🏈 Redbird & Titan Game-Day Hub

The Redbird side: Homecoming at Hancock Normal

• Kickoff 2:00 PM vs. Indiana State, ESPN+, radio WJBC 1230 AM. The Redbirds come home 5–2 after a 35–14 win at Southern Illinois on Oct. 17 (GoRedbirds schedule).
• Tailgate lots open 7:00 AM — the earliest opening of the season, because Homecoming. All tailgating lots close at kickoff (ISU tailgating page).
• Parking is $30 per car in all public lots for Homecoming ($50 per RV in Lot G81, no overnight parking) — triple the regular $10 rate, so the carpool decision is worth real money this week (ISU tailgating page).
• Public lots: G53, G82, G/U91, F43, S81. Note the fine print that bites: Lot U91 is open this Saturday (it only opens for the opener, Family Weekend, and Homecoming) and F43 is not (it opened only for Family Weekend). The North University Garage (NUG) takes cars but no tailgating — and day-of-game lots are cashless (ISU parking/tailgating FAQ).
• Clear bag policy is in force at Hancock. Leave the backpack in the trunk, not at the gate (Illinois State University news).

The Titan side: the receiver chasing 1,000 yards Bloomington

• Kickoff 1:00 PM vs. Elmhurst at Tucci Stadium, 314 Titan Drive. It is the first of two straight home games — North Park follows on Sat., Nov. 7, after the bye week (IWU preview).
• The player to watch is junior wide receiver Will Nazha: 693 receiving yards through six games, sixth in the nation in Division III, on pace to become IWU's first 1,000-yard receiver since 2018. Saturday is a home chance to watch that chase while it's still a chase (IWU preview).
• Tailgating runs in the designated area only, opens three hours before kickoff, and ends when the game starts (IWU tailgating policy). Inside the rules: beer and wine only — no hard alcohol, no glass, no kegs. Bag your trash before you head in (IWU game-day tailgating policies).
• Can't get there? IWU streams on the CCIW Network, with links on the football schedule page at iwusports.com (IWU athletics).

The rest of the home slate (mark them now)

• Sat., Oct. 31, 1:00 PM — ISU vs. Murray State, Hancock Normal. Halloween kickoff. Tailgate lots open 8:00 AM; back to the regular $10 per car parking (ISU tailgating page).
• Sat., Nov. 7, 1:00 PM — IWU vs. North Park, Tucci Bloomington. The Titans' second straight home game (IWU preview).
• Sat., Nov. 21, 12:00 PM — ISU vs. South Dakota, Hancock Normal. Regular-season finale; lots open 7:00 AM (GoRedbirds schedule).

This week's poll: Saturday, your call — Tucci at 1, Hancock at 2, the split (first half green, second half red), or the couch with both streams? Vote in Thursday's issue; the split voters get their route graded next week.

Send this to the one person who still drives to Champaign for a college football Saturday — on Oct. 24 there are two games, two tailgates, and a 1,000-yard chase within one town line of their driveway, and Homecoming parking is $30 if they don't carpool.

📲 Share-ready card (copy-paste):

• 🏈 Sat., Oct. 24 = BloNo doubleheader: IWU vs. Elmhurst, 1 PM, Tucci Stadium Bloomington — ISU vs. Indiana State (Homecoming), 2 PM, Hancock Stadium Normal. You can't do both whole. Pick by 12:30.
• 🚗 Hancock Homecoming math: lots open 7 AM, parking $30/car ($50 RV, Lot G81), cashless, clear bags, tailgates close at kickoff. U91 lot is OPEN this week; F43 is not.
• 🎯 At Tucci: watch WR Will Nazha — 693 yards through six games, chasing IWU's first 1,000-yard season since 2018. Tailgating: designated area, 3 hrs before kickoff, beer & wine only.