Leatherneck Nation

Western_101 wrote: Mon Jul 13, 2026 8:36 pm Any pictures of the new turf installation Scott?
 

 

I'm working from home for the next week and a half (power is out in Sherman for scheduled maintenance), but I'll try to get a photo when I get back. Last I saw, it was all a light grey color (not the turf, one of the under-layers).

Doesn't have to do with this year's schedule, but WIU and Murray St agreed on a home and home - WIU goes to Murray St in 2029 and Murray St comes here in 2031.

meganeck wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2026 5:09 pm Doesn't have to do with this year's schedule, but WIU and Murray St agreed on a home and home - WIU goes to Murray St in 2029 and Murray St comes here in 2031.

 

Thanks, I've added it to the future schedules thread: https://www.leathernecknation.net/forum ... 5330#p5330

Also, I see that the OVC Preseason Poll has been released. We are 6th out of 8 teams.

1. UT Martin (6 first-place votes), 47 points
2. Southeast Missouri (1), 38
3. Lindenwood (1), 37
4. Gardner-Webb, 30
5. Charleston Southern, 26
6. Western Illinois, 23
7. Eastern Illinois, 14
8. Tennessee State, 9

Times have been released for the home games this year:
8/27 vs Northwestern College - 6 PM
9/5 vs Illinois State - 6 PM
9/19 vs Morehead State - 6 PM
10/3 vs Tennessee State - 3 PM
10/24 vs UT Martin - 3 PM
11/14 vs Gardner-Webb - 1 PM

Not surprisingly, the early season games start later in the day to avoid the afternoon heat as much as possible. The only November home game is at 1 so it ends up being played during the warmest part of the day.

Western Illinois Football leans on experience, trenches heading into 2026.
From WGEM-TV Sports:
https://www.wgem.com/2026/07/17/western ... into-2026/