Victor Dawson leads Illinois State to victory over Western Illinois with two rushing TDs

On September 5, 2026, Illinois State University defeated Western Illinois University 41-10 in Macomb, Illinois. Victor Dawson scored two rushing touchdowns, while Alex Herrera and Stevan Gavric each caught touchdown passes. Illinois State took a commanding lead early in the game, finishing the first quarter 17-0 and leading 27-3 at halftime. The Redbirds improved their record to 2-0, while Western Illinois fell to 1-1.