2006 Illinois State Redbirds football team

The 2006 Illinois State Redbirds football team represented Illinois State University in the 2006 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by seventh-year head coach Denver Johnson and played their home games at Hancock Stadium. Illinois State was a member of the Gateway Football Conference. The Redbirds finished the season with an 9–4 record overall and a 5–2 record in conference play. The team received an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs, where they defeated Eastern Illinois in the first round before losing to Youngstown State in the quarterfinals.[1] The team was ranked #8 in The Sports Network's postseason ranking of Division I FCS.[2]

2006 Illinois State Redbirds football
ConferenceGateway Football Conference
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 8
2006 record9–4 (5–2 Gateway)
Head coach
Home stadiumHancock Stadium
2006 Gateway Football Conference standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 4 Youngstown State $^  6 –1   11 –3  
No. 8 Illinois State ^  5 –2   9 –4  
No. 17 Northern Iowa  5 –2   7 –4  
No. 7 Southern Illinois ^  4 –3   9 –4  
Western Kentucky  4 –3   6 –5  
Western Illinois  2 –5   5 –6  
Missouri State  1 –6   2 –9  
Indiana State  1 –6   1 –10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 2at Kansas State*No. 9
L 23–2447,250[3]
September 7Central Arkansas*No. 7
W 18–310,262[4]
September 16No. 18 Eastern Illinois*No. 7
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL (rivalry)
W 44–3012,512[5]
September 23at Murray State*No. 6
W 35–144,075[6]
October 7at Western KentuckyNo. 6
W 28–277,661[7]
October 14No. 7 Southern IllinoisNo. 5
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
W 37–1017,237[8]
October 21at Western IllinoisNo. 3
W 27–149,220[9]
October 28No. 10 Youngstown StateNo. 3
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
L 13–2715,372[10]
November 4Missouri StateNo. 8
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
W 38–148,638[11]
November 11at Indiana StateNo. 7
W 42–202,341[12]
November 18at No. 20 Northern IowaNo. 6
L 27–3810,827[13]
November 25at No. 14 Eastern Illinois*No. 11
W 24–134,400[14]
December 2at No. 4 Youngstown StateNo. 11
L 21–2810,813[15]

References
  1. "2021 Redbird Football Media Guide" (PDF). Illinois State University Athletics Department. p. 71. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  2. "Division I-AA Poll". The Greenville News. Greenville, South Carolina. December 19, 2006. p. 5C. Retrieved October 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Martin, Jeffrey (September 3, 2006). "Shaky Start: K-State Escapes With Victory". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1D. Retrieved October 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Reinhardt, Randy (September 10, 2006). "Defense Leads Way For ISU". The Pantagraph. p. D1. Retrieved October 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Reinhardt, Randy (September 17, 2006). "Redbirds Go On The Offensive". The Pantagraph. p. D1. Retrieved October 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Barnard Has Two TD Passes In Racer Loss". Messenger-Inquirer. Associated Press. September 24, 2006. p. 4B. Retrieved October 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Reinhardt, Randy (October 8, 2006). "ISU Dodges Hilltoppers' Bullet". The Pantagraph. p. D1. Retrieved October 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Reinhardt, Randy (October 15, 2006). "Drone Steers ISU To Big Win". The Pantagraph. p. D1. Retrieved October 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Rembert Runs Wild In Illinois State's Victory Over Host Western Illinois". The Southern Illinoisan. Associated Press. October 22, 2006. p. 7C. Retrieved October 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Reinhardt, Randy (October 29, 2006). "Penguins Halt ISU's Win Streak". The Pantagraph. p. D1. Retrieved October 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Redbirds Make It Look Easy". Herald and Review. Associated Press. November 5, 2006. p. C9. Retrieved October 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. Reinhardt, Randy (November 12, 2006). "ISU Has Late Answers". The Pantagraph. p. D1. Retrieved October 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. Reinhardt, Randy (November 19, 2006). "Panthers Deny ISU Title Share". The Pantagraph. p. D1. Retrieved October 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. Nielsen, Brian (November 26, 2006). "Redbirds Bring Panthers Down From High In Playoffs". Herald and Review. p. C8. Retrieved October 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. Reinhardt, Randy (December 3, 2006). "Late Rally Not Enough As ISU Exits Playoffs". The Pantagraph. p. D1. Retrieved October 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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