EIU football rebuilds, grows closer ahead of new season

Senior safety Saipeti Maiava, one of five Eastern Illinois captains, described the mentality driving a Panthers team that he says looks nothing like the one that finished 3-9 a year ago. “We’re coming out guns blazing,” he said. Under fifth-year head coach Chris Wilkerson, EIU enters the 2026 season with 56 new players. It’s a...