Southern Illinoise University Athletics
SIU Picked Sixth in Preseason MVFC Poll; 13 Named to Watch List
07/14/2026 | 9:00:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Saluki Football team was picked sixth in the MVFC preseason poll, voted on by coaches, athletic department staff, and media members.Â
The voting landed South Dakota State first followed by national championship runner-up Illinois State, Youngstown State, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Northern Iowa, Indiana State, and Murray State rounded out the rankings. The Jackrabbits also earned the vast majority of first-place votes with 28. The Salukis received one top vote.Â
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Thirteen Salukis were named to the MVFC 2026 Preseason Watch List, led by 2026 Stats Perform FCS Preseason Third Team All-American quarterback DJ Williams. Williams is also on the Walter Payton Award Watch List. He finished eighth in the Waler Payton Award voting after the 2025 season.Â
The Salukis added two offensive linemen, Derek Harden and Blaine Halley to the watch list, along with wide receiver Allen Middleton and running backs Chandler Chapman and Edward Robinson.Â
On the defensive side, linebackers Chris Presto and Andrew Behm; defensive backs Vinny Pierre and Gavin Shepard; defensive linemen Amir Dwight and Jake Parella. Long snapper Ryan Algrim was also named to the watch list.Â
This Season
SIU opens the season at West Florida on Thursday, August 27, then heads to Samford on Thursday, Sept. 3, and the Salukis host SEMO in the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 12. It will be Southern's only nonconference game at Saluki Stadium. It will also be Family Weekend at SIU.Â
Join the excitement and support the Dawgs at saluk.is/footballseasontickets.
Southern closes nonconference play with a Big Ten trip to Illinois on Sept. 19.
The Salukis begin Missouri Valley Football Conference action one week later at Murray State on Sept. 26, marking the second-straight season SIU will travel to Murray, Ky., for a Valley game.
Youngstown State — led by 2025 Walter Payton Award winner Brungard — visits Carbondale on Oct. 3.
SIU will play three more games before its bye on Oct. 31. The Salukis travel to South Dakota on Oct. 10, then return home for back-to-back games against Illinois State on Oct. 17 — featured nationally on ESPN during Homecoming weekend — and Northern Iowa on Oct. 24.
After the bye week, SIU heads to Indiana State on Nov. 7 and hosts South Dakota State on Nov. 14. The regular season concludes on Nov. 21 at North Dakota.
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The voting landed South Dakota State first followed by national championship runner-up Illinois State, Youngstown State, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Northern Iowa, Indiana State, and Murray State rounded out the rankings. The Jackrabbits also earned the vast majority of first-place votes with 28. The Salukis received one top vote.Â
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| Team | First-Place Votes | Total |
| South Dakota State Jackrabbits | 28 | 312 |
| Illinois State Redbirds | 3 | 256 |
| Youngstown State Penguins | - | 235 |
| North Dakota Fighting Hawks | 2 | 211 |
| South Dakota Coyotes | 2 | 196 |
| Southern Illinois Salukis | 1 | 186 |
| Northern Iowa Panthers | - | 99 |
| Indiana State Sycamores | - | 80 |
| Murray State Racers | - | 45 |
Thirteen Salukis were named to the MVFC 2026 Preseason Watch List, led by 2026 Stats Perform FCS Preseason Third Team All-American quarterback DJ Williams. Williams is also on the Walter Payton Award Watch List. He finished eighth in the Waler Payton Award voting after the 2025 season.Â
The Salukis added two offensive linemen, Derek Harden and Blaine Halley to the watch list, along with wide receiver Allen Middleton and running backs Chandler Chapman and Edward Robinson.Â
On the defensive side, linebackers Chris Presto and Andrew Behm; defensive backs Vinny Pierre and Gavin Shepard; defensive linemen Amir Dwight and Jake Parella. Long snapper Ryan Algrim was also named to the watch list.Â
This Season
SIU opens the season at West Florida on Thursday, August 27, then heads to Samford on Thursday, Sept. 3, and the Salukis host SEMO in the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 12. It will be Southern's only nonconference game at Saluki Stadium. It will also be Family Weekend at SIU.Â
Join the excitement and support the Dawgs at saluk.is/footballseasontickets.
Southern closes nonconference play with a Big Ten trip to Illinois on Sept. 19.
The Salukis begin Missouri Valley Football Conference action one week later at Murray State on Sept. 26, marking the second-straight season SIU will travel to Murray, Ky., for a Valley game.
Youngstown State — led by 2025 Walter Payton Award winner Brungard — visits Carbondale on Oct. 3.
SIU will play three more games before its bye on Oct. 31. The Salukis travel to South Dakota on Oct. 10, then return home for back-to-back games against Illinois State on Oct. 17 — featured nationally on ESPN during Homecoming weekend — and Northern Iowa on Oct. 24.
After the bye week, SIU heads to Indiana State on Nov. 7 and hosts South Dakota State on Nov. 14. The regular season concludes on Nov. 21 at North Dakota.
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Players Mentioned
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