CHICAGO – Eastern Illinois game at Northwestern on Sept. 10 will be part of a college football triple header as the Big Ten Network announced its television schedule for the first three weeks of games for the 2011 season. Kick off at Ryan Field has been set for 2:30 p.m. (Central) as the Panthers will make their first return to Chicago for a game since playing Illinois-Chicago in 1972 at Solider Field. The 2011 season will be the final season for long time EIU head coach and Chicago native Bob Spoo.

This will be the first meeting between EIU and Northwestern but will be the sixth straight season that EIU has played a member of the Big Ten Conference. The game will follow the South Dakota State at Illinois game at 11 a.m. with Virginia at Indiana set as the prime time game at 6 p.m.

This will mark the fourth time that EIU has appeared on the Big Ten Network for football. EIU has previous appearances against Purdue, Illinois and Iowa on the network.

Game times have now been set for of EIU's 2011 games. The 2011 season opens on Sept. 1 with the 100th meeting between EIU and Illinois State.

2011 Schedule
Sept. 1 vs. Illinois State @ 6:30 p.m. (Comcast Sports Net)
Sept. 10 at Northwestern @ 2:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
Sept. 17 vs. Tennessee Tech @ 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 24 at Jacksonville State @ 6 p.m.
Oct. 1 at Southeast Missouri @ 6 p.m.
Oct. 8 vs. Eastern Kentucky @ 1:30 p.m. (Family Weekend)
Oct. 15 at Murray State @ 3 p.m.
Oct. 22 vs. UT Martin @ 1:30 p.m. (Homecoming)
Oct. 29 at Austin Peay @ 4 p.m.
Nov. 5 vs. Tennessee State @ 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 12 at Southern Illinois @ 2 p.m.