Deadly duo: Tommy Rittenhouse and Daniel Sobkowicz's connection is one for ISU record books
- Nathan Swaffar
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
The connection between Illinois State quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse and wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz has been building for nearly half a decade.
“It’s been me and him since freshman year,” Rittenhouse said.
“It was pretty crazy, just because we were able to connect pretty well, pretty quick and obviously on the field,” Sobkowicz said.
The two seniors have flourished in Normal, forming one of the most prolific QB/WR duos in Redbird history. Thanks to that chemistry, Illinois State is on the precipice of capturing the program’s first national title.
The connection between the two can be traced back even before they arrived in Normal in 2021. The duo didn’t grow up so far apart from each other in the Chicago suburbs, with Rittenhouse hailing from Geneva and Sobkowicz from Arlington Heights. In fact, Rittenhouse’s St. Francis High School and Sobkowicz’s Rolling Meadows were only about 21 miles apart from each other.
Although the two went to school within a short distance, neither had ever met before arriving on campus.
“We didn’t know each other at all,” Sobkowicz said. “I think I might have known of him a little bit, but our first time meeting was the first day of football at Illinois State.”
Although the two were members of the same class, the on-field connection between the two didn’t begin to flourish until the 2024 season. After redshirting both their freshman years, Sobkowicz quickly emerged as a go-to target in 2022 and 2023, hauling in 99 receptions, 1,310 yards and 13 touchdowns. However, a majority of those passes weren’t thrown by Rittenhouse as he sat behind starter Zack Annexstad for both those seasons. But 2024 was the coming-out party.
Last year, the duo connected 80 times for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns. But the 2025 regular season wasn’t quite as productive as previous ones, as they connected 49 times for 686 yards and 11 touchdowns.
However, during the Redbirds’ unprecedented run to the national championship, their chemistry has been on display for a national audience.
Through four playoff games, Rittenhouse has found Sobkowicz 29 times for 403 yards and a staggering seven touchdowns. To put that into perspective, Over 35% (29/82) of Rittenhouse’s postseason completions have been to Sobkowicz. Over 44% (403/912) of Rittenhouse’s postseason passing yards have been to Sobkowicz. Finally, 87.5% (7/8) of Rittenhouse’s postseason passing TDs have been to Sobkowicz.
“I think it starts with trusting each other,” Sobkowicz said. “And Tommy obviously trusts me a lot, and he trusts that I trust him as well. I think all of us just putting it all together, and he's able to just give me 50/50 balls, or just give me shots at going up to get a ball.”
Head coach Brock Spack said one of the biggest factors contributing to the duo’s chemistry has been their shared experiences during their time in the program, whether it was positive or negative.
“Both have had injuries, both have had a poor game here and there, and the disappointment of that,” Spack said. “You learn to deal with disappointment the older you get, anywhere in life, but particularly as an athlete, you deal with that a little bit better the older you get. I think them going through the pluses and the minuses and everything in between together has really made them bond, and they just have a heck of a combination here. Every good team we've had has that combination between the quarterback and receiver.”
Those postseason numbers also certainly have the attention of their title game opponent Montana State.
Wildcat cornerback Caden Dowler said there won’t be a simple solution to slowing them down on Monday and had high praise for what the duo has accomplished.
“I don't think you stop it, you probably can maybe stunt it a little bit, but they're going to get theirs,” Dowler said. “Both are really good players; they’re going to go up and number two is going to get that ball.”
Thanks in large-part to their seasons-long chemistry, they won’t only go down as one of the best QB/WR duos in Redbird history, they’ll both be among the greats at their respective positions.
Sobkowicz is already the program career-leader in multiple receiving categories, including receptions (257) and TD receptions (40). If he can haul in an additional 59 yards in the title game, he will also surpass Tyrone Walker’s current mark of 3,565 for the program lead. His 18 touchdown receptions this season are also the most in a single-season for Illinois State.
Meanwhile, Rittenhouse doesn’t own any career program passing records, but he’s in the top five in multiple categories. His 636 career completions are third-best, his 6,806 career passing yards are also third-best and his 56 career passing touchdowns are fourth-best in program history.
His 36 passing touchdowns and 301 completions this season, however, are program records. He’ll also have a chance to break the single-season passing yards record as his current mark of 3,257 is only 113 yards short of Matt Brown’s 2012 mark of 3,370.
Rittenhouse said that the years of practicing, playing and being together have all led to this postseason, culminating with Monday night’s championship.
“Over the years, the chemistry is built up,” Rittenhouse said. “And in the offseason, we spend a lot of time together, throwing routes on air, everything like that. He got his opportunity a little earlier than me, and I just had to wait my turn. Be patient with it, stay consistent and it's awesome to see it kind of flourish now.”