https://fbschedules.com/chicago-state-to...dependent/

Has anything happened with the football program beyond hiring a head coach? Has he hired any other coaches or signed any recruits? Any players on campus or any games scheduled?

(09-07-2025 05:07 PM)AssKickingChicken Wrote:  Has anything happened with the football program beyond hiring a head coach? Has he hired any other coaches or signed any recruits? Any players on campus or any games scheduled?

I don’t know.

https://youtu.be/J0tFhWNibAU?si=p30P80SN92iQvuEK

Chicago State featured in this video about adding football

Scheduled games for this first, pre NEC season are coming in.

First UT Martin was announced, then Tarleton State in short order. I’d expect most of the dates to be filled fairly quickly so we’ll know what the season will look like.

I suppose there is a remote chance Martin might play a return game on the off chance they recruit Chicago and want to play a game there, but more likely they are spending some of their FBS guarantee money they will earn in their next 2 games (WVU and Memphis) after the Cougars. Edit: Looking at their roster, they do have kids from Kankakee, NW Indiana, downstate, and Iowa, but not enough to come north for a game.

UT Martin needed a home game in the worst way at that point in the season, so the Chicago program will get some money rolling in right away. That’s why this first season out of conference is such a smart move. In 2027, OOC will be pretty limited.

After this first, basically unofficial season, the Cougars won’t have any scheduling worries. But I have to say, I’m a little sad they are playing in the NEC and not as an Indy, because the games they could get would be very lucrative and the NEC will cause them to miss out on a lot of potential notoriety that the NEC opponents won’t ever bring.

They could likely have opponents lining up to play them and every home weekend would be packed with people. I don’t see the NEC moving the needle much at all on home attendance, increased attention for CSU, or trying to build something that their constituents care about.

In the meantime, Matt Brown stated Norfolk State and Lindenwood were games that are just waiting on thr paperwork to be finalized. So that’s 4 games and plenty of time to get the rest in order. No doubt, many irons have long been in the fire.

Coach Rome has announced additions to his staff-

https://www.gocsucougars.com/news/2026/3...coach.aspx

https://www.gocsucougars.com/news/2026/3...coach.aspx

https://www.gocsucougars.com/news/2026/3...coach.aspx

https://www.gocsucougars.com/news/2026/3...nator.aspx

Chicago States 2026 schedule

08/29 - Roosevelt
09/05 - at UT Martin
09/12 - Kentucky Christian
09/19 - at Butler
09/26 - Norfolk State
10/03 - at Tarleton State
10/17 - at North Carolina A&T
10/24 - at Lindenwood
10/31 - University of Fort Lauderdale
11/14 - Virginia-Lynchburg
11/21 - at Southern Utah

2026 looks pretty complete, but there are open dates on 10/10 and between 10/31 and 11/21. I think 10/10 will remain open, and games not already scheduled would be hard to find in the latter time frame, but it remains a possibility.

Edit- But it appears a game late in the season has indeed been secured.

The only 2027 game I know of now is home return date with NC A&T on 9/18, but most of the schedule will be filled with NEC games.

The 2026 schedule has been updated and tweaked a little.

https://www.gocsucougars.com/news/2026/5...eason.aspx

It appears the tweaked scheduling with Virginia-Lynchburg was to accommodate a date at Southern Utah.

So far I’m seeing very good planning and strategic scheduling from Rome. From that angle, he’s been an excellent choice to lead the program. Very impressive IMO. He’s built a schedule that has everything the program needs, suits the fans well, helps lay a good foundation, and is financially responsible.

https://www.gocsucougars.com/news/2026/5...edule.aspx

Big day for Cougars football as players not there for Spring are now on campus for Summer. Only a little over 90 days the Cougars take the field.

https://www.gocsucougars.com/news/2026/5...ampus.aspx

A major upgrade to campus weight room facilities is officially complete and open. The football team won’t miss a beat. Another promised facilities improvement has been delivered.

https://x.com/chistatecougars/status/207...66252?s=61

https://www.gocsucougars.com/sports/football/roster

First look at the full roster.

Around 30 players are from Illinois/Chicagoland, with a decent number from the Southside. Many programs have almost no local players, so this can be a real strength for the program, and help build a good culture rooted in the local area.

About half the squad are transfers. This should definitely help with program building.

Players are from over 20 states, with Illinois being number 1. Ohio and California also have larger numbers.

Nice day for the Cougars in a season that will be full of firsts.

Getting the first win is a season, and potentially program building moment.

After a good performance at a consistently strong UT Martin, this win, and a short road trip next, the Cougars are in position to compete for their first road win next week.

Look out Bulldogs… Homecoming may be a tougher out than you hoped for.

The stat that stood out for me in this game is 31 for 36 passing completion. Even against a weaker Kentucky Christian squad, that is an incredible feat and to me shows there is talent, coaching, and execution going on within the Cougar program.

Norfolk State is coming to SeatGeek this week.

They are 2-2, with wins over D2 Winston-Salem 56-0, and Hampton 42-21. They lost to Virginia 59-3 and Old Dominion 31-10. ODU is 1-2 and Hampton is 1-3. WSSU and UVa are both different beasts anyway.

I believe Chicago already had a return game scheduled for next season at Norfolk State.

Another first for Chicago States football program.

While the Cougars are not playing an NEC conference schedule in 2026, they are still a conference football member. They are listed in the standings, and eligible for awards.

And the program received its first Player of the Week award last week.

Lesroy Tittle, a Freshman from Aurora was conference Newcomer of the Week.


Linebacker/Defensive End, Freshman, 6-4, 235 lbs., Aurora, IL/West Aurora
Week 4 Stats: 8 tackles (4 solo), 2.0 tackles-for-loss (8 yards)

Tittle put up solid numbers in Chicago State’s home contest against Norfolk State on Saturday. Recording four solo and four assisted tackles, both of which were career bests, the freshman linebacker/defensive end came away with 2.0 tackles for a loss of eight yards. His second tackle-for-loss of the afternoon in the third quarter pushed the Spartans back five yards on a 3rd-and-9, and on the ensuing Norfolk State down, Chicago State cashed in with a blocked punt, a recovery and a 50-yard touchdown return by graduate linebacker Adrian Bowers. Tittle’s 5.0 total tackles-for-loss this season are tied for the league lead, while the Aurora, IL native’s 1.25 tackles-for-loss per game rank second in the NEC. Tittle made history by becoming the first-ever Cougar to take home a weekly award.

Armani Itote picked Co Defensive Player of the Week by the NEC for his performance versus NC A&T.

https://necsports.com/news/2026/10/15/FB...19_26.aspx

Lindenwood is the opponent this week, in St Charles. Looking over a comparison of team stats, Lindenwood is a rush oriented team, while Chicago State looks to pass more.

https://lindenwoodlions.com/documents/20...s_CHST.pdf

One stat I really like is Chicago States 16 forced fumbles this season. A couple take aways could swing the game.

Both of Lindenwoods wins were close, 3 and 7.

The Lions first win was Charleston Southern, who is 3-4 with a weaker schedule. Wins are NAIA Point University, South Carolina State, and the Citadel.

Eastern is 2-5, but has played a tougher slate including bad losses to Minnesota, South Dakota State, and wins against Murray State and Gardner Webb.

The Cougars are capable of winning this game if Pannell gets their offense moving the ball and they minimize turn overs and penalities. I think the Cougars defense can contain Lindenwood’s rush game.

I like the Lindenwood roster. Heavy on Missouri and Illinois, with about half the team, or around 50 players. About 35 are from metro St Louis.

A total of only 9 players combined from California, Texas, and Florida. It’s almost the exact opposite of many schools rosters.