SIU at USD Notes & Links

Southern Illinois (4-3, 2-2 MVFC) at No. 6/7 South Dakota (6-1, 3-1 MVFC)
Date & Time	Oct. 28, 2017 \| 3 p.m. CT
Location	Vermillion, S.D. \| DakotaDome (10,000 // Turf)
Stats	Provided by South Dakota
Video	ESPN3 with Jay Elsen, Andre Fields and Kelly Stewart
Radio	Saluki Sports Network with Mike Reis (play-by-play), Gene Green (analysis) and Connor James (analysis)
Audio	Saluki All-Access (Free all season)
SIU	Game Notes \| Stats \| Media Guide
USD	Game Notes \| Stats \| Media Guide
MVFC	Weekly Notes \| Stats
Series	SIU leads, 2-1 \| In Vermillion: USD leads, 1-0 \| Streak: SIU W1 \| Last: SIU 35, USD 28 (2016)
Social	@SIU_Football \| @SIUSalukis \| Saluki Football

QUICK HITS

The Salukis travel to South Dakota for a 3 p.m. kickoff against the No. 7-ranked Coyotes. SIU and South Dakota are playing for just the fourth time. The home team is 3-0 in the series.
Southern Illinois beat then-No. 15 Illinois State earlier this year--Southern's 16th consecutive season beating a ranked opponent. Southern is seeking its first win over a top-10 opponent since beating No. 10 Liberty 34-13 in 2015, and its first MVFC win over a top-10 opponent since a 24-17 win at No. 4 Northern Iowa in 2013.
Sam Straub (20) and USD quarterback Chris Streveler (19) are 1-2 in the MVFC in touchdown passes. Both are on pace to challenge the MVFC regular season record for touchdown passes (31 by Ryan Helming, UNI, in 1999).
SIU leads the MVFC and ranks sixth nationally in takeaways (19). South Dakota ranks third nationally in fewest giveaways, having lost just four turnovers all season.

SALUKIS AT SOUTH DAKOTA

Southern Illinois travels to No. 7 South Dakota on Saturday for a 3 p.m. kickoff.
SIU and USD have played only three times. The home team has won all three games, giving SIU a 2-1 series lead.
Each of the last two games in the series have been decided on the game's final play.
- In 2015, South Dakota blocked SIU's potential game-tying field goal to secure a 34-31 win in Vermillion.
- Last season, SIU's defense made a goalline stand on its own 4-yard line to secure a 35-28 win.
Starting quarterbacks Sam Straub (SIU) and Chris Streveler (USD) are 1-2 in the MVFC in touchdown passes. Straub (20) ranks sixth nationally, and Streveler (19) ranks 10th.
Southern's defense is allowing about seven fewer points and 50 fewer yards than last season. That unit will be tested against a South Dakota offense that is on pace to shatter the MVFC total offense record by more than 60 yards per game.
The 'Yotes are the fourth ranked opponent of the season for SIU. The Salukis are 1-2 against ranked teams this season.
Southern's 42-7 win over No. 15 Illinois State marked the 16th consecutive season SIU has beaten at least one ranked opponent.
The date of the game (Oct. 28) marks 50 years to the day of SIU's historic win over nationally-ranked Tulsa. The Hurricanes were 60-point favorites before SIU beat them on Homecoming 1967.
SIU has won back-to-back MVFC games to improve to 4-3, 2-2. With a win, SIU has a chance to...
- Win three-straight MVFC games for the first time since 2012
- Win back-to-back MVFC road games for the first time since 2013
- Beat a top-10 opponent for the first time since 2015 (34-13 over No. 10 Liberty)
- Beat a top-10 MVFC opponent for the first time since 2013 (24-17 over No. 4 Northern Iowa) - also the last road win over a top-10 team
Over the last three seasons, SIU is 13-7 at home (.650) and 4-17 on the road (.190).
- SIU is 2-2 on the road this season. The Salukis have not won three road games in a season since 2013 (4-1).

GREAT VS. GREAT

Statistically, SIU and South Dakota have several major strengths going head-to-head on Saturday.
USD ranks third nationally in fewest turnovers. SIU ranks sixth nationally in forcing turnovers.
USD ranks third nationally in tackles for loss. SIU ranks seventh nationally in fewest tackles for loss allowed.
USD ranks fourth nationally in sacks per game. The Salukis lead the nation in fewest sacks allowed per game.
USD ranks fourth nationally in passing efficiency. SIU ranks 21st nationally and second in the MVFC in passing efficiency defense.

LAST TIME OUT

Southern Illinois earned a 45-24 win at Indiana State last week, the program's first conference road win since November 2014 at Missouri State.
Southern's defense dominated. Indiana State's first two drives went for 156 yards. Its final 15 drives went for a combined 122 yards.
SIU held Indiana State to 25 yards total offense in the second quarter and 25 yards total offense in the third quarter.
SIU held Indiana State to eight yards total offense in the fourth quarter before three late completions in the final 25 seconds bumped the total up to 44 yards for the quarter.
Southern had 30 first downs and went 10-for-18 on third downs. The Salukis held the Sycamores to just 11 first downs and 0-for-10 on third down.

SALUKI DEFENSIVE NOTES

The Salukis have forced 19 turnovers, which leads the MVFC and ranks sixth nationally.
SIU has 10 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries. Southern's nine fumble recoveries rank seventh nationally.
The Salukis forced 14 turnovers all of last year. SIU has already forced its most turnovers since 2012 (24).
SIU limited Mississippi Valley State to negative-eight yards rushing in the season opener.
The Salukis recorded 20 sacks all of last season, and they already have 18 this year.
After the SEMO win, SIU defensive back Ryan Neal was named MVFC Defensive Player of the Week. Neal had a game-high eight tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery in the win.

SPECIAL TEAMS SHINE

SIU punter Lane Reazin is averaging 45.3 yards per punt, which leads the MVFC and ranks fifth in the nation.
The Salukis also rank fourth nationally in punt return defense, allowing only 2.18 yards per return.
SIU's net punting (39.05) ranks ninth nationally and leads the MVFC.
Southern's success is in line with the team's "worst to first" goal for the punt unit; SIU was last in the MVFC last season in net punting.
Kick returner D.J. Davis, who led the MVFC in kick return average last year, is fourth in the league this year at 24.0 yards per return.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Next Event

Players Mentioned

D.J. Davis

Ryan Neal

Lane Reazin

Sam Straub

Scoreboard

Upcoming Events

SIU at USD Notes & Links

Next Event

Players Mentioned

D.J. Davis

Ryan Neal

Lane Reazin

Sam Straub

Related Videos