Saturday, November 11
Fargo, ND
2:30 PM
Southern Illinois University
at
North Dakota St.
No. 11 Football travels to No. 12 North Dakota State on Saturday
11/07/2023 | 5:03:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. — In yet another marquee matchup of Missouri Valley Football Conference heavyweights, No. 11-ranked Southern Illinois plays at No. 12 North Dakota State in a game with significant playoff implications.
With seven conference members ranked among the top 22 teams in the Football Championship Subdivision, teams are jockeying for spots in the 24-team playoff field.
Only undefeated South Dakota State (9-0) seems assured of a bid with two weeks left in the regular season. The other six teams all have either two or three losses, as they beat up on each other on a weekly basis.
SIU is 0-6 all-time at the Fargodome and has lost 10 of the last 11 meetings overall to the Bison. The lone win came on Feb. 27, 2021, when the Salukis snapped NDSU's 39-game winning streak with a 38-14 stunner at Saluki Stadium. The game marked the first-career start for Nic Baker, and he connected on 17-of-23 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown, and guided the Saluki offense to a 443-268 total yardage advantage.
SIU's last trip to Fargo was for a playoff game on Dec. 4, 2021. North Dakota State won handily, 38-7, rushing for 389 yards and controlling the ball for 38 of the game's 60 minutes. Baker completed 23-of-32 passes for 220 yards.
Top-5 Defense
SIU's defense ranks 5th in the nation at the FCS level in points allowed (16.3 points/game) and 3rd in yards allowed (272.2 yards/game). The Salukis are also 3rd in run defense (83.3 yards/game) and fifth in team sacks (3.22 sacks/game). Devin Cowan (4.0), Tim Varga (3.5) and Zach Burrola (3.0) lead the team in sacks and 15-different players have recorded sacks on the season.
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.
Tackle leaders
SIU has four players with at least 50 tackles this season, including preseason All-American PJ Jules, who leads the team and ranks among the nation's leaders with 81 stops. The other top tacklers are LB Colin Bohanek (53), S Ubayd Steed (51) and LB Branson Combs. Steed is coming off a 15-tackle performance vs. South Dakota.
PJ Jules, DJ Johnson lead the MVFC in breakups
Safety PJ Jules and CB DJ Johnson are tied for the team lead in pass breakups this season with eight each. Johnson is also fifth in interceptions with two.
Antonio James named defensive coordinator on Aug. 1
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).
Impact transfers on defense
Nine of the 11 starters on defense transferred to SIU during their career (only Jules and Combs did not transfer). Four starters on defense are incoming transfers for the 2023 season — DE Devin Cowan (Fayetteville State), DE Tim Varga (Eastern Illinois), LB Colin Bohanek (Eastern Illinois) and S Ubayd Steed (Towson State).
With seven conference members ranked among the top 22 teams in the Football Championship Subdivision, teams are jockeying for spots in the 24-team playoff field.
Only undefeated South Dakota State (9-0) seems assured of a bid with two weeks left in the regular season. The other six teams all have either two or three losses, as they beat up on each other on a weekly basis.
SIU is 0-6 all-time at the Fargodome and has lost 10 of the last 11 meetings overall to the Bison. The lone win came on Feb. 27, 2021, when the Salukis snapped NDSU's 39-game winning streak with a 38-14 stunner at Saluki Stadium. The game marked the first-career start for Nic Baker, and he connected on 17-of-23 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown, and guided the Saluki offense to a 443-268 total yardage advantage.
SIU's last trip to Fargo was for a playoff game on Dec. 4, 2021. North Dakota State won handily, 38-7, rushing for 389 yards and controlling the ball for 38 of the game's 60 minutes. Baker completed 23-of-32 passes for 220 yards.
Top-5 Defense
SIU's defense ranks 5th in the nation at the FCS level in points allowed (16.3 points/game) and 3rd in yards allowed (272.2 yards/game). The Salukis are also 3rd in run defense (83.3 yards/game) and fifth in team sacks (3.22 sacks/game). Devin Cowan (4.0), Tim Varga (3.5) and Zach Burrola (3.0) lead the team in sacks and 15-different players have recorded sacks on the season.
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.
Tackle leaders
SIU has four players with at least 50 tackles this season, including preseason All-American PJ Jules, who leads the team and ranks among the nation's leaders with 81 stops. The other top tacklers are LB Colin Bohanek (53), S Ubayd Steed (51) and LB Branson Combs. Steed is coming off a 15-tackle performance vs. South Dakota.
PJ Jules, DJ Johnson lead the MVFC in breakups
Safety PJ Jules and CB DJ Johnson are tied for the team lead in pass breakups this season with eight each. Johnson is also fifth in interceptions with two.
Antonio James named defensive coordinator on Aug. 1
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).
Impact transfers on defense
Nine of the 11 starters on defense transferred to SIU during their career (only Jules and Combs did not transfer). Four starters on defense are incoming transfers for the 2023 season — DE Devin Cowan (Fayetteville State), DE Tim Varga (Eastern Illinois), LB Colin Bohanek (Eastern Illinois) and S Ubayd Steed (Towson State).
Players Mentioned
LB
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