Saturday, November 25
Carbondale, IL
2 PM
Southern Illinois University
vs
Nicholls
Preview | Dawgs are Playoff Bound!
11/19/2023 | 12:22:00 | Football
Salukis host Nicholls on Saturday at Saluki Stadium at 2 PM
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois will make its third playoff appearance in the last four years when it hosts Nicholls State on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the first round of the FCS Playoffs.
The No. 14-ranked Salukis (7-4) were an at-large selection to the 24-team FCS Playoffs and one of six schools taken from Missouri Valley Football Conference.
The winner of Saturday's game will play at No. 4-seed Idaho on Dec. 2.
SIU will host a playoff game for the first time at Saluki Stadium, which opened in 2010.
"It means a lot to be able to play (at Saluki Stadium)," head coach Nick Hill said. "The expectation and the vision is to play plenty of them here. This is an opportunity for our guys to leave a legacy."
Playoff tickets are on-sale with prices ranging from $15-$50. SIU students can claim a free ticket when the gates open at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Tickets can be purchased on-line at SIUSalukis.com/tickets, by phone at 877-SALUKIS, or in-person at the Banterra Center ticket office.
SIU Makes 11th Playoff Appearance
1983: Beat Indiana St. in the first round 23-7, beat Nevada in the second round 23-7 and beat Western Carolina in Charleston, SC for the 1AA Championship, 43-7.
2003: Lost at Delaware in the first round, 45-7.
2004: Lost to Eastern Washington in the first round, 35-31.
2005: Won at Eastern Illinois in the first round 21-6 and lost at Appalachian St. in the second round, 38-24.
2006: Beat UT-Martin 36-30 in the first round and lost at Montana 20-3 in the second round.
2007: Beat Eastern Illinois 30-11 in the first round, beat Massachusetts 34-27 in the second round and lost to Delaware in the Final Four, 20-17.
2008: Lost to New Hampshire in the first round, 29-20.
2009: Beat Eastern Illinois, 48-7 in the first round and lost to William and Mary in the second round, 24-3.
2020-21 (Spring): Won at Weber St. in the first round, 34-31 and lost at South Dakota St. in the Elite Eight, 31-26.
2021: Won at South Dakota in the first round, 22-10. Lost at North Dakota State in the second round, 38-7.
Series versus Nicholls
SIU and Nicholls have previously met only twice. On Sept. 23, 1995, the Salukis won at McAndrew Stadium, 48-20. Southern had two returns for touchdowns in the game — a 40-yard interception return by Darnell Hendricks, and a 63-yard fumble return by Tony Seman. On Sept. 6, 1997, Nicholls beat SIU, 33-0, in Thibodaux, La. Southern was out-gained in the contest, 455-120.
Dawg Bites
Top-10 Defense
Best defense since 1983?
The last time SIU's defense came close to posting similar statistical numbers was during the 1983 National Championship season. That defense allowed 12.7 points per game and 225.5 yards per game, en route to a 13-1 record. Coincidentally, this year marks the 40th anniversary of that championship season, and SIU welcomed more than 70 team members for a reunion at Homecoming.
Antonio James nominated for Assistant Coach of the Year
Assistant head coach Antonio James was promoted to defensive coordinator on Aug. 1 — one day before the start of training camp this season. He replaced D.J. Vokolek, who departed for Northwestern. James, who also coaches the defensive line, has previous DC experience at Morgan State (2018-21).
S PJ Jules — Buchanan Award Finalist
Senior Bowl Watch List, Stats Perform Preseason All-American, Preseason 1st-Team All-MVFC
100 tackles, 12.0 TFL, 10 PBUs
Named the Week 2 MVFC Player of the Week after a 12-tackle, 2.5 TFL, 3 PBU performance at Northern Illinois
Named the Week 3 MVFC Player of the Week after a career-high 15-tackle, 3 PBU performance versus SEMO.
Ranks 2nd in career PBUs at SIU (28) and 20th in tackles (271)
Nic Baker re-writes Saluki record book
Quarterback Nic Baker owns all of the major career passing records at SIU.
The No. 14-ranked Salukis (7-4) were an at-large selection to the 24-team FCS Playoffs and one of six schools taken from Missouri Valley Football Conference.
The winner of Saturday's game will play at No. 4-seed Idaho on Dec. 2.
SIU will host a playoff game for the first time at Saluki Stadium, which opened in 2010.
"It means a lot to be able to play (at Saluki Stadium)," head coach Nick Hill said. "The expectation and the vision is to play plenty of them here. This is an opportunity for our guys to leave a legacy."
Playoff tickets are on-sale with prices ranging from $15-$50. SIU students can claim a free ticket when the gates open at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Tickets can be purchased on-line at SIUSalukis.com/tickets, by phone at 877-SALUKIS, or in-person at the Banterra Center ticket office.
SIU Makes 11th Playoff Appearance
1983: Beat Indiana St. in the first round 23-7, beat Nevada in the second round 23-7 and beat Western Carolina in Charleston, SC for the 1AA Championship, 43-7.
2003: Lost at Delaware in the first round, 45-7.
2004: Lost to Eastern Washington in the first round, 35-31.
2005: Won at Eastern Illinois in the first round 21-6 and lost at Appalachian St. in the second round, 38-24.
2006: Beat UT-Martin 36-30 in the first round and lost at Montana 20-3 in the second round.
2007: Beat Eastern Illinois 30-11 in the first round, beat Massachusetts 34-27 in the second round and lost to Delaware in the Final Four, 20-17.
2008: Lost to New Hampshire in the first round, 29-20.
2009: Beat Eastern Illinois, 48-7 in the first round and lost to William and Mary in the second round, 24-3.
2020-21 (Spring): Won at Weber St. in the first round, 34-31 and lost at South Dakota St. in the Elite Eight, 31-26.
2021: Won at South Dakota in the first round, 22-10. Lost at North Dakota State in the second round, 38-7.
Series versus Nicholls
SIU and Nicholls have previously met only twice. On Sept. 23, 1995, the Salukis won at McAndrew Stadium, 48-20. Southern had two returns for touchdowns in the game — a 40-yard interception return by Darnell Hendricks, and a 63-yard fumble return by Tony Seman. On Sept. 6, 1997, Nicholls beat SIU, 33-0, in Thibodaux, La. Southern was out-gained in the contest, 455-120.
Dawg Bites
- SIU leads the league in turnovers forced (20), fumble recoveries (11) and touchdowns scored by the defense (3)
- SIU is averaging 36.1 points per game in its six wins and 7.5 points per game in its four losses
- SIU has never hosted a playoff game at Saluki Stadium, which opened in 2010. It's last home playoff game was in 2009 at McAndrew Stadium. Listed among the team's preseason goals was to host a playoff game.
Top-10 Defense
- 7th in points allowed (17.3 points/game).
- 4th in yards allowed (284.1 yards/game)
- 6th in run defense (94.5 yards/game)
- 8th in sacks (2.91 sacks/game)
- 6th in tackles for loss (7.5 TFL/game)
- SIU is also 11th in pass efficiency defense (113.53) and leads the league in that category
Best defense since 1983?
The last time SIU's defense came close to posting similar statistical numbers was during the 1983 National Championship season. That defense allowed 12.7 points per game and 225.5 yards per game, en route to a 13-1 record. Coincidentally, this year marks the 40th anniversary of that championship season, and SIU welcomed more than 70 team members for a reunion at Homecoming.
Antonio James nominated for Assistant Coach of the Year
Assistant head coach Antonio James was promoted to defensive coordinator on Aug. 1 — one day before the start of training camp this season. He replaced D.J. Vokolek, who departed for Northwestern. James, who also coaches the defensive line, has previous DC experience at Morgan State (2018-21).
S PJ Jules — Buchanan Award Finalist
Senior Bowl Watch List, Stats Perform Preseason All-American, Preseason 1st-Team All-MVFC
100 tackles, 12.0 TFL, 10 PBUs
Named the Week 2 MVFC Player of the Week after a 12-tackle, 2.5 TFL, 3 PBU performance at Northern Illinois
Named the Week 3 MVFC Player of the Week after a career-high 15-tackle, 3 PBU performance versus SEMO.
Ranks 2nd in career PBUs at SIU (28) and 20th in tackles (271)
Nic Baker re-writes Saluki record book
Quarterback Nic Baker owns all of the major career passing records at SIU.
- Passing yards (9,038)
- Pass Completions (760)
- Pass Attempts (1,152)
- Touchdown passes (65-tied)
- Total Offense (9,250)
9.18.25 | Drew Steffe with Rodney Watson
Thursday, September 18
9.17.25 | Saluki Radio Football Podcast - SEMO
Wednesday, September 17
Inside Saluki Athletics - September 16th
Wednesday, September 17
9.16.25 | Coach Nick Hill Weekly Press Conference
Tuesday, September 16