Illinois Legislature Honors Illinois State Redbirds After National Title Run

The Illinois State Redbird football team was formally recognized by both the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate after its historic 2025-26 season in which the program reached the FCS National Championship game. The group traveled to the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield on Feb. 25, 2026, for a ceremonial honor that included a tour of the Capitol, a photograph on the House floor, and meetings with state lawmakers.

Head Coach Brock Spack and Director of Athletics Dr. Jeri Beggs accompanied administrators and student-athletes during the visit. The team posed on the House floor with State Representative Sharon Chung and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch while holding an autographed ISU football, then presented that football to Speaker Welch and Rep. Chung as part of the recognition. The photograph from the visit shows the Redbirds dressed in black and red surrounding the two representatives while holding the ISU football.

Inside the Speaker Gallery, Rep. Sharon Chung read a congratulatory message to the House; the announcement drew applause from representatives across Illinois. The Redbirds also met with State Senator Dave Koehler during their time at the Capitol, completing a program of formal acknowledgments by both legislative chambers.

Coach Spack framed the day as a developmental moment for his players and a point of pride for the program: “We were honored to accept an invitation to travel to Springfield and be honored at the Capitol,” Spack stated. “It was a great experience for our student-athletes to get to experience a trip like this, see the history that resides at the Capitol and be recognized for their hard work in 2025. We can’t thank Rep. Chung, Speaker Welch, and Senator Koehler enough for taking time out of their busy schedules to meet with us. This is the second time we have been able to make a trip like this, but it’s never lost on me how special it is to be honored by the State Legislature.”

The visit marked another occasion in which members of Illinois’ legislative branch acknowledged achievements by university athletic programs. The Feb. 25 recognition in Springfield capped public honors tied to the Redbirds’ 2025-26 national title run, and the team returned to campus with the autographed ISU football and a formal legislative salute to a season that reached the FCS title game.