No. 16 Southeastern lost in the first round of the FCS playoffs to No. 17 Illinois State 21-3 in Strawberry Stadium, but no one left the field Saturday with a frown.
The Lions started the game down by a touchdown, but closed the gap with a field goal from graduate kicker Guillermo Garcia Rodriguez.
On defense, SLU kept the game in reach despite the missed cues on offense, limiting ISU to one touchdown in the first half.
Junior defensive back Jakyri Jones led the defense with 12 tackles and one forced fumble to keep the Redbirds on alert.
Overall, the defense was strong, with two sacks that pushed the Redbirds back 11 yards, thanks to senior defensive tackle Kaleb Proctor and freshman defensive end Evan Aubrey.
In the post-game interview, the Lions kept a positive attitude despite the disappointing result.
ISU head coach Brock Spack spoke about how welcoming Southeastern was when they arrived in Hammond.
“I love the hospitality you guys have over here, you guys are great people, we really appreciate the kindness you guys gave us,” Spack said.
SLU Head Coach Frank Selfo praised his players’ performance throughout the season and told reporters that the work ethic they put in every day on and off the field is what made this year truly special for SLU.
“2025 was a great run for us. These men worked their tails off every day, starting before last season was over, and what they did that got them through their ups and downs of the season. I’m just so proud of them. These are the guys a coach wants to be surrounded with, and it’s an honor to coach them,” Scelfo said.
According to the rest of the team, the 25 seniors who were honored before the River Bell Classic left a huge impact on the program.
Junior wide receiver Jaylon Domingeaux spoke out on how talented this team was alongside the seniors and told reporters, “In the end, SLU was the better team and the loss hurts, but it’s the way it is, and I’m proud of the way we played with my boys.”
The Lions finished the season with the best overall record in the state at 9-4 and 7-1 in the Southland Conference, which earned them the No. 16 seed in the FCS poll, their highest ranking since 2022.
