EIU to host ISU in 1st Round of Playoffs

CHARLESTON, Ill. (http://www.EIUpanthers.com) - Eastern Illinois University will be making its 11th NCAA Division I Football payoff when the Panthers play host to Illinois State University this Saturday at OBrien Stadium. Kick-off will be at 1 p.m. and tickets will go on sale starting at 9 a.m. on Monday morning. Ticket prices are $12 for adults and $5 for students. EIU officials have also announced that they will be opening the dorms at 10 a.m. on Saturday to allow students to return to campus and watch the game. Tickets can be purchased by calling the EIU ticket office at (217) 581-2106. EIU will also have a limited number of tickets available in the Victory Suite. Those tickets will cost $125 per person and can be purchased by calling Pam Collins at (217) 581-5726. Eastern Illinois finished the regular-season at 8-4 and was co-champion of the Ohio Valley Conference. EIU was selected as one of the eight at-large teams in the 16-team field. The Panthers are making their 11th NCAA Division I Football playoff appearance and fifth since the 2000 season. EIU lost 44-30 in their previous game at Illinois State this season. Illinois State is making only its third NCAA Football playoff appearance and first since 1999. Illinois State was selected as an at-large representative out of the Gateway Football Conference after finishing the year at 8-3. The winner of the EIU/ISU game will face the winner of the Youngstown State/James Madison game. Youngstown State was seeded fourth in the national field after winning the Gateway. Fellow OVC co-champion Tennessee Martin was sent on the road to face Southern Illinois.