Eureka Football Inks Agreements with Knox, Greenville for 2023, 2024

EUREKA – After a four-year hiatus, the Lincoln Bowl is coming back to Eureka College in 2023.

Eureka College and Knox College will officially renew their football rivalry under the bright lights of McKinzie Field on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023 at 6 p.m. The following year, the Lincoln Bowl will be held at Knox on Sept. 7, 2024 at 1 p.m.

"We are grateful to have our schedule set through 2024," said EC head coach Kurt Barth, the winningest coach in program history. "Renewing the Lincoln Bowl game with Knox College was something that Coach Willits and I both had strong interest in. It is a great atmosphere and game for both programs."  

The Lincoln Bowl was first established in 2012 to honor the two institutions' connections to President Abraham Lincoln. In 1856, Lincoln spoke at Eureka on behalf of John Charles Fremont, the Republican Party's first candidate for President. Two years later, in 1858, Lincoln debated alongside Stephen Douglas at Knox for a seat on the United State Senate.

The Red Devils and the Prairie Fire competed for a traveling trophy every year from 2012 to 2019. Eureka won the last Lincoln Bowl held on Sept. 7, 2019 by a score of 42-28, and holds a 6-2 advantage in the competition. Knox, however, leads the all-time series – which dates back to 1893 – 18-11-1.  

In 2023 and 2024, the Red Devils will also be breathing new life into another dormant rivalry.

On Sept. 9, 2023, Eureka will head to Greenville for a 1 p.m. non-conference matchup. The following season, the maroon and gold will host the Panthers at McKinzie Field on Sept. 14, 2024 at 6 p.m.

"Our other non-conference game renews a partnership that goes way back in our program's history," Barth said. "Greenville has an outstanding program and we have had many great games with them."  

The Red Devils and Panthers were formerly conference rivals in the Illini-Badger Football Conference, Upper Midwest Athletic Conference and the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. They have played each other 31 times since 1987, but have not met since Eureka's 30-19 home victory on Oct. 14, 2017.