Saturday, November 19
Youngstown, OH
11:00 AM
Southern Illinois University
at
Youngstown St.
Football wraps up regular season at Youngstown State on Saturday
11/18/2022 | 4:56:00 | Football
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Southern Illinois wraps up its regular-season schedule with a key conference matchup at Youngstown State on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. The game will be televised on ESPN3.
The Salukis (5-5, 4-3) are clinging to playoff aspirations, hoping to be one of the rare teams to make the FCS Playoffs with a 6-5 record. Their hopes are based on a resume that includes being the only FCS school to beat a Power Five opponent this season, a strength of schedule that ranks third nationally, and the potential to finish as high as third in the nation's best FCS conference — the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
Standing in the way is a Penguins team (6-4, 4-3) that also has playoff ambitions.
SIU head coach Nick Hill is 3-4 against the Penguins as SIU's head coach, including a 1-3 mark at Stambaugh Stadium. The win came on March 6, 2021, as Southern rallied from an early 12-point deficit to beat YSU, 30-22. Nic Baker threw two TD passes and ran for another, and Romeir Elliott led the Salukis with 97 rushing yards.
In last year's game in Carbondale, Youngstown spoiled SIU's Senior Day with a 35-18 win. The Salukis out-gained YSU, 430-359, but were undone by costly mistakes. Three second-half drives deep in YSU territory yielded no points, the offense converted just 1-of-11 third-down opportunities, and Southern turned the ball over three times.
Notebook
The Salukis (5-5, 4-3) are clinging to playoff aspirations, hoping to be one of the rare teams to make the FCS Playoffs with a 6-5 record. Their hopes are based on a resume that includes being the only FCS school to beat a Power Five opponent this season, a strength of schedule that ranks third nationally, and the potential to finish as high as third in the nation's best FCS conference — the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
Standing in the way is a Penguins team (6-4, 4-3) that also has playoff ambitions.
SIU head coach Nick Hill is 3-4 against the Penguins as SIU's head coach, including a 1-3 mark at Stambaugh Stadium. The win came on March 6, 2021, as Southern rallied from an early 12-point deficit to beat YSU, 30-22. Nic Baker threw two TD passes and ran for another, and Romeir Elliott led the Salukis with 97 rushing yards.
In last year's game in Carbondale, Youngstown spoiled SIU's Senior Day with a 35-18 win. The Salukis out-gained YSU, 430-359, but were undone by costly mistakes. Three second-half drives deep in YSU territory yielded no points, the offense converted just 1-of-11 third-down opportunities, and Southern turned the ball over three times.
Notebook
- SIU's last four losses have come by a total of 10 points. No team in school history has lost four games in a season by 10 or fewer points.
- The Salukis are 8-6 in their last 14 road games.
- SIU's run defense ranks No. 11 in the country, allowing 105.0 yards per game
- The defense ranks No. 5 in sacks per game (3.40).
- Javon Williams Jr. has all nine of his rushing touchdowns in the last six games, including four versus Western Illinois last week. He has scored 45 total touchdowns in his career (43 rushing, 2 receiving). Tom Koutsos and Arkee Whitlock own the school record (52).
- In its last six games, SIU has scored 18 points in the fourth quarter.
- RBs Ro Elliott (1,711), Javon Williams Jr. (2,554) and Justin Strong (1,034) have combined for 5,301 career rushing yards and 61 rushing TDs.
- WR Avante Cox has caught at least one pass in every game he's played at SIU. The school-record streak stands at 42 games.
Players Mentioned
9.22.25 | Football Highlights - at SEMO
Monday, September 22
9.21.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame at SEMO - Vinson Davis
Sunday, September 21
9.21.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame at SEMO - DJ Williams
Sunday, September 21
9.21.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame at SEMO - Chris Presto
Sunday, September 21