Western Illinois to face tough 2015 schedule

Macomb, IL (SportsNetwork.com) – Western Illinois’ football program figures to be improved in 2015, but it will have to be considering the Fighting Leathernecks’ difficult schedule.

Third-year coach Bob Nielson and his squad will face six teams that made the 2014 FCS playoffs as well as the University of Illinois.

WIU, which was 5-7 this past season, will play home games against Eastern Illinois (Sept. 3) and Missouri Valley Football Conference opponents Southern Illinois (Oct. 3), South Dakota (Oct. 10), Youngstown State (Oct. 31) and South Dakota State (Nov. 21), a 2014 playoff team.

The Illinois game in Champaign is on Sept. 12. The Fighting Leathernecks’ five road FCS games are against 2014 playoff teams: Coastal Carolina (Sept. 19) as well as Missouri Valley foes Northern Iowa (Oct. 17), Illinois State (Oct. 24), North Dakota State (Nov. 7), the four-time reigning FCS national champion, and Indiana State (Nov. 14).

2015 Western Illinois Football Schedule

Sept. 3, Eastern Illinois

Sept. 12, at Illinois

Sept. 19, at Coastal Carolina

Oct. 3, Southern Illinois*

Oct. 10, South Dakota*

Oct. 17, at Northern Iowa*

Oct. 24, at Illinois State*

Oct. 31, Youngstown State*

Nov. 7, at North Dakota State*

Nov. 14, at Indiana State*

Nov. 21, South Dakota State*

* – Missouri Valley Conference game

Categorized in: NCAA Football