No. 15-ranked Football travels to SEMO for annual War For The Wheel

CARBONDALE, Ill. — In a marquee, Week 3 FCS matchup, No. 15 Southern Illinois travels to No. 12 SEMO on Saturday for the annual rivalry game known as the "War For The Wheel." Kickoff is at 6 p.m. at Houck Field.

The game versus the Redhawks is the 91st between the two schools since the series began in 1909, and it is the 40th game played between the two teams in Cape Girardeau

SIU and SEMO are separated by just 45 miles and the Mississippi River. Each year since 2018, the winner of the game takes home a replica ship's wheel to its side of the river and proudly display it until the next scheduled matchup.
War For The Wheel History
Sept. 15, 2018*   SEMO won, 48-44
Sept. 29, 2019   SEMO won, 44-26
Oct. 30, 2020*    SIU won, 20-17
Sept. 2, 2021:    SIU won, 47-21
Sept. 10, 2022*   SEMO won, 34-31
*SIU Home game

The last time SIU ...

Started 2-0 (2017)
Started 3-0 (2014)
Started 3-0 against Division I teams (2007)
Shut out opponents in first half in three consecutive games (2008) — Indiana State, Youngstown State, and Missouri State

Saluki Football in the last 3+ seasons...

10-7 record against FCS ranked teams.
Beat the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 ranked teams
Power Five win at Northwestern (9/17/22) — the only FCS team to beat a Power Five in 2022
FBS win at Northern Illinois (9/6/23)
Two FCS Playoff appearances
Spring 2021: FCS Playoffs Elite 8
Fall 2021: FCS Playoffs Sweet 16
Thirty-three weeks ranked in the Top 25 and as high as No. 3.

Salukis lead the nation in interceptions
SIU is tied with Kennesaw State and Alabama A&M for the national lead in interceptions with five. The Salukis recorded three interceptions last Saturday at Northern Illinois.

Salukis 5th in the nation in sacks
SIU ranks fifth in the nation in sacks per game (4.0) for a total of eight sacks on the season. Eastern Illinois transfer DE Tim Varga leads the team with 2.0 sacks.

Salukis 2nd in the nation in rushing defense
SIU ranks second in the nation in rushing defense, allowing 51.0 yards per game on the ground. Illinois State leads the nation (46.0).

QB Nic Baker

Has played in 33 games since making his debut in 2018 and is 18-11 as SIU's starter
Leads the team with 25-consecutive starts.
Holds the school record for career completions (590).
Is a seven-time MVFC Player of the Week Award winner, including Week 1 of the 2023 season.
Has not thrown an interception in 47 attempts this season.
Broke his own single-game passing yards record versus Northern Iowa (485 yards) on Oct. 29, 2022.
Set the school completion percentage record vs. Western Illinois (25-of-28, .893) on Oct. 15, 2022.
Had a streak of 161-straight attempts without throwing an INT during a five-game stretch that ended at South Dakota in 2022.
His first-career start came against No. 1 North Dakota State (2/27/21). He led SIU to a 38-14 upset that ended NDSU's FCS-record 39-game winning streak.
Was 27-1 as a starter at Rochester HS (IL) and passed for 54 TDs/2 INTs in senior year to lead team to state title.

S PJ Jules

Senior Bowl Watch List
Stats Perform Preseason All-American and Preseason 1st-Team All-MVFC
Was named the Week 2 MVFC Player of the Week after a 12-tackle, 2.5 TFL, 3 PBU performance at Northern Illinois.
Has played in 45 career games
Led the team in tackles (61) in 2022
Is SIU's active career leader in tackles (183)
Ranks 10th in career PBUs (21)
Returned an interception for a TD at Kansas State in 2021.

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).