jackson
31 yard field goal
|
7 - 45 |
| 4th Quarter | |||
| 12:29 | |
7 - 52 | |
| 0:25 | |
7 - 59 | |
| statistical category |
Eastern Illinois
|
Minnesota
|
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 4 | 24 |
| Rushes-Yards | 28-51 | 38-147 |
| Passing Yards | 59 | 348 |
| Sacked-Yards Lost | 1-3 | 0-0 |
| Return Yardage | 31 | 204 |
| Passing | 9-15-1 | 26-33-1 |
| Punts-Average | 10-44.5 | 2-35.0 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 2-0 | 2-1 |
| Penalties-Yards | 6-35 | 2-10 |
| Field Goals | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| Time of Possession | 23:39 | 36:21 |
| Passing | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | C/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | ||||||||||||||
| C. LaCrue | 7/12 | 51 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| J. Salem | 2/3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| Rushing | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | ||||||||||||||
| C. LaCrue | 5 | 22 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||
| C. Kellom | 7 | 20 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||
| J. Fleming-Page | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||
| T. Buggs | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| Z. Lewis | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||
| D. Whitlock | 3 | -1 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| Receiving | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | |||||||||||||
| T. Buggs | 2 | 2 | 38 | 1 | 30 | |||||||||||||
| Z. Lewis | 2 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 | |||||||||||||
| C. Kellom | 5 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 5 | |||||||||||||
| D. Whitlock | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 | |||||||||||||
| Interceptions | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | TD | |||||||||||||||
| No Interception Data | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sacks | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | ||||||||||||||||
| No Sack Data | ||||||||||||||||||
| Tackles | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | TK | AST | ||||||||||||||||
| M. Tupou | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | LOST | ||||||||||||||||
| Z. Lewis | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| Punting | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | LG | |||||||||||||||
| C. Cox | 10 | 445 | 55 | |||||||||||||||
| Punt Returns | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | LG | |||||||||||||||
| No Punt Return Data | ||||||||||||||||||
| Kick Returns | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | LG | |||||||||||||||
| J. Fleming-Page | 2 | 31 | 17 | |||||||||||||||
| Passing | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | C/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | ||||||||||||||
| D. Lindsey | 19/24 | 264 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| B. Palmer | 4/6 | 34 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| M. Shikenjanski | 3/3 | 50 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| Rushing | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | ||||||||||||||
| D. Taylor | 14 | 56 | 3 | 27 | ||||||||||||||
| T. Thomas | 7 | 52 | 0 | 20 | ||||||||||||||
| X. Ford | 3 | 15 | 1 | 10 | ||||||||||||||
| R. Estrada | 3 | 10 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||
| B. Palmer | 2 | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||
| D. Lindsey | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| J. Thomas | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||
| N. Castillo | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| M. Shikenjanski | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Receiving | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | |||||||||||||
| J. Tracy | 7 | 5 | 98 | 0 | 55 | |||||||||||||
| N. Jennings | 4 | 3 | 57 | 0 | 28 | |||||||||||||
| H. Moore | 3 | 2 | 42 | 0 | 33 | |||||||||||||
| D. Taylor | 3 | 3 | 31 | 0 | 19 | |||||||||||||
| P. Walsh | 2 | 2 | 28 | 1 | 27 | |||||||||||||
| J. Smith | 3 | 3 | 26 | 0 | 15 | |||||||||||||
| T. Thomas | 3 | 2 | 23 | 0 | 18 | |||||||||||||
| Q. Hendryx | 1 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 | |||||||||||||
| R. Estrada | 2 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 11 | |||||||||||||
| B. Martino | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | |||||||||||||
| Z. Steptoe | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | |||||||||||||
| G. Rohl | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | |||||||||||||
| Interceptions | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | TD | |||||||||||||||
| No Interception Data | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sacks | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | ||||||||||||||||
| T. Bush Jr. | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| Tackles | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | TK | AST | ||||||||||||||||
| N. Cleveland | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| T. Bush Jr. | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | LOST | ||||||||||||||||
| T. Thomas | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Punting | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | LG | |||||||||||||||
| T. Weston | 1 | 37 | 37 | |||||||||||||||
| Z. Robbins | 1 | 33 | 33 | |||||||||||||||
| Punt Returns | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | LG | |||||||||||||||
| J. Tracy | 4 | 167 | 87 | |||||||||||||||
| B. Stevens | 1 | 26 | 26 | |||||||||||||||
| Kick Returns | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | LG | |||||||||||||||
| R. Estrada | 1 | 11 | 11 | |||||||||||||||
Location Huntington Bank Stadium
Temperature 78° Temperature
Attendance 41,048 attendance
| Team | Record | ATS | O/U | Away | Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
EIU
|
0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 |
|
MINN
|
0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 |
EIU RecordLast 10
| Date | vs | Result | ATS | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, '26 |
@
MURR
|
W 28 - 14 | W 4.5 | u49.5 |
| Nov 22, '25 |
@
ALA
|
L 0 - 56 | L 50.5 | u57.5 |
| Nov 15, '25 |
@
LIN
|
L 12 - 42 | -- | -- |
| Nov 08, '25 |
TNTC
|
L 9 - 21 | -- | -- |
| Nov 01, '25 |
UTM
|
L 20 - 27 | -- | -- |
| Oct 25, '25 |
@
CHSO
|
L 16 - 17 | -- | -- |
| Oct 18, '25 |
@
SEMO
|
L 13 - 42 | -- | -- |
| Oct 11, '25 |
WEBB
|
L 10 - 21 | -- | -- |
| Oct 04, '25 |
TNST
|
W 31 - 7 | -- | -- |
| Sep 27, '25 |
@
WIU
|
W 31 - 23 | -- | -- |
EIU Next 3 GamesLast Meeting ( Aug 28, 2014 ) Eastern Illinois 20, Minnesota 42
P.J. Fleck enters his 10th season as coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers, giving him seniority over every Big Ten coach except Iowa's Kirk Ferentz.
So far, Fleck likes what he has seen from his players in his milestone year. He will aim for another successful season starting Thursday night when Minnesota (0-0) kicks off against Eastern Illinois (1-0) in a nonconference matchup in Minneapolis.
The Golden Gophers are coming off back-to-back eight-win seasons and are hungry for more success.
"This team's been really fun to coach because whatever you put in front of them, they knock down," Fleck said. "They're a really connected team, and everybody keeps using that word. We're gonna find out how connected (on Thursday night)."
Drake Lindsey returns as Minnesota's starting quarterback. Lindsey started all 13 games in 2025 as a redshirt freshman and threw for 2,382 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions.
The Golden Gophers' top rusher also returns. Darius Taylor was limited by injuries last season but finished with 670 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. He will have every opportunity to improve on those numbers this season.
On defense, pass rusher Anthony Smith ranks among Minnesota's top producers. The 6-foot-6, 280-pound fifth-year player recorded a Big Ten-leading 12 1/2 sacks last season and assumes a larger leadership role this year after top safety Koi Perich transferred to Oregon.
Eastern Illinois, an FCS program, will try to improve its 0-11 record against Big Ten opponents. The Panthers went 3-9 last season and lost their final seven games, but they started this season much better with a 28-14 win over Murray State on Thursday.
Charles Kellom rushed 19 times for 171 yards and three touchdowns to lead Eastern Illinois. Quarterback Cole LaCrue, who spent his first two seasons on Wisconsin's sideline, completed 11 of 18 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown.
Panthers coach Chris Wilkerson praised his quarterback's performance.
"He continues to improve, and that's the biggest thing," Wilkerson said. "He's making decisions, trusting himself, and he still was able to climb in the pocket and extend some plays."
--Field Level Media
Eastern Illinois's Injuries| Player | POS | Status | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No injuries to report. | ||||
Minnesota's Injuries| Player | POS | Status | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Turner | RB | Questionable - Knee( Sep 04, '26) | Sep 04, '26 | |
| Turner is fighting off a knee injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will return to action against Miss. State on Saturday, September 12th. | ||||
| B. Stevens | WR | Questionable - Illness( Sep 04, '26) | Sep 04, '26 | |
| Stevens is ailing from illness, and it is uncertain if he will play against Miss. State on Saturday, September 12th. | ||||
| K. Helms | TE | Questionable - Undisclosed( Sep 04, '26) | Sep 04, '26 | |
| Helms is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it remains to be seen if he will be active against Miss. State on Saturday, September 12th. | ||||
| Date | Score | YDS | Att | Comp | Comp % | Y/A | TD/Int | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.LaCrue | Aug 27, 2026 | MURR 14 - EIU 28 | 101 | 18 | 11 | 61.1 | 5.6 | 1/0 | 0.0 |
| C.Wolf | Nov 22, 2025 | ALA 56 - EIU 0 | 20 | 8 | 4 | 50.0 | 2.5 | 0/0 | 71.0 |
| C.LaCrue | Nov 22, 2025 | ALA 56 - EIU 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0/1 | -200.0 |
| C.Wolf | Nov 15, 2025 | LIN 42 - EIU 12 | 130 | 29 | 17 | 58.6 | 4.5 | 1/0 | 0.0 |
| C.LaCrue | Nov 15, 2025 | LIN 42 - EIU 12 | 47 | 10 | 8 | 80.0 | 4.7 | 0/0 | 0.0 |
| C.LaCrue | Nov 8, 2025 | EIU 9 - TNTC 21 | 174 | 31 | 15 | 48.4 | 5.6 | 1/1 | 0.0 |
| C.Wolf | Nov 8, 2025 | EIU 9 - TNTC 21 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 66.7 | 5.0 | 0/0 | 0.0 |
| C.LaCrue | Nov 1, 2025 | EIU 20 - UTM 27 | 140 | 18 | 14 | 77.8 | 7.8 | 2/0 | 0.0 |
| C.Wolf | Nov 1, 2025 | EIU 20 - UTM 27 | 100 | 5 | 5 | 100.0 | 20.0 | 1/0 | 0.0 |
| Date | Score | YDS | Att | Comp | Comp % | Y/A | TD/Int | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D.Lindsey | Dec 26, 2025 | MINN 20 - UNM 17 | 147 | 28 | 18 | 64.3 | 5.3 | 2/0 | 132.0 |
| D.Lindsey | Nov 29, 2025 | MINN 17 - WIS 7 | 90 | 24 | 18 | 75.0 | 3.8 | 1/0 | 120.3 |
| D.Lindsey | Nov 22, 2025 | NW 38 - MINN 35 | 264 | 30 | 20 | 66.7 | 8.8 | 4/0 | 184.6 |
| D.Lindsey | Nov 14, 2025 | ORE 42 - MINN 13 | 138 | 32 | 19 | 59.4 | 4.3 | 1/0 | 105.9 |
| D.Lindsey | Nov 1, 2025 | MINN 23 - MSU 20 | 197 | 39 | 26 | 66.7 | 5.1 | 0/0 | 109.1 |
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/Play | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Rush Yds | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Rush Att | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/Rush | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Pass Yds | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Pass Att | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Comp | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Comp% | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/Comp | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/Att | (--) | 0.0 |
| .0 | (--) | QB rating | (--) | .0 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 349.0 |
| 5.3 |
| 127.5 |
| 33.2 |
| 3.8 |
| 222.2 |
| 32.3 |
| 20.4 |
| 63.2 |
| 10.9 |
| 6.9 |
| - |
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | (--) | Sacks | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Sack Yds | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Intercepts | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Fumbles | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Penalties | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Penalty Yds | (--) | 0.0 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 2.2 |
| 15.6 |
| 0.4 |
| 0.5 |
| 6.6 |
| 54.7 |
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | (--) | Score | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | 1st Q | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | 2nd Q | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | 3rd Q | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | 4th Q | (--) | 0.0 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 23.9 |
| 3.8 |
| 7.9 |
| 5.1 |
| 7.1 |
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/Punt Ret | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/KO Ret | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | FG Att | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | FG Made | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | FG% | (--) | 0.0 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 9.6 |
| 23.1 |
| 0.7 |
| 0.5 |
| 76.2 |
