CHARLESTON, Ill. (WCIA) — The 2024 Eastern Illinois football season didn’t go according to plan after a 3-9 record put them in second-to-last place in the OVC Big South after starting the season second in the conference’s preseason poll.

The Panthers have turned the page to this fall’s campaign, hoping better results lie ahead, taking inventory of where improvement is needed ahead of kickoff this fall.

“Yesterday is history and tomorrow’s a mystery. We’ve learned an awful lot from some of the mistakes that we made as a program last year, and chemistry and culture do matter,” head coach Chris Wilkerson said. “You got to have some talent, but chemistry and culture matter, but our guys have been very, very focused on trying to win every single day.”

A key element to a strong 2025 will be naming a new starting QB following Pierce Holley’s departure.

Wilkerson hopes to see the best-equipped candidate emerge from four quarterbacks that separated themselves from the pack heading into preseason practices.

“There’s going to be competition is the bottom line. It will take the first two weeks of camp to kind of see where we’re at,” Wilkerson said. “If we’re ready to name a starter at that point in time, we will, and if not, he will continue to work.” “If a couple of guys separate themselves, then we’ll move forward with them and then ultimately name a starter before we play at home in August.”

EIU kicks off the new season on August 28 at home against Dayton.