Season Outlook
 
Coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history and its 15^th Football Subdivision Championship playoff berth, the Eastern Washington University football team is poised for another for yet another big year.
 
Gone is 2021 Walter Payton Award winner and All-America quarterback, Eric Barriere, along with fellow All-Americans Tristen Taylor and Talolo Limu-Jones, but what's back is a group of players who learned under their tutelage and are ready to emerge.
 
Eastern Washington lost 10 starters from the 2021 squad that finished the year 10-3 (6-2 in league play). The Eagles did not lose a regular season game on the road, a feat that hadn't been done since 1967, and won their first seven games for the program's best start the FCS level. Starters lost include six on offense and four on defense along with 18 total letterwinners. Back are 12 starters (five offense, seven defense, plus three kickers, a punter and snapper) and 47 letterwinners.
 
Headlining the cast of returners are eight players who have previously earned All-Big Sky Conference honors, with five being honored following the 2021 season. Among the five are wide receivers Freddie Roberson and Efton Chism III, guard Wyatt Musser, and defensive line members Joshua Jerome and Mitchell Johnson. Safeties Anthany Smith and Tre Weed, along with kicker Seth Harrison, earned honors in 2020-21.
 
Eastern enters the Fall season with a total of 31 players return­ing with 285 games of starting experience, including 16 players on defense with 181 starts and 15 on offense with 104 starts.
 
And the Eagles will enter it as one of the top 25 teams in FCS as well. In the preseason rankings released in June by Athlon Sports, the Eagles ranked No. 15. In the HERO Sports preseason poll released in May, Eastern came in at No. 18. Eastern closed the 2021 season seventh in the Stats Perform NCAA Football Championship Subdivision top 25 poll, and EWU was ninth by the coaches.
 
Consistency has been a cornerstone of EWU football, and the Eagles have cemented an 18-year run of winning the league title and/or advancing to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivi­sion Playoffs at least every other year. Eastern has achieved that feat ever since its last back-back-empty seasons in 2002 and 2003. Eastern has led the nation in total yards of offense per game twice in the last three years (2021, 554.5 and 2019, 524.8).
 
In 2018, Eastern secured its 10th Big Sky title. Three years later, the Eagles secured their 15th appearance in the FCS Playoffs in what is now 38 years as a member of the FCS (formerly I-AA). Since 2010 when EWU won the NCAA Division I title, the Eagles have won league titles six times (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018) and advanced to the playoffs all six of those seasons plus in 2020-21 and 2021.
 
While the Eagles were making their 15th appearance overall in the FCS Playoffs in the 2021 season, sixth-year head coach Aaron Best made his 12th as an EWU player or coach. In five years at the helm, Best owns an overall record of 41-17, including 30-8 in Big Sky play.
 
From 2004 to 2009 Eastern advanced to the playoffs four times (2004, 2005, 2007, 2009), and won the league title twice (2004, 2005). Eastern has three other playoff berths in school history (1985, 1992, 1997) and two other titles (1992, 1997), and has only had two multi-year stretches in which they accomplished neither. Those were both six-year stretches from between 1986-1991 and 1998-2003.
 
The Eagles have been impressive – if not dominant – in the league in the last 15 years (2007-2021), winning 80 percent of their games (98-25) and six titles. In that span, Eastern has had no league finish below 5-3 and five of them have included 7-1 or 8-0 records.
 
The Eagles begin the season at home against a Division I opponent for the first time since 2014 when it hosts Tennessee State in the first-ever meeting between the two foes on Sept. 3 at Roos Field.
 
The schedule only gets more challenging from there, facing Oregon on the road before a bye week. The National Champion runner-up's in Montana State visit Cheney on Sept. 24, and it's on to Florida after that. Big Sky play includes road games at Weber State, Cal Poly, Idaho and Montana with home matchups against Sacramento State for Homecoming, Portland State, and Northern Colorado for the regular season finale.
 
The COVID-19 pandemic may have caused headaches and the need for adaptation, but it did allow 11 seniors to participate in a sixth Fall. Among them is quarterback Gunner Talkington who has been tabbed the front runner by Best to replace Barriere heading into Fall camp.
 
OFFENSE
 
The three returning All-Big Sky Conference performers on offense include sophomore wide receiver Efton Chism III, junior wide receiver Freddie Roberson, and senior offensive guard Wyatt Musser. The trio were all selected to the third team All-Big Sky following the 2021 season. Chism was honored for the first time in his young career, and it marked the second career honors for both Roberson (2^nd in 2020-21) and Musser (2^nd in 2020-21). All three were starters last season, and a total of 15 players return on offense who have started games as Eagles during their careers.
 
Eastern closed the 2021 regular season with the best offense in FCS for the second time in the last three seasons, finishing the season first at 554.5 total yards of offense per game. The Eagles were also third nationally in passing (399.4) and second in scoring offense (44.0).
 
In EWU's last 18 seasons (2004-2021), the Eagles have ranked in the top 10 in passing 15 times, total offense on 14 occasions and scoring nine times. In school history, EWU has won four FCS titles for total offense (2021, 2019, 2001, 1997), as well as three passing offense titles (2016, 2015, 2011) and two for scoring offense (2014, 2001).
 
Eastern Washington lost six starters on offense from 2021, including the 2021 Walter Payton Award winner and two-time Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Eric Barriere. Barriere was named an All-American by eight different organizations at the end of season. He ended his illustrious career at Eastern Washington as the all-time leader in yards of total offense (15,394), passing yards (13,809) and passing touchdowns (121) which are also Big Sky Conference records. He holds EWU's all-time records in completions (1,007), attempts (1,623), rushing yards by a quarterback (1,585), touchdowns responsible for (143) and points responsible for (882), among many other categories. Barriere had 17 games with 400 or more yards of total offense, also an Eastern record, and he won Big Sky Conference Player of the Week honors 12 times.
 
It's no surprise the quarterback front will look different at Eastern Washington this season. Following the Spring season in 2022, EWU head coach Aaron Best named senior Gunner Talkington the front-runner to take over for Barriere heading into Fall camp, which starts for Eastern on August 4. Talkington played in all 13 games last season as a backup quarterback and the holder on special teams. He completed 11-of-17 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown, also rushing for 14 yards on six attempts. He completed five passes for 58 yards against Central Washington on 9/11/21. Against Idaho (10/16/21), he threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Robert Mason III. In his career, he has completed 32-of-64 passes for 365 yards and five touchdowns with one start (vs. Cal Poly, 3/27/21).
 
Other quarterbacks listed on the 2022 roster are redshirt junior Simon Burkett, redshirt senior and Arizona State transfer Ryan Kelley, redshirt sophomore Trey Turner, and redshirt freshman Kekoa Visperas. Talkington is the only player of the five to throw a pass in his career.
 
Joining Chism and Roberson on the wide receiver corps are Robert Mason III, Nolan Ulm, Anthony Stell Jr., Jakobie James, Malaki Roberson, Josh Johnson, Woodley Downard and Isaiah Howard.
 
Chism has appeared in 20 games for the Eagles, making nine starts. He currently holds an average of 4.00 receptions per game, which is tied for eighth in school history. He has caught 80 passes for a total of 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns. He played in all 13 games for the Eagles, making seven starts in 2021. He caught 80 passes for 735 yards (12.9 per reception), which puts him over the 1,000-yard mark for his career. Chism led the team in receiving touchdowns with a total of nine, which was tied for second in the Big Sky Conference. He had three multi-touchdown games and returned 25 punts for 104 yards and 10 kicks for 203.
 
Freddie Roberson started and played in 11 games for the Eagles in 2021. He totaled 49 catches for 779 yards (fifth in the conference) and six touchdowns. His 70.8 receiving yards per game ranked seventh in the Big Sky. Against Western Illinois, Roberson hauled in six catches for 118 yards and a touchdown. He had his best game of the season against Idaho, catching nine passes for 192 yards (21.3 per reception) and two touchdowns in a blowout win. In the FCS Playoffs against Northern Iowa he exploded for 127 yards on just five catches (25.4 per reception), including a career-long of 86 yards. Roberson now has 29 games of experience (19 starts) in his career and with five 100-yard receiving performances. He has caught 96 passes for a total of 1,469 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he has also rushed for a touchdown.
 
Ulm played in 12 games last season where he caught eight passes for 77 yards, one of them resulting in a touchdown in EWU's playoff win over Northern Iowa. He has caught nine passes for 86 yards and a touchdown in 19 games of experience. Mason transferred to EWU from Central Washington and has played in 14 games, catching 20 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown since coming to Cheney. In 2021, Mason played in 10 games, making one start. He caught four passes for 50 yards against Southern Utah. Mason scored his first touchdown as an Eagle against Idaho on Oct. 16, a game in which he caught four passes for 39 yards.
 
In his 21-game career with Eastern, James has caught 28 passes for a total of 377 yards and three touchdowns. James played in 12 games for the Eagles, making two starts. He hauled in 17 receptions for 246 yards and three touchdowns. His best outing of the season came in the FCS Playoffs against Montana (12/3/21), a game in which he caught four passes for 97 yards (24.3 per reception) and two touchdowns. One of the touchdowns was for 54 yards.
 
Malaki Roberson saw action in two games last year, and while Stell did not play in 2021, he has 20 games of experience with 22 catches for 323 yards and three touchdowns with four starts. Howard (three games) and Johnson (two games) saw limited time as true freshmen last season, while Downard will look to make his Eagle debut in 2022.
 
The Eagles also bring back an experienced group of tight ends, led primarily by redshirt sophomore Blake Gobel, redshirt senior Dylan Ingram and redshirt junior Aiden Nellor. In 2021, Ingram hauled in 13 receptions for 146 yards and four touchdowns. He had his longest play of the season against FBS opponent UNLV, catching a 25-yard touchdown pass from Barriere in the first overtime period, extending the game. The Eagles would go on to win the game in double overtime. He now has 43 games of experience (15 starts), and has caught 19 passes for 202 yards and six touchdowns in his career.
 
Gobel played in all 13 games for the Eagles in 2021, making two starts. He caught 13 passes for a total of 208 yards (16.0 per catch) and four touchdowns. He started the season scoring a touchdown in back-to-back weeks (at UNLV on 9/2/21 and vs. Central Washington on 9/11/21). He now has 24 games of experience, and has 18 career catches for 249 yards and seven touchdowns. Nellor played in eight games for the Eagles last season, catching six passes for 65 yards. In his career, he has 26 games of experience and seven receptions for 67 yards.
 
Three other tight ends are back in redshirt freshmen Messiah Jones and Jett Carpenter, along with redshirt sophomore Chris Johnson.
 
With the loss of All-Conference running backs Tamarick Pierce and Dennis Merritt, a relatively young crew of running backs are ready to take charge. Sophomore Justice Jackson ranked second on the team last year behind Merritt, racking up 317 yards and three touchdowns on 54 carries after appearing in all 13 games. He has played in 17 games in his time at Eastern, racking up 65 carries for 359 yards and three touchdowns.
 
A pair of redshirt juniors in Isaiah Lewis and Micah Smith return as well. Lewis appeared in nine games for Eastern last year, racking up 186 yards on 28 carries with a touchdown. He also added three receptions for 48 yards. He has played in 17 games with the Eagles, carrying the ball 53 times for 354 yards and two touchdowns. Smith played in 11 games for Eastern, rushing the ball 36 times for 139 yards and two touchdowns. He has played in 24 games in his career and has 297 yards rushing and three touchdowns, plus six catches for 37 yards.
 
Silas Perreiah has not played since an injury abrupted his season in the Spring of 2020-21, but he returns this season with 13 career games, 268 yards rushing with a touchdown, three catches for seven yards, and another score under his belt. Although he technically redshirted during his first season on campus due to NCAA rules, Tuna Altahir is back for his redshirt freshman season after 2021 saw him play in two games where he rushed seven times for 30 yards and a touchdown at Northern Colorado. Davante Smith and Brandon Montoya look to make their Eagle debuts as redshirt freshmen after playing on the scout team last year.
 
Along with Musser, sophomore Wyatt Hansen is a returning starter on the offensive line. After playing in and starting all 13 games in 2021, he now has 18 starts and 18 games of experience on the offensive line. Musser has 46 games of experience with 20 starts, earning All-Big Sky honors the past two seasons.
 
Andrei Leonardi returns for his senior season, bringing 17 games of experience with him. Playing in just five games last season before sitting out due to injury, Matthew Hewa Baddege is back on the offensive line this season, making five starts in 15 games played during his career. Other returning letter winners from last season include redshirt sophomore Luke Dahlgren and redshirt junior Brad Prestegord, who each played in seven games last year.
 
Eastern Washington welcomes offensive line transfer Seth Carnahan to the trenches as well. A redshirt junior, Carnahan spent three seasons with the Idaho Vandals where he played in 23 games. Other returning members of the offensive line include redshirt sophomore Isaac Flemmer, sophomore Brenden Rivera, sophomore Gale Kamp, redshirt freshman Dane Anderson, redshirt freshman Shane Schwake, and redshirt junior Brad Godwin.
 
DEFENSE
 
After only losing four defensive starters after the 2021 season, the Eagle defense is taking a veteran shape under returning All-Big Sky honorees Mitchell Johnson and Joshua Jerome.
 
Defensive backs and 2020-21 All-BSC members in Anthany Smith and Tre Weed also return. Sixteen defensive players on the 2022 roster have logged at least one start in their careers, including seven on EWU's secondary. Smith, who is a Co-Captain and will don EWU's legacy No. 4 jersey, returns for his senior year with 109 career tackles, two interceptions and four passes broken up in 30 games (11 as a starter). He missed the first half of the 2021 season due to injury, but managed to rack up 38 tackles and a forced fumble in six games played in 2021. He earned All-Big Sky first team honors in 2020-21 and was the team's defensive MVP.
 
Weed is the second starter back on the secondary. After earning All-Big Sky second team honors in 2020-21, he returned to play in all 13 games (11 starts) last season with 37 tackles, four pass break ups, and an interception. He has now played 36 games as an Eagle (29 as a starter), and has career totals of 105 tackles, three interceptions and 13 passes broken up.
 
Darrien Sampson started all 13 games in 2021, and nineteen of his 29 tackles were solo to go with an interception. Sampson has played in 34 career games now (23 starts) and has 61 tackles, three interceptions and seven passes broken up.
 
Marlon Jones Jr. tied for the team-lead last year with three interceptions. He played in 12 games with five starts, racking up 47 tackles and five passes broken up. Against Montana on Oct. 2, he recorded the first interception of his career with 6:30 left in the fourth quarter. The turnover would allow for the Eastern to extend their lead to six points, capping off a comeback attempt and winning the game by a score of 34-28. He has appeared in 21 games with the Eagles, making nine starts and tallying 72 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble.
 
During his second season with the Eagles after transferring in from Arizona State, Ely Doyle returns for his junior season. Doyle has played in 16 games since transferring to Eastern, holding totals of 76 tackles and five passes broken up. Last season, he twice made game-winning stops. First, in a double-overtime victory in which he helped make the game-winning stop on UNLV's two-point conversion attempt, and again against Montana on Oct. 2 where he recorded a pass break-up on the Griz's game-winning touchdown try.
 
Sophomore Cage Schenck and redshirt junior Demetrius Crosby Jr. each played in all 13 games last year, while sophomore DaJean Wells appeared in 12. Schenck has played in 19 games for the Eagles, making one start and collecting 20 tackles. Crosby has played in 24 games for the Eagles, making two starts. He has tallied 37 tackles, three interceptions, and 11 passes broken up. Wells has 18 games of experience with five tackles. Redshirt senior Keshaun King has 69 tackles and three interceptions in his 32-game career (four as a starter), after playing in 11 games last year with two interceptions.
 
A trio of redshirt freshmen in Joseph Obeto, Kentrell Williams Jr., and Armani Orange look to see action this season after spending 2021 on the scout team.
 
Opposite of the defensive backs, Eastern Washington lost two All-Big Sky linebackers in Jack Sendelbach and Ty Graham, along with Cale Lindsay and Jusstis Warren and put a point of emphasis on recruiting the position in the offseason. Joining the Eagles are transfers Derek Tommasini from Idaho, Jaren Banks from Rice, and Sherwin King Jr. from Fresno State.
 
Four letterwinners return in the linebacker room in sophomores Ahmani Williams, Trevor Thurman, and Conner O'Farrell and redshirt freshman Daniel Taumoepeau. O'Farrell has the most experience with 17 games and 16 tackles, totaling nine last season in 10 games played. Thurman has made four tackles (one for loss) in 10 games of experience, while Williams has 11 games of experience (one start) and has made 12 tackles. Taumoepeau played in four games during his debut season with the Eagles.
 
Redshirt sophomore Steven Flowers has played in one game during his career, while Shane Aleaga redshirted his first year on campus.
 
Four starters on back on EWU's defensive line in redshirt seniors Mitchell Johnson and Debore'ae McClain, sophomore Matthew Brown, and redshirt junior Joshua Jerome.
 
Johnson is a Co-Captain and earned All-Big Sky first team honors in 2020-21 and was named to the third team in 2021. He has 148 tackles in his 47-game career (30 as a starter). He has 26 1/2 tackles for loss, 13 1/2 sacks, five interceptions, 16 quarterback hurries, nine passes broken up, three fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles (T-14th in school history). In 2021, he made 50 total tackles and had 9 1/2 tackles for loss, resulting in 36 negative yards for opponents. Johnson was also credited with 5 1/2 sacks for 27 yards, five pass break ups, five quarterback hurries, and two forced fumbles.
 
Jerome is Eastern's other returning All-Conference honoree on the defensive side. Jerome was selected to the HERO Sports All-America Sophomore team too after playing in and starting all 13 games for the Eagles. Jerome was in the opposing offense's backfield all season long, leading EWU in sacks (seven) and tackles for loss (13 1/2). He racked up 61 total tackles, six quarterback hurries, a fumble recovery, and he forced three fumbles. He has played 35 career games (20 as a starter), and has 143 tackles with 11 1/2 sacks, nine quarterback hurries, a pass broken up, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
 
McClain also appeared in and started all 13 games, making 38 tackles, four sacks, and six quarterback hurries. McClain has played in 47 games across four seasons as an Eagle, racking up 71 tackles, 5 1/2 sacks, nine quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
 
The final returning starter on the defensive line is Brown, who has started in 12 of the 13 games he's played in, totaling 16 tackles and a fumble recovery. He had 2 1/2 tackles for loss, with 1 1/2 of those coming in Eastern's first game of the year against FBS opponent UNLV. Brown has appeared in 17 games for the Eagles, making 12 starts. He has tallied 19 tackles in his career, with 3 1/2 of them for loss. He also has a sack and a fumble recovery.
 
Adding veteran experience to the defensive line is redshirt senior Caleb Davis. Davis appeared in all 13 games for the Eagles, making one start. He racked up 19 tackles (three for loss), a fumble recovery, and two sacks. His season-high of four tackles came in the FCS Playoffs against Northern Iowa, a game in which the Eastern defense allowed only one touchdown. Davis has played in 36 games for the Eagles. He has totaled 66 career tackles and 6 1/2 sacks, also recovering two fumbles.
 
Redshirt sophomore Brock Harrison has played in 24 games as an Eagle with six starts, totaling 47 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, eight tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, three pass break ups and an interception. Fellow redshirt sophomore Jacob Newsom has played in 20 games, recording 37 tackles, three sacks, a pass break up and a forced fumble.
 
Soli Paleso'o is a redshirt sophomore who has played in 20 games, recording 23 tackles, two sacks, four quarterback hurries, a blocked field goal and a pass broken up. Paleso'o appeared in 11 games for the Eagles, producing 23 tackles and two sacks. Sophomore LeAndre Gaines who has 15 games of experience (11 tackles, one sack), also returns.
 
Rounding out the defensive line is Emmanuel Osuoha, Taalefili Fata, Robert Cooper, Chad Vidican, Warren Hardin, Sean Skladany, Sandrey Mitberg, and Gabriel Johnson. Hardin saw four games of action last year, while Cooper played in three and Skladany appeared in two.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
 
Another experienced group is Eastern Washington's special teams corps, as the Eagles return three kickers, a punter, and two long snappers who all saw action last year.
 
Junior Nick Kokich handled all punting duties across 12 games for the Eagles, averaging 40.2 yards on 48 attempts. He had nine punts of 50 or more yards and 14 landing inside the opposition's 20 yard line. He also recorded 39 passing yards on two completions, including a long of 36 against Southern Utah. Kokich had three punts inside the 20 against Montana on Oct. 2, and he had his longest punt of the season (61 yards) against Weber State. In 109 career punts, he has averaged 39.6 per kick (ranking 11th in EWU history) with a long of 61.
 
Redshirt junior kicker Seth Harrison has the most experience on special teams. Harrison made the first 12 field goal attempts of his career, and is now 24-of-33 for .727 accuracy which currently ranks fifth in school history. His 190 kicking points are also fifth in school history. He is fourth in extra points made and attempted, going 118-of-125 in his career. Harrison became just the seventh Eagle in school history to have at least three career field goals of 47 yards or more, and just the fourth with two of at least 50 yards. There have been just 44 total field goals of 47 yards or more and 22 of at least 50 all-time at EWU. He also holds a 54.2 kickoff average (11 touchbacks). Harrison battled injuries in 2021, and in seven games he made 6-of-12 field goals and added 43 extra-point kicks on 45 attempts with a long of 41.
 
Jackson Cleaver enters his sophomore season with nine games of experience for the Eagles, going 4-of-6 on field goal attempts and 20-of-23 on extra points. He also has 29 kickoffs for 1,614 yards and six touchbacks. Cleaver appeared in seven games for the Eagles, making 3-of-5 field goals and 14-of-17 extra points. He set a new career-long on a 32-yard field goal against Montana (10/2/21). He accounted for eight points in the 34-28 victory over the Griz and was named the Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week.
 
Sophomore Wyatt Hawkins was a perfect two-for-two on field goal tries (long of 30) and six-for-six on extra point tries. He also recorded 50 kickoffs, totaling 2,717 yards (54.3 average) and 13 touchbacks. Hawkins has appeared in 12 games for the Eagles, making both of his field goal attempts and recording 61 kickoff attempts for a 53-yard average.
 
Cody Clements will enter his sixth season at Eastern Washington in the Fall as a redshirt senior. He has appeared in 28 games for the Eagles as a long snapper. He played in nine games for EWU in 2021 before an injury handed off duties to Aaron Estrada who made his collegiate debut against UC Davis on Nov. 13, playing in four games total.
 
SCHEDULE
 
The 2022 campaign includes five home games at Roos Field in Cheney, Wash., and officially gets underway on Sept. 3.
 
All of EWU's 2022 opponents compete at the Division I level. Eastern's non-conference opponents include Tennessee State (Sept. 3), and two Football Bowl Subdivision members in Oregon (Sept. 10) and Florida (Oct. 1). This year will mark the third time Eastern Washington has played two FBS teams in a single season, taking on Oregon State and West Virginia in 2006 and Texas Tech and Colorado in 2008.
 
Eastern plays eight Big Sky Conference games, splitting evenly between the road and home. The Eagles open up conference play at home on Sept. 24 against Football Championship Subdivision National Champion runner-up's Montana State. Homecoming is set for Oct. 15 against Sacramento State.
 
Eastern Washington officially opens the season at home on Saturday, Sept. 3 in the first-ever meeting with Tennessee State. It will be the first time Eastern has opened the season in Cheney since 2018 against Central Washington, and the first time opening the year against an FCS opponent at home since Sam Houston State in 2014.
 
Tennessee State competes in the Ohio Valley Conference under head coach and former Heisman Trophy winner, Eddie George. Last season, the Tigers finished 5-6 overall with a 3-3 mark in OVC play. Eastern Washington has a 2-2 mark all-time against Ohio Valley members.
 
The following week, Eastern Washington has its first of two chances to pick up a win over an FBS opponent for the second-straight season and 12th time overall when they head to Eugene, Ore., to take on Oregon on Sept. 10. Eastern has faced the Ducks just once before, dating back to 2015 when it opened the season with a 61-42 loss. The Eagles faced off against former EWU quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. in his first year with UO, and former EWU wide receiver and current Los Angeles Ram Cooper Kupp had 15 catches for 246 yards and three touchdowns in the loss. Eastern Washington is 2-13 all-time against Pac-12 opponents.
 
Following the bye week on Sept. 17, Big Sky Conference play arrives with an early challenge against Montana State. The Bobcats will be fresh off of the NCAA FCS Championship game where they finished runner-up to North Dakota State. Eastern Washington will look to avenge a 23-20 loss to MSU at Roos Field back on Nov. 6, 2021. The Eagles are 32-11 all-time against the Bobcats.
 
Eastern Washington takes a quick break from conference action on Oct. 1 when it plays at Florida in Gainesville, Fla. The game was originally scheduled for Sept. 5, 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and moved to a new agreed upon date. It will be the first-ever game for the Eagles versus the Southeastern Conference. The Gators finished 6-7 last season and 2-6 in the SEC, ending the season with a loss to Central Florida at the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl.
 
Turning the focus back to Big Sky Conference play, Eastern hits the road again at Weber State on Oct. 8. The Wildcats have won four out of the last five Big Sky titles, and although they failed to advance to the FCS Playoffs, EWU will look to get back to its winning ways against WSU as it has lost three-straight to the Wildcats. Weber State came to Cheney in 2021 and won 35-34, snapping Eastern's 20-game home winning streak.
 
When Eastern Washington returns home on Oct. 15 to host Sacramento State for Homecoming, it will be the first matchup between the Eagles and the Hornets since 2019. Eastern leads the all-time series, 19-5, but lost the last meeting.
 
The Eagles play three of their last five games on the road. Eastern Washington goes for its eighth-straight victory over Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Calif., on Oct. 22. EWU then returns home to host Portland State on Oct. 29 with a five-game winning streak over the Vikings on the line.
 
The final two road games come consecutively at Idaho on Nov. 5 and at Montana on Nov. 12. Eastern has won two-straight over the Vandals, but have lost two-straight in Moscow. The Eagles look to avenge an NCAA Second Round Playoff loss to the Grizzlies last season in Missoula, but EWU claimed the last regular season meeting in a thriller at Roos Field in 2021.
 
Eastern Washington looks to send off its seniors on a happy note, as the final regular season game takes place on The Inferno against Northern Colorado on Nov. 19. The Eagles are 12-0 against the Bears since the 1981 season.