BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Eyeing a bounce back, the Illinois Wesleyan University football team welcomes Elmhurst University to Tucci Stadium Saturday, Oct. 24, for a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin battle. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
    The Titans look to get back on track following a shortfall at Millikin University, Oct. 17. IWU mounted a second-half comeback, tying the game with less than a minute to go, but came up short, 42-35. Illinois Wesleyan holds a 5-2 overall record, including a 3-2 CCIW mark ahead of Saturday's matchup. Similarly, the Bluejays travel to Bloomington with hopes of getting off the schneid. Elmhurst has lost four straight and sits at 1-5 on the year (0-4 CCIW). Most recently, EU was downed, 74-2, by third-ranked North Central College, Oct. 17.
    Fans can tune into a live stream on the CCIW Network, while live stats will also be available for the contest. Links can be found on iwusports.com.

WE'LL TAKE BEATY FOR 300: In just his fourth career start, sophomore quarterback Kyle Beaty threw for a career-high 338 yards. Recording his third game with 300+ yards, Beaty threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more in Decatur, Oct. 17.

DANG, THERE GOES DANKO: Sophomore Cade Danko headlined IWU's comeback effort at Millikin, Oct. 17, finishing the night with a career-high 177 yards receiving on five catches. Danko's career day included two 60+ yard receptions. He hauled in a 64-yard touchdown before snagging a 66-yard reception in the fourth quarter. Danko represented IWU's first 60-yard catch since Jimmy Deacy's against Millikin last season Oct. 16, 2025.

BATTLING THE BLUEJAYS: The Titans have an overall 60-12-1 record against the Bluejays. The first meeting between these two teams was in 1930 in Bloomington, Ill., which saw a 13-7 IWU victory. The Titans have won the past 11 matchups with the Bluejays and 17 of the past 19 meetings between to the two foes.
    Last season, the Green and White marched to a 42-6 win over Elmhurst at Tucci Stadium Sept. 20, 2025. A pick-six in the first quarter gave EU an early edge, but Dermot Smyth rebounded to throw for five touchdowns, with Will Nazha and GB Kruzick hauling in two apiece. The Titans defense totaled nine tackles for loss, led by Mo Khalil's two, along with sacks by Nathan Schmidt, Marcheon Griffin, and Ian Whitaker.

HE BLEEDS GREEN: Coach Mike Murray, a 1984 Ilinois Wesleyan graduate, is in his third stint on the Titan football staff in 2026. Serving as associate head coach and defensive coordinator on Jared Williamson's staff, Murray bleeds Titan green and found his way back to his alma mater in 2025 following a two-year run as Elmhurst's  head coach.
    In two seasons leading IWU's conference foe, Murray reinvigorated the Bluejay football program. Inheriting a program that had won just two games over a 30-game span, Murray guided Elmhurst to its most wins since 2016 in 2024.

TAKE YOUR PICK: With four weeks left in the regular season, Illinois Wesleyan is led by a strong wide receiver core on the offensive side. The Titans rank third in the league in total offense (415.6 ypg), highlighted by the CCIW's top passing offense. IWU averages 285.8 yards per game in league play and is the only school in the league with three WRs ranked inside th top-12. Will Nazha is second in the league at 97.8 yards per game, while Cade Danko and Jimmy Deacy are slotted fourth and seventh, respectively. Danko is hauling in 79.2 yards per game with Deacy just behind at 65.4 ypg.

BALL HAWKS: The Titans have recorded 11 interceptions on the season with Lucas Lappin leading the team with four. Clint Teater and Nate Frank have two each, while Joey DeMaio, Murphy Brennan, and Ian Whitaker have added one pick apiece. IWU's INT total leads the CCIW and is slotted 12th-most across Division III as of Oct. 21.

WINNING UP FRONT: The Green and White's defensive line has been one of the most disruptive units in the country. The Titans lead the conference and are 37th in the country with 2.86 team sacks per game, while their 7.3 tackles for loss are 46th-most. The heavy and consistent pressure in the backfield has opponents limited to a .277 third-down conversion percentage, the fourth-best mark in the CCIW and 24th nationally.

ON REPEAT: Junior wide receiver Will Nazha has established himself as one of the premiere receivers across Division III. After a breakout season in 2025, the Barrington, Ill. native has built on that this year. Through six games, he is sixth nationally in receiving yards (753), 12th in receiving yards per game (107.6),  13th in receptions per game (7.29), and 28th nationally in receiving touchdowns with six.
    With three games to go in the regular season, Nazha is on track to be IWU's first 1000-yard receiver since 2018 (Jack Healy - 1137 yards).

TITANS IN OCTOBER: The Titans have compiled a 108-63 record in the month of October since 1987. More recently, in the past eight seasons, IWU is 32-16 in October and went 2-2 in the month in 2025 and is 2-1 this season.

WITH A WIN…: With a win, Illinois Wesleyan will secure its first winning season since 2022. That year, the Titans went 6-4 overall, 5-4 in CCIW play. A win Saturday would boost the Titans to 6-2 with two games to go in the regular season.

ON THE HORIZON: The Green and White enjoys a bye week before returning to action for its final home game of the season, Nov. 7, as North Park University travels to Tucci Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. and will serve as the program's Salute to Service game.