Saturday, October 7
Youngstown, OH
5 PM (CT)
Southern Illinois University
at
Youngstown St.
Football climbs to No. 5 in national rankings, preps for Youngstown State
10/03/2023 | 8:22:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. — No. 5-ranked Southern Illinois is 4-0 for the first time since 2007 and earned its highest national ranking since climbing to No. 3 in the polls on Oct. 25, 2021.
The Salukis are one of only three undefeated FCS teams, along with South Dakota State (4-0) and Harvard (3-0).
SIU plays at Youngstown State (2-2) on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT in a game that will be televised on ESPN+. The Penguins have own seven of the last 10 meetings between the schools, including last year's season finale, in which YSU rallied from a 14-point, fourth quarter deficit to win, 28-21.
Two Salukis are closing in on major career milestones. With 7,773 passing yards, quarterback Nic Baker is 122 yards shy of school passing record held by Joel Sambursky. Running back Ro Elliott needs just 19 yards to reach 2,000 yards career rushing. He would be only the 12th player in school history to reach that plateau.
Best start since 2007
The Salukis are 4-0 for the first time since the 2007 team opened the season with six-straight victories. That squad was coached by Jerry Kill and quarterbacked by current head coach Nick Hill. The 2007 team went 12-2, including a win at FBS Northern Illinois, and won two playoff games before falling to a Joe Flacco-led Delaware squad in the semifinals.
Series versus Youngstown State
Youngstown State has won seven of the last 10 meetings between the teams, including the last two meetings and five of the last six. In last year's game, played in Youngstown, the Penguins won the season-finale matchup, 28-21, by scoring three unanswered touchdowns in the game's final 8:43. The winning score was a 22-yard TD run by Jaleel McLaughlin with 35 seconds left.
Three FCS unbeatens remain
Southern Illinois is one of three unbeaten FCS teams heading into Week 6 of the season. No. 1-ranked South Dakota State (4-0) plays at Illinois State, and No. 19 Harvard (3-0) host No. 21 Cornell on Friday night on ESPNU.
Stout run defense leads the nation
SIU leads the nation in run defense (54.8) and has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in seven-straight games. The last player to rush for 100 yards against SIU was South Dakota's Shomari Lawrence on Oct. 22, 2022.
One of two FCS teams to beat FBS opponents in both 2022 and 2023
Southern Illinois is one of two FCS teams that have beaten FBS opponents in both 2022 and 2023. The Salukis defeated Northwestern last season and beat Northern Illinois this year. Sacramento State beat Colorado State (2022) and Stanford (2023).
Safety PJ Jules among nation's leaders
S PJ Jules ranks 7th in the nation in pass breakups this season with seven total (1.8 per game). He is also ranked 15th in the nation in tackles per game (10.2). Both marks lead the MVFC.
Salukis vs. the FBS
Since becoming a I-AA/FCS member in 1982, SIU is 6-36 versus FBS teams. Nick Hill was involved in five of the wins as either a player (Indiana, Northern Illinois) or coach (UMass, Northwestern, Northern Illinois).
The Salukis are one of only three undefeated FCS teams, along with South Dakota State (4-0) and Harvard (3-0).
SIU plays at Youngstown State (2-2) on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT in a game that will be televised on ESPN+. The Penguins have own seven of the last 10 meetings between the schools, including last year's season finale, in which YSU rallied from a 14-point, fourth quarter deficit to win, 28-21.
Two Salukis are closing in on major career milestones. With 7,773 passing yards, quarterback Nic Baker is 122 yards shy of school passing record held by Joel Sambursky. Running back Ro Elliott needs just 19 yards to reach 2,000 yards career rushing. He would be only the 12th player in school history to reach that plateau.
Best start since 2007
The Salukis are 4-0 for the first time since the 2007 team opened the season with six-straight victories. That squad was coached by Jerry Kill and quarterbacked by current head coach Nick Hill. The 2007 team went 12-2, including a win at FBS Northern Illinois, and won two playoff games before falling to a Joe Flacco-led Delaware squad in the semifinals.
Series versus Youngstown State
Youngstown State has won seven of the last 10 meetings between the teams, including the last two meetings and five of the last six. In last year's game, played in Youngstown, the Penguins won the season-finale matchup, 28-21, by scoring three unanswered touchdowns in the game's final 8:43. The winning score was a 22-yard TD run by Jaleel McLaughlin with 35 seconds left.
Three FCS unbeatens remain
Southern Illinois is one of three unbeaten FCS teams heading into Week 6 of the season. No. 1-ranked South Dakota State (4-0) plays at Illinois State, and No. 19 Harvard (3-0) host No. 21 Cornell on Friday night on ESPNU.
Stout run defense leads the nation
SIU leads the nation in run defense (54.8) and has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in seven-straight games. The last player to rush for 100 yards against SIU was South Dakota's Shomari Lawrence on Oct. 22, 2022.
One of two FCS teams to beat FBS opponents in both 2022 and 2023
Southern Illinois is one of two FCS teams that have beaten FBS opponents in both 2022 and 2023. The Salukis defeated Northwestern last season and beat Northern Illinois this year. Sacramento State beat Colorado State (2022) and Stanford (2023).
Safety PJ Jules among nation's leaders
S PJ Jules ranks 7th in the nation in pass breakups this season with seven total (1.8 per game). He is also ranked 15th in the nation in tackles per game (10.2). Both marks lead the MVFC.
Salukis vs. the FBS
Since becoming a I-AA/FCS member in 1982, SIU is 6-36 versus FBS teams. Nick Hill was involved in five of the wins as either a player (Indiana, Northern Illinois) or coach (UMass, Northwestern, Northern Illinois).
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