Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saluki Football training camp
08/01/2023 | 8:00:00 | Football
Season opener on Sept. 2 will be Faith & Family Night. Enter promo code "FAITH" for $10 tickets.
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Players report to training camp on Aug. 1, as the Southern Illinois football team prepares for its 107th season of college football. Single-game tickets for all five home games are on-sale at SIUSalukis.com/tickets.
The Salukis open the 2023 season at home on Sept. 2, versus Austin Peay at 6 p.m. It will be Faith & Family Night at Saluki Stadium, with a special promo code allowing fans to purchase advance tickets for as low as $10 (Purchase at SIUSalukis.com/promo with promo-code "FAITH"). Groups of 10 or more can have their faith-based organization recognized on the video board during the game. In addition, the first 1,000 fans to enter Saluki Stadium on Sept. 2 will receive a free Jeremy Chinn bobblehead.
SIU also hosts Missouri State (Sept. 30, Family Weekend), South Dakota State (Oct. 21, Homecoming), South Dakota (Nov. 4) and Indiana State (Nov. 18). SIU's FBS game this year is at Northern Illinois of the Mid-American Conference on Sept. 9. Season tickets are on-sale at SIUSalukis.com/tickets. A limited number of premium chair-back seats are still available by calling the athletic ticket office (877-SALUKIS).
In the last three seasons, Southern has made two playoff appearances, posted a 10-6 record against Top 25 FCS teams and beaten a pair of FBS opponents, including Northwestern. With the 31-24 win over the Wildcats last season, the Salukis were the only FCS team to beat a Power Five opponent in 2022.
In a preseason poll of media and head coaches announced today, Southern was picked to finish fifth in the 12-team Missouri Valley Football Conference. South Dakota State was predicted to win the league, followed by North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, North Dakota and SIU. Five Salukis were selected to the preseason All-Conference team — LB Branson Combs (1st), S PJ Jules (1st), WR D'Ante' Cox (2nd), QB Nic Baker (HM) and G Chase Evans (HM).
Returning to guide the SIU offense is senior quarterback Nic Baker, who led the Missouri Valley Football Conference in completions (238) last season, and was second in passing yards (2,751) and TD passes (20). Baker was a three-time MVFC Player of the Week (at Northwestern, Western Illinois, Northern Iowa). He passed for a school-record 485 yards vs. UNI and set a school completion percentage record vs. Western Illinois (25-of-28). Baker was the only FCS quarterback to lead his team to a Power 5 win during the 2022 season, guiding Southern to a 31-24 upset at Northwestern.
SIU returns seven starters on offense — Baker, RB Ro Elliott, WR D'Ante' Cox, G Chase Evans, C Jacob Caughell, G Jake Green and RT Abdou Toure. The offense will be bolstered by the healthy return of RB Justin Strong and WR Izaiah Hartrup, who missed most of last season due to injuries.
The Salukis have five starters back on defense, headlined by All-Conference LB Branson Combs and S PJ Jules. Other returning starters on defense include CB DJ Johnson, LB Zach Burrola and DT Kam Bowdry.
A number of transfers are expected to make an immediate impact for SIU, including OT Noah Fenske (Colorado), RB Jaelin Benefield (Eastern Illinois), WR Vinson Davis III (Charleston Southern), DE Tim Varga (Eastern Illinois), DE Devin Cowan (Fayetteville State), LB Colin Bohanek (Eastern Illinois), S Iverson Brown (Illlinois State) and S Ubayd Steed (Towson State).
Fans will have the opportunity to meet the team, in-person, during the program's annual Fanfest event on Thursday, Aug. 24, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Saluki Stadium. Fanfest kicks off the 2023-24 season for Brown Dawg's Kids Club for children 12-under.
Preseason Timeline
Aug 1: Single-Game tickets on-sale
Aug. 2: First day of practice
Aug 19: Last day of camp
Aug. 24: Fanfest (6:30-7:30 p.m.)
Sept. 2: Salukis vs. Austin Peay (6 p.m.)
PRESEASON POLL
1. SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (44) .. 539
2. NORTH DAKOTA STATE (1) .. 492
3. NORTHERN IOWA .. 409
4. NORTH DAKOTA .. 399
5. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS .. 337
6. YOUNGSTOWN STATE .. 323
7. ILLINOIS STATE .. 269
8. MISSOURI STATE .. 229
9. SOUTH DAKOTA .. 226
10. INDIANA STATE .. 148
11. MURRAY STATE .. 74
12. WESTERN ILLINOIS .. 65
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
LB Branson Combs (1st Team), S PJ Jules (1st Team), WR D'Ante' Cox (2nd Team), QB Nic Baker (Honorable Mention), G Chase Evans (Honorable Mention).
