Eastern’s 20-year enrollment decrease is part of statewide trend – The Daily Eastern News
Eastern’s enrollment has dropped 49.3% over the past 20 years, reflecting enrollment struggles at many Illinois universities. (Bryce Parker) Over the last two decades, Eastern has lost nearly half the number of students once enrolled as part of a statewide trend in public universities across Illinois. Since the 2004-05 school year, Eastern’s enrollment including off […]
Eastern’s enrollment has dropped 49.3% over the past 20 years, reflecting enrollment struggles at many Illinois universities. (Bryce Parker)
Over the last two decades, Eastern has lost nearly half the number of students once enrolled as part of a statewide trend in public universities across Illinois.
Since the 2004-05 school year, Eastern’s enrollment including off campus students has dropped from 11,651 to 5,910, a drop of around 49% over the last 20 years.
Eastern’s struggles to attract and retain students mirror similar enrollment declines at other directional schools in the state.
Over the last 20 years, enrollment is down 38% at Northern Illinois University, 45% at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and 53% at Western Illinois University.
Over the same period, enrollment at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville dropped by 12% while the number of students at Illinois State University increased slightly by around 4%.
There are, however, two state schools that have bucked this trend: the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois Chicago.
At UIUC, enrollment has exploded to a record high of 59,238, an increase of 46% over the last two decades, and at UIC, enrollment now tops 18,500 students, a 33% increase over the last 20 years.
One contributor to UIUC’s success is the level of funding it receives compared to other schools in the state. The adequacy funding for U of I, or the percentage of funds it has received to meet its educational needs, is 92%, according to a report by the Illinois Commission on Equitable Public University Funding.
That makes the state’s largest university also its best funded.
Last year, Eastern hit 61% of its target funding. Of the $178,159,100 budget this year, 53% was allocated from the state.
The funding disparities in the state create two classes of universities in Illinois: “the have and the have nots,” said John Blue, the inaugural executive director and senior diversity and inclusion officer at Eastern.
A bitter state budget standoff nearly a decade ago, the COVID-19 pandemic and a decline in enrollment prior to both of those events all have contributed to Eastern’s enrollment getting cut in half.
But Eastern hasn’t always been shrinking.
Jeffrey Stowell, professor of psychology and vice chair of faculty senate, has been teaching at Eastern since 2000 and remembers when his classes reached capacity consistently.
When Stowell first started working at Eastern, he said there were so many students in the psychology department that he and other professors discussed how to keep them from becoming psychology majors just to have enough space.
“We couldn’t handle them all,” Stowell said. “Our classrooms were full. I would have students asking to [join the classes], and I’m like, ‘I just simply can’t do it, because there’s no physical room in the classroom.’”
Now, Stowell said his psychology classes can hold 55 students, but only about 30 sign up.
The beginning of EIU’s enrollment decline
From 2006 to 2016, Eastern’s enrollment was already on a steady decline, losing nearly 5,000 students during the decade.
This became visible on campus when the university decided to close Carman Hall, the largest dorm complex on campus that was exclusively home to freshmen. Carman has two eight-floor towers that were closed in 2013 and now is used for fire department training.
According to a documentary on Carman Hall, Mark Hudson, the executive director of housing and dining services, said the building was shut down because it was “less than needed for demand.”
“We opted to close it down in order to fit the main people on the core of campus so we can focus on resources on renovations and things in that area in order to save operating money as well as future investment opportunities,” Hudson said in the documentary.
From July 1, 2015, to August 31, 2017, then Gov. Bruce Rauner (Rep.) had a budget standoff with the Democrat-controlled state legislature. As a result, Illinois did not have a complete budget, which impacted state funding in several areas, such as social service programs, state agency operations and higher education.
During this time, Eastern experienced a decrease of 3,181 students.
Brittany Tierney, Eastern’s director of admissions, said the drop in enrollment numbers in 2017 was directly connected to the budget crisis in the state.
“There was no state budget for a time frame that impacted universities,” Tierney said. “That impacted all state entities whenever there is no state budget.”
Jose Garcia, director of strategic communications at the Illinois Board of Higher Education, said enrollment at Eastern and other Illinois public universities has also been affected by COVID-19 pandemic. Eastern’s enrollment numbers from 2019 to 2023 were consistent, with 6,226 students in 2019 and 6,353 in 2023.
In the spring of 2023, university professors went on strike for six days. Tierney said Eastern was projected to have a good year with their enrollment numbers, but she said the EIU-UPI strike interrupted the projection.
“We lost a lot of students through that process,” Tierney said.
Eastern’s enrollment has dropped from 6,357 in 2023 to 5,910 last fall.
Jennifer Stringfellow disagrees with Tierney’s statement. Stringfellow was the president of EIU University Professionals of Illinois during the strike, the labor union that represents the 450 workers who went on strike.
“I don’t really buy that,” Stringfellow said. “I mean I’m not saying that there’s no impact, but I don’t believe that people aren’t coming here because they’re concerned that we might go on strike again, or that we went on strike and they didn’t like the strike.”
During 2024, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid experienced several delays and errors which interrupted the college enrollment for millions of families across the nation. Students who attend smaller state schools, such as Eastern, are more likely to seek out financial aid.
“We were down quite a bit in terms of students that had committed to come to Eastern, like 30% at one point,” Tierney said. “We ended up being down, in terms of first year incoming students, 4%.”
Trying to hit funding targets
Eastern is still trying to catch up from the funding it lost 10 years ago in the state budget fight, said Blue.
“That’s what led to the impasse, was the governor not budgeting, taking so much money out of the budget for state institutions,” Blue said. “It’s important that the state actually supports, financially supports the institutions.”
Each year, the Illinois Board of Higher Education calculates the cost for each state school to provide an equitable education based on each university’s needs and programs. That number is referred to as the education “adequacy target.”
The other 12 state schools averaged about 55% of the funding they need to reach their funding target.
Some universities rely more on state funding to reach their target than others. Smaller schools like Eastern are more reliant on the state than the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign because they don’t receive as much money from other sources.
Overall, the state estimates the funding target for all public universities at $4.47 billion, but those schools receive just $3 billion, according to the 2024 report. Medical schools were not included in state funding figures.
Relying solely on state funding would put EIU at just under 30% funded. Only relying on the state would alter the way students are taught, Blue said. To prevent this, Blue said he seeks out grants from sponsors and donors.
“It would affect the type of education we can offer, which in turn affects the type of graduates we can pump into the Illinois economy, which also affects the economy as a whole because if you don’t have people that are properly trained at a certain field, now you are lacking in that field,” Blue said. “It’s a whole trickle down effect.”
To improve enrollment numbers and funding, Gov. J.B. Pritzker is working to remove barriers and even out what schools receive from the state, said Garcia, the board of higher education spokesperson.
Government funding, including federal student aid, can play a major role in the way a university is run. It also can affect enrollment. Last year, Pritzker signed a $2.6 billion higher education budget, an increase of nearly $76 million from the previous fiscal year, or 3%.
For the 2025 fiscal year, Eastern has a total budget of $178,159,100 in total spending money for the current fiscal year which was a 3.1% increase from the previous fiscal year, of which nearly $8 million comes from the state.
Rebuilding enrollment at Eastern
One of the ways that Eastern is attempting to improve enrollment is by offering grants to its students.
Along with other state schools, Eastern can offer state AIM HIGH Grants, which covers an Illinois student’s entire tuition if they are eligible. If students receive it once and continue to maintain eligibility, they will receive a renewal grant, which covers the full cost of tuition and fees for students taking 15 credit hours.
Eastern also offers the EIU Promise grant to first time undergraduate students. The grant covers a student’s tuition and fees, if the gross household income is $80,000 or below annually and if other requirements are met.
Leaders at Eastern have tried to increase enrollment by emphasizing how affordable it is. The average cost of tuition at Eastern is around $12,000.
Shortly after the start of the pandemic, Eastern removed its application fee, and the university expects to keep it like that permanently, said Tierney.
Illinois is one of the country’s top exporters of high school students to go to college in others states, taking away potential enrollment from state schools, said Stowell.
Stowell said he thinks the university has shifted its focus on what it is and the types of programs that it can and should be offering, while being both nimble and flexible in the process.
“I think the budget impasse and the pandemic, some as well, I think it really had a refining effect on how we work as an institution and who wants to be here at the institution,” he said.
Eastern also is pushing to attract international students, contacting 50,000 high schools worldwide, said Andy Kabasele, Eastern’s assistant dean for international students and scholars.
“We have seen some years where numbers have gone really up, and then some years have gone down and that depends on administration,” Kabasele said.
In 2023, Kabasele said the international enrollment soared from 253 students to 880, which was a 350% increase. That success has taken a turn since President Donald Trump took office, and his administration began making it harder to get visas.
This semester, around 240 international students had their visas denied, the News previously reported. Last fall, 196 visas were denied, and recently, 11 students had their visas revoked. University leaders said the drop in international students is the main reason on-campus enrollment is down nearly 10% this semester.
International students pay the full tuition rate because they come from out of the country.
Eastern hired Kabasele to help assist international students and provide services to retain them. Kabasele said he works with the Department of Homeland Security to make sure that the appropriate services are being provided as well as making sure students are in compliance with their visas. The country with the highest number of international students attending Eastern is India.
Kabasele said they receive around 8,000 applications, but a lot of them are not accepted because of visa holdups. Even before Trump took office, Kabasele said students told him that getting appointments regarding their visas had been challenging, because the office was backlogged from the pandemic.
Cam’ron Hardy can be reached at 581-2812 or at cahardy@eiu.edu.
Abbotsford’s Alex Stoddard representing Canada at U20 Water Polo Championship
Stoddard and Team Canada head to Brazil to compete from Aug. 10 to 15 Abbotsford’s Alex Stoddard will don the red and white of Water Polo Canada’s women’s junior national team at the 2025 World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championship, which runs from Aug. 10 to 15 in Salvador, Brazil. WPC announced the full roster through […]
Stoddard and Team Canada head to Brazil to compete from Aug. 10 to 15
Abbotsford’s Alex Stoddard will don the red and white of Water Polo Canada’s women’s junior national team at the 2025 World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championship, which runs from Aug. 10 to 15 in Salvador, Brazil.
WPC announced the full roster through a press release on Tuesday (July 29).
The team, led by head coach Samuel Donoghue and assistant coach Kyra Christmas, participated in a training camp with WPC’s women’s senior national team in early-July. They head to Brazil on Wednesday (July 30) to take part in a preparatory invitational tournament in Recife, Brazil. This pre-event is to include teams from Australia, Brazil, Israel, New Zealand and USA.
Canada opens the tournament itself against China on Aug. 10, then takes on Australia on Aug. 11 and South Africa on Aug. 12. Playoff rounds run from Aug. 13 to 15.
“This group has been working really hard, especially over the last couple of weeks training with our senior national team talent pool”, Donoghue stated. “It’s been a great environment, and the team’s grown a lot. We’re excited to get to Brazil—first to Recife for some final prep, then on to the World Championships. The energy is high, the team’s focused, and we’re proud to represent Canada.”
The Canadian team qualified for the event following a fourth place finish at the 2024 Pan Am Aquatics U19 Women’s Championships held in May 2024 in El Salvador.
Canada finished 12th at the last World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championship held in 2023 in Portugal.
Stoddard, a goalie, has had an excellent 2025 and earned all-star honours with Fraser Valley Water Polo at the recent 2025 18U Western Championship.
She also helped the California-based Oaks Christian Lions capture the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Open Division title in February. That marks the first time a team in any sport in that school’s history has won an Open Division title. The Lions also became the first water polo program, regardless of gender, from outside Orange County to capture a CIF Open Division championship.
Stoddard is entering her senior year this September at the Westlake Village, Calif. college-prepatory school, which has helped a number of athletes earn scholarships and become professional athletes.
She has also represented Canada at the U16 level. Other B.C. talents on the U20 team include: Vancouver’s Natalia Blazevic, Delta’s Isabella Mady, Burnaby’s Riley Milne, Surrey’s Madeleine Scarth and Burnaby’s Melania Segulja. Fraser Valley’s Mackenzie Clark is heading to the event as an alternate.
Brag House Hosts EA College Football 26 Tournament with Gators Athletics
Brag House Holdings (NASDAQ: TBH) successfully concluded its “Brag Gators Gauntlet: Preseason Edition” virtual tournament on July 19, 2025. The event, centered around EA College Football 26, featured participation from notable Florida Gators student athletes and attracted competitors from across the Southeastern Conference. The tournament awarded $1,500 […]
Brag House Holdings (NASDAQ: TBH) successfully concluded its “Brag Gators Gauntlet: Preseason Edition” virtual tournament on July 19, 2025. The event, centered around EA College Football 26, featured participation from notable Florida Gators student athletes and attracted competitors from across the Southeastern Conference.
The tournament awarded $1,500 in total cash prizes to top performers, with University of Florida alumnus Aaron Davis winning the championship and $1,000 first prize. Additionally, a charity match resulted in a $500 donation to the B. Lou Foundation. The company plans to continue the series with the “Football Edition” featuring events tied to Florida Gators’ away games in fall 2025.
Brag House Holdings (NASDAQ: TBH) ha concluso con successo il torneo virtuale “Brag Gators Gauntlet: Preseason Edition” il 19 luglio 2025. L’evento, incentrato su EA College Football 26, ha visto la partecipazione di importanti studenti-atleti dei Florida Gators e ha attirato concorrenti da tutta la Southeastern Conference.
Il torneo ha assegnato $1.500 in premi in denaro ai migliori giocatori, con l’alunno dell’Università della Florida Aaron Davis che ha vinto il campionato e il primo premio da $1.000. Inoltre, una partita di beneficenza ha portato a una donazione di $500 alla B. Lou Foundation. La società prevede di proseguire la serie con l’edizione “Football Edition”, che includerà eventi legati alle partite in trasferta dei Florida Gators nell’autunno 2025.
Brag House Holdings (NASDAQ: TBH) concluyó con éxito su torneo virtual “Brag Gators Gauntlet: Preseason Edition” el 19 de julio de 2025. El evento, centrado en EA College Football 26, contó con la participación de destacados atletas estudiantiles de los Florida Gators y atrajo competidores de toda la Southeastern Conference.
El torneo otorgó $1,500 en premios en efectivo a los mejores participantes, con el exalumno de la Universidad de Florida, Aaron Davis, ganando el campeonato y el primer premio de $1,000. Además, un partido benéfico resultó en una donación de $500 a la Fundación B. Lou. La empresa planea continuar la serie con la “Football Edition”, que incluirá eventos relacionados con los partidos fuera de casa de los Florida Gators en el otoño de 2025.
Brag House Holdings (NASDAQ: TBH)는 2025년 7월 19일 “Brag Gators Gauntlet: Preseason Edition” 가상 토너먼트를 성공적으로 마무리했습니다. 이 행사는 EA College Football 26를 중심으로 진행되었으며, 플로리다 게이터스 학생 선수들이 참가했고 남동부 컨퍼런스 전역에서 경쟁자들이 모였습니다.
토너먼트는 상위 선수들에게 총 $1,500의 상금을 수여했으며, 플로리다 대학교 동문인 아론 데이비스가 챔피언십과 1,000달러의 1등 상금을 차지했습니다. 또한 자선 경기에서 $500 기부금이 B. Lou 재단에 전달되었습니다. 회사는 2025년 가을 플로리다 게이터스 원정 경기와 연계된 “Football Edition” 시리즈를 계속 진행할 계획입니다.
Brag House Holdings (NASDAQ : TBH) a conclu avec succès son tournoi virtuel “Brag Gators Gauntlet : Preseason Edition” le 19 juillet 2025. L’événement, centré sur EA College Football 26, a réuni des athlètes étudiants des Florida Gators de renom et a attiré des compétiteurs de toute la Southeastern Conference.
Le tournoi a attribué 1 500 $ en prix en espèces aux meilleurs participants, avec l’ancien étudiant de l’Université de Floride, Aaron Davis, remportant le championnat et le premier prix de 1 000 $. De plus, un match caritatif a permis un don de 500 $ à la B. Lou Foundation. La société prévoit de poursuivre la série avec l’édition “Football Edition” comprenant des événements liés aux matchs à l’extérieur des Florida Gators à l’automne 2025.
Brag House Holdings (NASDAQ: TBH) hat sein virtuelles Turnier “Brag Gators Gauntlet: Preseason Edition” am 19. Juli 2025 erfolgreich abgeschlossen. Die Veranstaltung, die sich um EA College Football 26 drehte, zog bekannte Florida Gators Studenten-Athleten an und brachte Teilnehmer aus der gesamten Southeastern Conference zusammen.
Das Turnier vergab insgesamt 1.500 $ an Geldpreisen an die besten Spieler, wobei der Absolvent der University of Florida, Aaron Davis, die Meisterschaft und den ersten Preis von 1.000 $ gewann. Zusätzlich führte ein Wohltätigkeitsspiel zu einer Spende von 500 $ an die B. Lou Foundation. Das Unternehmen plant, die Serie mit der “Football Edition” fortzusetzen, die Veranstaltungen im Zusammenhang mit den Auswärtsspielen der Florida Gators im Herbst 2025 umfasst.
NEW YORK, July 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brag House Holdings, Inc. (“Brag House”) (NASDAQ: TBH), the Gen Z engagement platform at the intersection of gaming, college sports, and digital media, today announced the successful conclusion of the “Brag Gators Gauntlet: Preseason Edition.” This second installment of the Gauntlet series, held in partnership with Gators Athletics and Learfield, took place virtually on Saturday, July 19, 2025.
The event featured a vibrant tournament centered around the newly released EA College Football 26, just nine days following the game’s highly anticipated release, and showcased the following Gators student athletes: Blake Cyr, Senior, Utility for Florida Gators Baseball, Alfonzo Allen, Senior Defensive Back for Florida Gators Football, and CJ Ingram, Freshman Guard for Florida Gators Basketball who each spoke about student athlete life balance on campus and their upcoming goals for the new collegiate sports season.
Building on the momentum from the inaugural Baseball Edition on May 17, 2025, the Preseason Edition was designed to engage the student community and build excitement for the upcoming college football season. The tournament provided a fun, competitive, and casual gaming experience for students and alumni across the Southeastern Conference.
“The energy and participation for our Preseason Edition were outstanding,” said Lavell Juan Malloy II, CEO and Co-Founder of Brag House. “We saw incredible engagement from the Gator community. This event underscores our commitment to creating authentic, gamified experiences that deepen the connection between fans, students, and university athletics. We’re building a new tradition for how fans celebrate their teams.”
The competition was fierce, with top players taking home scholarships and cash prizes. University of Florida alumnus Aaron Davis secured the championship title and $1,000 prize. Michael Wesson, a student from Auburn University, placed second, earning $300, while University of Florida student Hari Grand took third place and $200.
A special highlight of the event was the Charity Match, which featured University of Florida freshman running back, Byron Davis. His victory resulted in a $500 donation to the B. Lou Foundation, furthering the positive impact of the gaming community.
The Brag Gators Gauntlet series will continue this fall with the “Football Edition,” featuring events tied to the Florida Gators’ away games in September, October, and November. The series continues to exemplify Brag House’s strategy of integrating Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities with loyalty-driven engagement and scalable digital experiences tailored for the Gen Z audience.
“This is more than just a tournament; it’s a platform for community,” added Malloy. “By merging the passion of college sports with the interactive world of gaming, we are redefining fan engagement and creating new opportunities for students, universities, and our partners.”
About Brag House
Brag House is a leading media technology gaming platform dedicated to transforming casual college gaming into a vibrant, community-driven experience. By seamlessly merging gaming, social interaction, and cutting-edge technology, the Company provides an inclusive and engaging environment for casual gamers while enabling brands to authentically connect with the influential Gen Z demographic. The platform offers live-streaming capabilities, gamification features, and custom tournament services, fostering meaningful engagement between users and brands. For more information, please visit www.braghouse.com.
About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the execution and prospects of the Brag Gators Gauntlet and Brag House’s and Learfield’s plan to expand the Brag Gauntlet model. For a full discussion of these risks, please refer to Brag House’s SEC filings.
Media Contact: Fatema Bhabrawala Director of Media Relations fbhabrawala@allianceadvisors.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7ebd9818-5700-4e1e-abae-9268d89b2402
FAQ
What was the total prize pool for Brag House’s (TBH) Brag Gators Gauntlet: Preseason Edition?
The tournament awarded $1,500 in total prizes, with $1,000 for first place, $300 for second place, and $200 for third place, plus a $500 charity donation.
When will Brag House (TBH) host the next Brag Gators Gauntlet tournament?
Brag House will continue the series with the Football Edition in fall 2025, featuring events tied to Florida Gators’ away games in September, October, and November.
Which Florida Gators athletes participated in the Brag House (TBH) Preseason Edition event?
The event featured Blake Cyr (Baseball), Alfonzo Allen (Football), and CJ Ingram (Basketball), who discussed student athlete life balance and upcoming season goals.
How is Brag House (TBH) integrating NIL opportunities in their platform?
Brag House is combining Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities with loyalty-driven engagement and scalable digital experiences specifically designed for the Gen Z audience.
Hillsdale College athletic events to stream on FloCollege beginning with 2025-26 season
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HILLSDALE, Mich. — Hillsdale College athletic games will be available for streaming exclusively on FloCollege beginning this academic year following an agreement between FloSports and the G-MAC. “Partnering with FloSports marks a significant milestone for the Great Midwest Athletic Conference and reflects the collective efforts of our member institutions […]
HILLSDALE, Mich. — Hillsdale College athletic games will be available for streaming exclusively on FloCollege beginning this academic year following an agreement between FloSports and the G-MAC.
“Partnering with FloSports marks a significant milestone for the Great Midwest Athletic Conference and reflects the collective efforts of our member institutions to produce compelling digital content that has driven demand for wider distribution,” said Great Midwest Athletic Conference Commissioner Tom Daeger. “We’re excited to collaborate with FloSports and their talented team starting in 2025-26 to further elevate the broadcasts our members and the league produce.”
Subscribers will be able to watch games live for all 13 G-MAC institutions, as well as games in 14 other collegiate conferences. The platform also features live scores, team interviews, athlete profiles, and more.
FloCollege is available online and for download on mobile devices, streaming devices, and smart TVs. FloSports offers yearly and monthly subscription options, with discounts for users with .edu email addresses. Details and subscription options are available here.
In addition to watching games on FloCollege, fans also will continue to have access to on-demand video of Hillsdale College events for free on the Great Midwest Digital Network, run by Hudl. Those videos will be available to watch 24 hours after the conclusion of the athletic contest.
Further information on the FloCollege partnership, including a full listing of subscription plans and options, will be released on hillsdalechargers.com in mid-August.
Volleyball Reveals Complete Schedule for 2025 Season
NORMAN – University of Oklahoma head volleyball coach Aaron Mansfield announced the 2025 non-conference slate on Wednesday. The Southeastern Conference previously announced the league schedule in April. The ten-game non-conference schedule sees the Sooners playing six games on the road and four matches inside McCasland Field House. OU will also host an exhibition match against […]
NORMAN – University of Oklahoma head volleyball coach Aaron Mansfield announced the 2025 non-conference slate on Wednesday. The Southeastern Conference previously announced the league schedule in April.
The ten-game non-conference schedule sees the Sooners playing six games on the road and four matches inside McCasland Field House. OU will also host an exhibition match against K-State on Saturday, Aug. 23.
The Sooners officially open the 2025 season at the Wildcat Classic in Abilene, Texas, Aug. 29-30. OU will play a doubleheader against Missouri State and Incarnate Word on Aug. 29 and face host Abilene Christian on Aug. 30.
The following weekend, the Sooners will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., for the Wooo Pig Invitational, Sept. 5-6. OU will face in-state rival Tulsa on Friday and Cal Poly on Saturday.
The start of four straight home games begins on Wednesday, Sept. 10 as the Sooners host Florida State for the SEC/ACC Showdown at the Net.
The home stretch continues with a pair of matches against St. Mary’s on Sept. 12 and 13. The Sooners wrap up non-conference play with a home-and-home against Central Arkansas, hosting the Sugar Bears on Thursday, Sept. 18 and traveling to Conway, Ark., on Sunday, Sept. 21.
SEC play begins at home on Sept. 26 when the Sooners host LSU. OU will face every school once, either home or away, for a 15-match conference schedule. This season will also mark the return of the SEC Volleyball Tournament.
The Sooners will welcome LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Georgia, Auburn, Mississippi State, Alabama and Arkansas to Norman, while traveling to Vanderbilt, Missouri, Texas A&M, Texas, Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Season tickets for the 2025 season are now on sale. General admission season tickets are $45. Single match GA tickets will be $8 when available in August. Tickets can be purchased at SoonerSports.com/tickets or by contacting the Oklahoma ticket office at 405-325-2424. Special group rates are also available by contacting the ticket office.
TV information will be added to the SoonerSports.com schedule page when made available.
FOLLOW THE OKLAHOMA SOONERS
For updates, follow @OU_Volleyball on Twitter and Instagram, or like Oklahoma Volleyball on Facebook.
Baseball fans set Guinness world record with 'world's most autographed baseball'
Eli LaBorde, 14, of Hollidaysburg signs the giant baseball before the Altoona Curve game at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Tuesday. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski CURVE – Over 6,700 baseball fans combined to set a new world record Tuesday as their collective signatures on the World’s Most Autographed Baseball have set a new mark […]
Eli LaBorde, 14, of Hollidaysburg signs the giant baseball before the Altoona Curve game at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Tuesday.
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
CURVE – Over 6,700 baseball fans combined to set a new world record Tuesday as their collective signatures on the World’s Most Autographed Baseball have set a new mark for the most signatures on a single piece of sports memorabilia.
The 8-foot, 1,200 pound replica baseball embarked on a 2,600-mile, 15-stadium trek across the Minor Leagues in the upper Midwest and Northeast United States from June 24-July 26, culminating with the final stop at Major League Baseball headquarters in New York City, where following the signature of the Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred Jr., the new world record for most autographed piece of sports memorabilia was certified by Guinness Book of World Records adjudicator Andy Glass.
“Following the World’s Most Autographed Baseball on its summer road trip has been nothing short of extraordinary, but what truly stands out is the sense of community it fostered at every stop,” said Kristin Sutton, Minor League Baseball Vice President, Marketing. “Witnessing thousands of fans engage with this tour, excited to leave their mark on a piece of history, underscores the unique bond we share with them. We’re thrilled to have broken a Guinness World Record and showcase the spirit and excitement that our MiLB ballparks bring to communities nationwide.”
The World’s Most Autographed Baseball was signed by 200 or more fans at each of the 15 stadium stops, and by 684 more outside MLB’s offices in New York City on July 29. On July 22, 494 Curve fans added their signatures to the ball.
The 6,750 signatures topped the previous record of 2,146 signatures on a giant inflatable Cambridge United Football Club (UK) jersey in 2024.
A video highlighting the tour may be found at https://drive.google.com/file/d/16RGFUyiIj1LINBqYlpEzfPHM03ajof_d/view.
Dylan Stewart Named to Bronko Nagurski Preseason Watch List – University of South Carolina Athletics
University of South Carolina Edge rusher Dylan Stewart is one of 60 players listed as a contender for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which recognizes the national defensive player of the year, the Football Writers Association of America announced today. Stewart, a dynamic sophomore edge rusher whose 6.5 sacks last year placed him on the […]
University of South Carolina Edge rusher Dylan Stewart is one of 60 players listed as a contender for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which recognizes the national defensive player of the year, the Football Writers Association of America announced today.
Stewart, a dynamic sophomore edge rusher whose 6.5 sacks last year placed him on the FWAA’s Freshman All-America team, is on the list hoping to model the success of Kyle Kennard, the Gamecocks’ edge rusher who won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy last season. The 6-5, 245-pounder from Washington, D.C., was a finalist for the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year award and was a member of the SEC All-Freshman team in 2024.
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce four finalists for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy in mid-to-late November, and the winner will be revealed at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet on Dec. 8 in Charlotte, N.C.
Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. As in previous years, the FWAA will announce a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week’s honored player will be added at that time.
The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association’s full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalists. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.
The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football, then became a star for professional football’s Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw “Bronko” Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.