SIU vs. SDSU: Notes & Links

Saturday, October 8

Carbondale, Ill.

6:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

South Dakota State

10/04/2016 | 3:23:00 | Football

Southern Illinois (2-2, 0-1 MVFC) at No. 12 South Dakota State (2-2, 1-0 MVFC)
Date & Time	Oct. 8, 2016 \| 6 p.m. CT
Location	Carbondale, Ill. \| Saluki Stadium (15,000 // FieldTurf) \| Weather
Run With Us	877-SALUKIS \| SIUSalukis.com \| Promotions
Video Stream	ESPN3 with Darren Kinnard (play-by-play), Mike Trude (analysis) and Danny Valle (sideline)
Live Stats	Sidearm Stats
Radio	Saluki Sports Network with Mike Reis (play-by-play), Gene Green (analysis) and Connor James (analysis)
Audio Stream	Saluki All-Access (Free all season)
Southern Illinois	Game Notes \| Stats \| Media Guide
South Dakota State	Game Notes \| Stats \| Media Guide
MVFC	Weekly Notes \| Stats
All-Time Series	Overall: Tied, 3-3 \| In Carbondale: SDSU leads, 2-1 \| Streak: SIU W1 \| Last: SIU 27, SDSU 24 (2013)
Social Media	@SIU_Football \| @SIUSalukis \| Saluki Football

QUICK HITS

Southern Illinois hosts No. 15 South Dakota State on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Saluki Stadium. The Salukis and Jacks are playing for the first time since 2013.
SDSU is the second-straight ranked opponent for the Salukis. Five of SIU's eight MVFC games are against teams ranked in this week's top-25.
Deondre Barnett already has three forced fumbles this season. He ranks second nationally in forced fumbles per game, and he is one forced fumble away from having the most at SIU in a single season since 2005.
Southern Illinois has beaten a ranked opponent in 14 consecutive seasons heading into 2016.
Including his statistics from Stillman, quarterback Josh Straughan is 351 yards away from 7,000 career passing yards. He ranks ninth in the FCS in career passing yards among active players.

SALUKIS HOST SOUTH DAKOTA STATE

SIU hosts South Dakota State on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Saluki Stadium. The game is the first home MVFC game of the season for SIU.
SIU and SDSU have not played since 2013.
The all-time series between the schools is tied at 3-3, and three of the six games have been decided by four points or fewer.
The last time the schools met, SIU won 27-24 over the Jacks in Brookings.
The road team has gone 4-2 in the series, with each school winning two of three on the other school's home field.
SIU is hosting Youth Night and Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night.
After the game, SIU will shoot off fireworks.
Fans can purchase $10 tickets for the game vs. South Dakota State, and three-game mini plans are also available for just $55.
Fans can purchase $10 tickets for the SDSU game at Fat Bottom Betty's on Wednesday (5-6:30 p.m.) or Kroger on Thursday (4-6 p.m.) and automatically win a free t-shirt and a chance at a game-worn Saluki Football jersey.
SIU (32.8 ppg) and SDSU (45.0 ppg) are averaging a combined 78 points and 900 yards per game.
SDSU head coach John Stiegelmeier will coach his 223rd career game. SIU head coach Nick Hill will be in his fifth.
The game will be streamed nationally through ESPN3. Darren Kinnard and Mike Trude will have the call, and Danny Valle will be on the sidelines.

SIU VS. RANKED OPPONENTS

SIU is facing its second ranked opponent of the season. SDSU is ranked No. 12 in the STATS media top-25 poll and No. 15 in the FCS Coaches poll.
Southern Illinois has beaten at least one ranked opponent in 14 consecutive seasons, dating back to 2002.
In 13 of those 14 seasons, SIU beat a top-15 ranked opponent.
Last year, SIU beat two top-25 opponents, knocking off No. 10 Liberty 34-13 and No. 17 Youngstown State 38-31 in overtime.
SDSU was ranked No. 7 nationally the last time the schools met, and SIU pulled out a 27-24 win in Brookings.
SIU has faced 11 ranked opponents over the last two seasons. Five opponents on this year's schedule are ranked in this week's top-25.

DAWGS AT NIGHT

SIU-SDSU is the final home night game for the Salukis in 2016. SIU is 2-0 in home night games so far this year. Since lights were re-installed for Saluki Football prior to the 2002 season, the Salukis are 30-7 under the lights at home.
Since the start of the 2014 season, Southern has won nine of its last 10 home night games, including five in a row.
Last year, SIU was 3-0 in home night games, and two of those wins came over ranked opponents.

SALUKI DEFENSE STIFF

SIU leads the MVFC and ranks fourth nationally in tackles for loss per game with 9.0.
Southern Illinois is on pace for 99 tackles for loss, which would be the most for SIU since 2000.
SIU had 118 tackles for loss the past two seasons combined.
Opponents are converting only 29 percent of their third downs against the Salukis. SIU's defense ranks 10th nationally in that category.
The SIU defense is allowing 391 yards per game, which is about 80 yards per game fewer than it allowed last year.
The Salukis are on pace to allow 1,000 fewer yards than last season.
Deondre Barnett ranks seventh nationally with four sacks through four games.
Barnett also ranks second nationally in forced fumbles per game, with three strip sacks in four games.
Khari Waithe-Alexander ranks seventh in the MVFC in sacks per game, with three sacks through four games. Waithe-Alexander also has an interception.

SIU OFFENSE AMONG NATION'S BEST

Last year, SIU's offense led the MVFC in total offense, scoring offense, and passing offense. This year, the Salukis lead the MVFC in passing and total offense, while ranking fourth in scoring offense.
SIU ranks eighth nationally in passing offense, averaging 312.0 yards per game through the air.
SIU is among 14 teams nationally who have scored points in 100 percent of their red zone appearances.
Southern's 467 yards per game of total offense ranks 13th nationally.
Josh Straughan is averaging 307.0 yards per game passing, which ranks fifth nationally. His 312 yards per game of total offense ranks eighth nationally. Last year's starting quarterback, Mark Iannotti, led the nation in total offense in 2015.
Since the start of the 2015 season, SIU has scored at least 28 points in 12 of 15 games.
Since the start of the 2015 season, SIU has put up at least 200 yards of total offense in 25 of 30 halves of play, including both halves against Northern Iowa last year. SIU has at least 200 yards in six of eight halves in 2016.

SPECIAL TEAMS, SPECIAL PLAYS

SIU leads the nation in kick return average at better than 29 yards per return.
True freshman D.J. Davis returned the opening kickoff vs. Murray State 98 yards for a touchdown, the second-longest kickoff return touchdown in program history.
Davis is one of three freshmen in the nation to have a kickoff return touchdown this season, joining Eastern Washington's Antoine Custer, Jr., and Valparaiso's Bailey Gissenger.
Individually, Davis ranks fourth nationally and leads the MVFC in kick return average.
Even without Davis's 98-yard return, the Salukis are still averaging 25.1 yards on their other 14 returns. That 25.1 yard-per-return mark would rank in the top-15 nationally.
Chase Allen blocked a punt vs. SEMO, his fourth career blocked kick.
Deondre Barnett got a finger on a field goal at Northern Iowa, a kick that missed by hitting the upright.