Yup, ISU and EIU always play each other. Actually, it's a named rivalry (although the name is a recent addition, starting with the 100th meeting a couple of years ago).letsgonecks wrote:Also noticed EIU will also be playing ISU. Like that the Illinois teams will be playing each other.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-America_Classic
102 meetings (maybe...College Football Data Warehouse says 103) in 114 years. It's by far the most-played "rivalry" for EIU and is the most played rivalry for ISU (with ISU-WIU being #2 at 96 meetings).
I do agree that having Illinois teams play each other is good thing. It reduces travel costs for whichever team is traveling, increases ticket sales, helps keep money in-state, etc. I'd imagine even the Illinois FBS teams like it, since they aren't likely to sell out early non-conference games unless they're pulling in someone like a Notre Dame or something.
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