Iowa Football Fans: How to Watch Eastern Illinois vs Minnesota Thursday Night
Iowa football fans looking for a midweek fix can tune in Thursday night when Eastern Illinois takes on Minnesota in a non-conference clash with Big Ten implications. The game kicks off at 8:00 PM ET from Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis and will air on NBCSN and stream live on Peacock.
This marks just the second all-time meeting between the two schools. Minnesota won the only prior matchup, 42-20, back in 2014. For Iowa viewers, the game offers a chance to scout the Golden Gophers, a team expected to contend in the Big Ten West alongside the Hawkeyes.
Eastern Illinois looks for rare 2-0 start
The Panthers opened their season with a 28-14 win over Murray State, and a victory Thursday would give Eastern Illinois its first 2-0 start since 2013. Redshirt senior running back Charles Kellom powered the win with career highs of 171 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries.
Quarterback Cole LaCrue, a Colorado native who transferred from Wisconsin, completed 11 of 18 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. Last season, LaCrue started seven of 11 games, throwing for 851 yards, four touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
Head coach Chris Wilkerson, now in his fifth year, has yet to lead the Panthers to more than three wins in a season. Eastern Illinois is 6-42 all-time against FBS opponents, making Thursday a significant test.
Minnesota brings stability and experience
The Golden Gophers enter 2026 after back-to-back 8-5 seasons and are the only Big Ten team returning their head coach, starting quarterback, and both coordinators. That continuity has Minnesota confident it can break through as a conference contender.
Junior quarterback Drake Lindsey returns for his second year as starter. The Fayetteville, Arkansas native started all 13 games last season, throwing for 2,382 yards, 18 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
“I think your first year, you're trying to figure some things out. You're just trying to make sure you can get yourself through, you know, game week and make sure you can execute for your teammates. This year, I'm obviously comfortable within the offense with my teammates, [I'm] growing a lot as a leader,” Lindsey said at Big Ten Media Day.
Head coach P.J. Fleck enters his tenth season at Minnesota, posting a 66-44 record. He is the second-longest tenured active coach in the Big Ten, trailing only Iowa's Kirk Ferentz.
How to watch Eastern Illinois vs Minnesota
- When: Thursday, September 3
- Where: Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
- Time: 8:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: NBCSN
- Live Stream: Peacock
How to stream college football on Peacock
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What is the Big Ten?
The Big Ten Conference, founded in 1896, is the oldest college athletic conference in the NCAA. It includes Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and others, with UCLA, USC, Washington, and Oregon joining in the 2024-2025 school year.
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