There has never been a postseason run in the FCS quite like the one Illinois State has strung together over the last month. One of the last four teams into this year’s tournament, the Redbirds have handled
business over seeded opponents on the road four times to reach the championship game in Nashville next Monday night. Of those wins, one was an almost-unfathomable 29-28 shocker of previously unbeaten and #1 overall seed North Dakota State in the second round. It’s been a December that they will never forget in Normal and, while of course it has been a front-to-back team effort to get here, it is undeniable that a big part of ISU’s playoff success has stemmed from the play of perhaps its shiniest star.
Meet Daniel Sobkowicz.
A senior receiver and Illinois native, Sobkowicz has established himself as one of the best to ever do it for the red and white. Since starting as a redshirt freshman in 2022, he’s written his way into the program’s record books in both receiving yards (3,507) and receiving touchdowns (40). Sobkowicz’s entire career at Illinois State has been special and so to is the fact that he’s turned down undoubtedly more lucrative NIL opportunities elsewhere to remain a Redbird for the duration of it. He’s an all timer for the program but can stamp himself as immortal in ISU annals if he can do what he’s done in these playoffs one last time and bring a championship home for the first time ever.
No defense yet in the postseason has had an answer for #2, despite it being obvious that he is the guy that makes the passing attack so lethal for the Redbirds. Veteran quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse will rifle it to Sobkowicz and do so often throughout the duration of a game and yet, four times now, defenses have not been able to stop that connection. This remarkable playoff run has seen Sobkowicz rack up 29 catches for 403 yards and seven scores. No one is hotter coming into the title game and it is very likely that opponent Montana State knows that. Knowing it and stopping it, however, are two different things.
Whether its the deep ball or short yardage situations, he has proven difficult to contain. His hands are second to none and his strength is often simply better than that of the defensive backs covering him. The route running is terrific and his speed is dangerous. If Rittenhouse is dropping back to throw, it’s more than a 50% chance that he is looking Sobkowicz’s way. If you’re MSU defensive coordinator Shawn Howe, public enemy number one is easy to spot on to film.
What’s more than the sheer numbers and ability, though, is Sobkowicz’s knack for making things happen in the biggest moments. When Illinois State needed it most down 14 late in Fargo, for instance, he was the one that made it happen and spurred on the epic comeback. In a tight game against UC Davis one week later, he went off for 150 yards and two touchdown snags in ISU’s highest-scoring playoff game yet. Not only does he make the plays, he makes the plays when they absolutely need to be made. When the game and often the season is on the line, Sobkowicz seems to welcome the moment.
Sobkowicz has played in big moments and games throughout his career but none will be bigger than the one waiting for him in Nashville and it can be argued that no defense will be tougher than the Bobcats unit he’ll be lining up against. Montana State has been smothering on that side of the ball all year but, likewise, they have not seen a receiver like him either. He’s playing the best ball of his career right now and if he can keep it up for one more week, the chances that ISU hoists the trophy in FirstBank Stadium go up greatly.
However it ends, though, what Sobkowicz has been able to do during this playoff run is something that will stick in school and FCS history forever. He’s given life to what might be the most impressive postseason run the subdivision has ever seen. The NFL is likely waiting for him when it all ends but before then, he and his Cinderella Redbirds will to keep the clock from striking midnight in Tennessee next week.
Illinois State and Montana State will kick off next Monday at 7:30 PM (ET) and the game can be watched on ESPN.
