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The Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Ind.
Sycamore offense looks to move up from 9th-best in MVFC last season
- Story byThe Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Ind.
- Sycamore offense looks to move up from 9th-best in MVFC last season
Indiana State's football team is looking to improve upon its ninth-place overall finish in Missouri Valley Football Conference offensive rankings from 2025.
ISU also placed eighth in rushing and 10th in passing. Record-wise, the Sycamores finished 3-9 overall and 1-7 in the MVFC, tying for eighth in the then-10-team league. (North Dakota State has since moved up to the FBS in the Mountain West Conference.)
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Sycamore coach Curt Mallory said the big emphasis is to keep the chains moving by piling up first downs.
"We have to score points when we get in the red zone," he added. "That's been a big emphasis. We've been working on red zone every day, working on third down to move the chains and that's going to always be an emphasis."
ISU averaged 19.4 points per game in 2025, ahead of only Northern Iowa in the MVFC. The Sycamores averaged 125.3 rushing yards per game, and 192.5 passing yards per game.
The Sycamores faced some high-octane offenses last season, including Big Sky foe Montana, FBS national champion Indiana and FCS runner-up Illinois State, which also is an MVFC member.
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"Starting in our conference, everyone is good," Mallory told the Tribune-Star. "Of course, we played Montana and they're really good as well. But when you look at the whole thing, everybody every week can beat anybody and everyone's good on both sides of the ball."
This season, six offensive starters return, including quarterback Elijah Owens, wide receiver Keshon Singleton, and offensive linemen Zac Wurm, Griffin Hile, Drew Page, Jordan Solofa-Fatu and Zach Simpson.
Mallory thinks the summer has really helped with the ability to be with the team during June and July. Mallory said being around his players and getting to know them is probably the biggest emphasis.
"Having the ability to do that and get better, you're able to install your offense and actually work with these guys throughout the summer and that's a game changer," he explained.
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Owens went down with a collarbone injury early last season and started just the first two games. His replacement, Keegan Patterson, passed for 1,558 yards and 12 touchdowns, but transferred to Northern Colorado last spring. ISU gained another QB in the offseason, 6-foot-6 Brady Allen of Louisville, a former Indiana Mr. Football.
For 2026, Mallory said Owens' leadership role has only increased and that his teammates see how he responds through adversity.
Mallory thinks the receiving corps is coming along really well. The Sycamores lost its top wideout and kick returner Rashad Rochelle, who led ISU in touchdowns with nine, to graduation. Singleton is now listed at No. 1 on the wide-receiver depth chart.
Deion Brown is the top returning rusher with 248 yards in 66 carries last season for a 3.8 yards-per-carry average.
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"We have a lot more depth than I think we've had and it's very competitive right now," Mallory noted.
Offensive coordinator John Bear said it's been a fun group to coach and it's been that way since January. With Owens being out, Bear said he thinks his mental game has been next level with his time coaching.
"He understands the 'why' kind of behind the whole picture," Bear mentioned. "He has a really special connection right now with Keshon. They've done a really good job working together in the offseason."
He said they've developed that timing and throws that take a lot of work. With the lessons the Sycamores took last season in some rough outings, Bear said it's always been about them. He said it's always been about controlling what they can control.
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"I don't care who plays," Bear insisted. "We want to go out and be able to execute and score points. Our job on offense is first downs and points, that's it."
He said coming off last season, it's been about execution, point of attack and that no moment can be too big.
"We have to stay in the moment that we're at and then also being able to understand that red zone matters, third down matters," Bear said. "We have situational. We put a big emphasis on that and the kids have done a great job."
Owens explained that while he was hurt, he got more of a perspective he didn't have before.
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"Standing on the sideline, getting to see the flow and momentum of the game and getting to watch what our defense is doing to try to stop them versus sitting on the sideline waiting for the next drive gave me a whole new perspective, which I really think is going to help out," Owens said.
To improve the offensive numbers, Owens stressed that the Sycamores need to take it day by day and control what they can control.
Regarding his connection with Singleton, Owens said the two have a lot of chemistry.
"The wide receiver room is deep," Owens pointed out. "All the guys can ball, so I'm excited for this season."
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Singleton said it's about getting comfortable with themselves and that he feels like last year was a new offense and new everything with a lot of new guys as well.
"So I think it just takes some getting used to," Singleton said. "Having the coaches around during the summer really helped us hone in on the details that's going to separate ourselves this upcoming season."
Singleton said it's all about what the next step is for the Sycamores and who they want to be.
"We're not just playing for right now, we're preparing ourselves for that first game," Singleton said of Bear's message to the offense. "That starts right now."
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Regarding his connection with Owens, he said it's been great and noted that they've put in a lot of work during the summer even outside of mandatory workouts.
When it comes to competing with top teams such as Illinois State, Singleton said they just worry about themselves.
"I feel like the biggest thing, we just have to get better for ourselves and the work is going to show," Singleton explained.
He believes the Sycamores can play with any team in the conference.
"We know we're good enough to get there," Singleton said. "It's all about putting in the work."
The Sycamores will kick off this season at 6 p.m. Aug. 29 as they host Southeast Missouri State at Memorial Stadium.
