HEAD COACH INTERVIEWS
Each league head coach particpated in a Zoom on Tuesday to preview this week's games. Scroll down to access the audio from that Zoom. The video can be accessed on the
OVC's YouTube page.
This Week’s Schedule
Thursday, September 1
Western Illinois
at #15 UT Martin, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Eastern Illinois at Northern Illinois, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Friday, September 2
Tennessee Tech at Kansas, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Saturday, September 3
Southeast Missouri at Iowa State, 1:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Tennessee State at #12 Eastern Washington, 3:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Murray State at Texas Tech, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Western Illinois Leathernecks (0-0, 0-0 MVFC)
at #15 UT Martin Skyhawks (0-0, 0-0 OVC)
Thursday, September 1 • 6:30 p.m. CT
Hardy M. Graham Stadium (7,500) • Martin, Tenn.
Video:............................
https://es.pn/3ThXWDh (ESPN+)
Live Stats:.......................................
https://bit.ly/3PSKBi8
Series Record:........................... Western Illinois leads 1-0
Last Meeting:............. Western Illinois leads 56-0 (9/20/03)
Myers Hendrickson at Western Illinois:... 0-0 (First season)
Myers Hendrickson Overall:........................... 31-4 (3 yrs.)
Jason Simpson at UT Martin:.................... 100-80 (16 yrs.)
Jason Simpson Overall:........................................... same
Western Illinois Last Week:......................................... n/a
UT Martin Last Week:................................................. n/a
NOTEWORTHY
• Defending OVC champion UT Martin opens the 2022 season by hosting Western Illinois on a Thursday night.
• The meeting is the first between the programs since 2003 when the Leathernecks blanked the Skyhawks in Macomb. The teams are scheduled to play in Macomb in 2024.
• UTM is ranked No. 15 in the FCS Coaches Poll and No. 18 in the Stats Perform Top 25 poll.
• Graduate linebacker John H. Ford II (88 tackles, 4 interceptions, 1 forced fumble in 2021) was named the OVC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and is on the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List. Also back is safety Deven Sims (93 tackles, 1 interception in 2021) who was named the OVC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year by Lindy's magazine.
• Offensive lineman Matthan Hatchie joined his teammates in earning Preseason All-American honors from several outlets.
• Also returning is running back Zak Wallace who led the OVC with 15 rushing touchdowns a year ago.
• Former WIU wide receiver Myers Hendrickson enters his first year as head coach at Western Illinois after three years as the head coach at Kansas Wesleyan. There he led the team to a 31-4 record, including a pair of NAIA Quarterfinal appearances.
• Hendrickson is the son of Mark Hendrickson, who was the Western Illinois head coach from 2008-12.
• The Leathernecks were 2-9 a season ago. This year the team returns 56 players from that squad.
Eastern Illinois Panthers (0-0, 0-0 OVC)
at Northern Illinois Huskies (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
Thursday, September 1 • 7:00 p.m. CT
Huskie Stadium (24,000) • DeKalb, Ill.
Video:.................................
https://es.pn/3PIclpj (ESPN+)
Live Stats:.....................................
https://bit.ly/3R3ZWgA
Series Record:.................... Northern Illinois leads 26-10-1
Last Meeting:................................ NIU won 38-10 (9/9/17)
Chris Wilkerson at Eastern Illinois:.......... 0-0 (First season)
Chris Wilkerson Overall:............................... 51-27 (8 yrs.)
Thomas Hammock at Northern Illinois:.......... 14-18 (3 yrs.)
Thomas Hammock Overall:...................................... same
Eastern Illinois Last Week:.......................................... n/a
Northern Illinois Last Week:......................................... n/a
NOTEWORTHY
• In-state foes square off to kickoff the 2022 season as Eastern Illinois travels to Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent Northern Illinois.
• The two teams have played 28 previous times, with the last meeting coming during the 2017 season. In 2013, NIU pulled out a 43-39 win over EIU, despite Panthers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo throwing for 450 yards and six touchdowns. That NIU team would finish the season 12-2 with an appearance in the Poinsettia Bowl.
• Eastern Illinois is 10-39 all-time against FBS opponents, having lost its last four matchups since topping Miami (Ohio) in 2016.
• Eastern Illinois begins this year with a new head coach in former Panther player and assistant coach Chris Wilkerson. Wilkerson played for the Panthers from 1991-94 and coached under Hall of Famer Bob Spoo from 1995-2001. He takes over the EIU program after a successful tenure at the University of Chicago, where he posted winning years in seven of his eight seasons.
• Last year EIU ranked 28th nationally in tackles for loss per game (6.5). This year the team returns a trio of defensive players who earned All-OVC honors in 2021 in Jordan Vincent (60 tackles), Tim Varga (46 tackles, 4.0 sacks) and Jordan Miles (38 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks).
• Among the team's newcomers is Central Connecticut transfer Foday Jalloh. In 2019 he made 81 tackles (8.5 for loss) from the linebacker position.
• Wide receiver Isaiah HIll returns after leading the team with 39 receptions and 493 yards in just five games last year.
• A year ago the Huskies topped Kent State in the MAC Championship game and took on Coastal Carolina in the Tailgreeter Cure Bowl (falling 47-41).
• NIU redshirt senior quarterback Rocky Lombardi was named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List ahead of the season. A year ago the Michigan State transfer passed for 2,597 yards and 15 touchdowns. He threw for 532 yards and three scores in the MAC Championship game.
• This season Northern Illinois was voted the preseason MAC favorite in a vote of media members. NIU was tabbed the West Division favorite and picked up nine of 24 first-place votes for the overall champion.
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (0-0, 0-0 OVC)
at Kansas Jayhawks (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Friday, September 2 • 7:00 p.m. CT
Memorial Stadium (47,233) • Lawrence, Kan.
Video:...............................
https://es.pn/3KjiDuK (ESPN+)
Live Stats:.......................................
https://bit.ly/3Cp5jD5
Series Record:............................................. First meeting
Last Meeting:.............................................................. n/a
Dewayne Alexander at Tennessee Tech:...... 12-29 (4 yrs.)
Dewayne Alexander Overall:...................... 53-62 (11 yrs.)
Lance Leipold at Kansas:................................ 2-10 (1 yr.)
Lance Leipold Overall:............................. 148-49 (15 yrs.)
Tennessee Tech Last Week:....................................... n/a
Kansas Last Week:..................................................... n/a
NOTEWORTHY
• Tennessee Tech will travel to Kansas to open the 2022 season, with a Friday night kickoff.
• The Golden Eagles are 2-37 all-time against FBS opponents, with its last win coming in 1980 against Western Carolina. Tech has lost 35 in a row against FBS teams.
• This year the Tennessee Tech football team celebrates the 100th anniversary of its first varsity contest.
• TTU has a new quarterback this year in Jeremiah Oatsvall. Oatsvall is not new to the OVC as he was the 2017 OVC Freshman of the Year at Austin Peay and spent four years there before transferring to Memphis last year.
• The Golden Eagles also return running back David Gist who ranked fourth in the OVC in rushing last year (901 yards) while also catching 37 passes. Shoring up the other side of the ball is redshirt senior safety Josh Reliford (69 tackles, 6 pass breakups).
• Kansas head coach Lance Leipold began his career at Wisconsin-Whitewater where he compiled a 109-6 record and five NCAA Division III National Championships in eight years. He then coached at Buffalo (winning two bowl games) before coming to Kansas ahead of the 2021 season.
• Senior safety Kenny Logan Jr. has been named to a variety of preseason watch lists including the Paul Hornung Award and the Jim Thorpe Award. Also a Preseason All-Big 12 selection, he led all safeties nationally with 113 tackles and averaged 27.9 yards per kick return.
• Quarterback Jalon Daniels has started nine games over the past two seasons. Last year he passed for 860 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for three additional scores.
Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (0-0, 0-0 OVC)
at Iowa State Cyclones (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Saturday, September 3 • 1:00 p.m. CT
Jack Trice Stadium (61,500) • Ames, Iowa
Video:............................
https://es.pn/3QDSJUJ (ESPN+)
Live Stats:......................................
https://bit.ly/3CrPWJR
Series Record:............................................. First meeting
Last Meeting:.............................................................. n/a
Tom Matukewicz at Southeast Missouri:....... 41-49 (8 yrs.)
Tom Matukewicz Overall:............................. 42-49 (9 yrs.)
Matt Campbell at Iowa State:........................ 42-34 (6 yrs.)
Matt Campbell Overall:.............................. 77-49 (10 yrs.)
Southeast Missouri Last Week:.................................... n/a
Iowa State Last Week:................................................ n/a
NOTEWORTHY
• Southeast Missouri will begin the season with its first-ever matchup against Iowa State.
• SEMO head coach Tom Matukewicz was the defensive coordinator under Matt Campbell in Toledo in 2012 and 2013.
• SEMO is 1-25 all-time against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents, with its long win coming over Middle Tennessee in 2002.
• This year marks the 118th of college football for Southeast Missouri and 32nd at the FCS level.
• Southeast Missouri is 10-21 all-time in season-opening games during its Division I era.
• Newcomer Paxton DeLaurent won the SEMO starting quarterback job during the fall camp. A year ago he passed for 2,499 yards and 25 touchdowns at Central Methodist University. He edged CJ Ogbonna (who started every game last year) in the competition.
• The Redhawks were picked second in the OVC preseason poll of league head coaches and communications directors.
• Iowa State returns 44 players, including eight offensive and seven defensive starters, from last season.
• Among the returning players is defensive end Will McDonald IV, who was named a Preseason All-American by the Associated Press. He has 29.0 career sacks, which is an ISU record, and has forced nine fumbles and tallied 34.5 tackles for loss in his career.
• Iowa State was picked sixth in the Big 12 preseason media poll, and picked up one first-place vote.
Tennessee State Tigers (0-0, 0-0 OVC)
at #12 Eastern Washington Eagles (0-0, 0-0 Big Sky)
Saturday, September 3 • 3:00 p.m. CT
Roos Field (8,600) • Cheaney, Wash.
Video:..............................
https://es.pn/3AmcJ7f (ESPN+)
Live Stats:......................................
https://bit.ly/3AGEQzn
Series Record:............................................. First meeting
Last Meeting:.............................................................. n/a
Eddie George at Tennessee State:.................... 5-6 (1 yr.)
Eddie George Overall:............................................. same
Aaron Best at Eastern Washington:.............. 41-17 (5 yrs.)
Aaron Best Overall:................................................. same
Tennessee State Last Week:....................................... n/a
Eastern Washington Last Week:.................................. n/a
NOTEWORTHY
• Tennessee State travels to the red turf of "The Inferno" for a date with nationally-ranked Eastern Washington. It is the first matchup between the two schools.
• Tennessee State has lost four-straight games against ranked teams, with its last win coming against No. 19 Austin Peay in 2019.
• The Big Blue begin its second season under head coach Eddie George, who won five games in 2021.
• Among the returning players is junior running back Devon Starling (almost 1,500 yards in his first two years) and linebacker James Green (77 tackles last year). Both are candidates for the Deacon Jones Trophy.
• Also returning is offensive lineman Robert Lacey, a Preseason All-OVC selection who was named to the Watch List for the Senior Bowl.
• Among the team's newcomers is quarterback Draylen Ellis, who was the OVC Co-Freshman of the Year (with Starling) in 2020 at Austin Peay. Ellis passed for 2,626 yards and 19 touchdowns a year ago.
• EWU head coach Aaron Best has compiled a 30-8 record against Big Sky competition in his first five seasons. The Eagles advanced to the FCS National Championship game in his second season (2018) and were in the second round a year ago. Best was a center and long snapper as a player at Eastern Washington and served as an graduate assistant with the program, and later as the offensive coordinator before taking over as head coach.
• Eastern Washington has had 15 consecutive winning seasons. The team brings back 47 letterwinners from last year's squad. They do have to replace Walter Payton Award winning quarterback Eric Barriere who finished his career as the school's all-time leader in total offense (15,394), passing yards (13,809) and passing touchdowns (121), all of which are also Big Sky records.
• The Eagles begin the season at home against a Division I opponent for the first time since 2014.
Murray State Racers (0-0, 0-0 OVC)
at Texas Tech Red Raiders (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Saturday, September 3 • 7:00 p.m.
Jones AT&T Stadium (60,454) • Lubbock, Texas
Video:............................
https://es.pn/3AkQ5MC (ESPN+)
Live Stats:........................................
https://bit.ly/3ALX6rs
Series Record:............................................. First meeting
Last Meeting:.............................................................. n/a
Dean Hood at Murray State:........................... 11-7 (2 yrs.)
Dean Hood Overall:................................... 66-45 (10 yrs.)
Joey McGuire at Texas Tech:................. 0-0 (First season)
Joey McGuire Overall:............................................. same
Murray State Last Week:............................................. n/a
Texas Tech Last Week:............................................... n/a
NOTEWORTHY
• Saturday is the first-ever meeting between Murray State and Texas Tech. The only other time the Racers played a game against a Big 12 opponent was in 2006 (Missouri).
• Murray State is 3-31-1 all-time against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents. The team's won those three contests between 1978 and 1984 and tied Memphis in 1985.
• This marks the 98th season of football for Murray State.
• Among the team's returning players is third-year running back Damonta Witherspoon (912 rushing yards, 8 touchdowns, 18 receptions), who has earned a pair of All-OVC honors during his career, and sophomore quarterback DJ Williams (1,552 yards of total offense and nine total touchdowns) who became the team's starter halfway through last season on his way to OVC Freshman of the Year honors.
• On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Eric Samuta (76 tackles, 3 forced fumbles) is the team's leading returning tackler and was an All-OVC pick last season.
• Texas Tech begins its first year under head coach Joey McGuire. McGuire won multiple high school state championships in Texas before serving as an assistant coach at Baylor the past five seasons.
• Texas Tech quarterback Tyler Shough is on the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List for the second-straight season. He suffered an injury last year and was limited to only four games after transferring from Oregon. He is one of five Red Raiders on the Senior Bowl Watch List.
• Another player on a preseason watch list is junior wide receiver Myles Price who is a candidate for the Paul Hornung Award, given annually to the most versatile player in college football. A year ago he tallied 643 all-purpose yards (523 receiving, 83 rushing and 37 on punt returns).
BYE WEEK