While known more for its prowess on the basketball court, the Indiana State Sycamores have been known to play a little football as well. As an FCS program, it’s relatively easy for fans to get their hands on cheap Indiana State football tickets. But that doesn’t mean the Sycamores don’t have a lot of history and tradition when it comes to football. Every now and then, the Sycamores rise to the top and create a high demand for last-minute Indiana State football tickets.

Once Upon a Time

The story of Indiana State football dates back to 1896, which was when the school first fielded a football team. Unfortunately for the Sycamores, they had to wait until the 1960s to experience any high levels of success. In 1964, the Sycamores won their first and only conference championship, splitting a four-way title in the Indiana Collegiate Conference. Things didn’t pick up again until the 1980s when Dennis Raetz began his tenure as the most successful coach in program history. Under Raetz, Indiana State reached the FCS Playoffs for the first time in program history in 1983. The Sycamores were also invited to play in the Pecan Bowl in both 1983 and 1984.

21st Century Sycamores

While Indiana State struggled to maintain consistency under Raetz, the Sycamores started to show signs of life after the turn of the century. Former Indiana State player and Terre Haute native Trent Miles transformed the program from winless in 2008 to a respectable 6-5 in 2010. He laid down the foundation for Mike Sanford Sr., who led Indiana State back to the FCS Playoffs in 2014, guiding the Sycamores to their first-ever playoff win and a top-25 ranking. Despite the occasional rough season, the Sycamores have emerged as one of the more competitive programs in the Missouri Valley Conference and appear to have a bright future ahead of them.