NORMAL — Fourth down is a matter of confidence for Illinois State football coach Brock Spack.
Spack’s green light on fourth down kept alive all five ISU touchdown drives Saturday as the No. 13-ranked Redbirds cemented its spot in the FCS playoffs with a 35-13 victory over North Dakota before a Hancock Stadium crowd of 5,631.
ISU has won five straight games and stands at 9-3 overall and 6-2 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
The Redbirds will play at Southeast Missouri in the first round of the 24-team FCS playoffs next Saturday after the bracket was announced Sunday.