Southern Illinoise University Athletics
SIU Football adds Western Kentucky to 2027 schedule
08/20/2026 | 11:00:00 | Football, General
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University football team is putting an old Gateway Conference rival back on the schedule.Â
The Salukis officially added Western Kentucky, now an Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program, to its 2027 schedule. SIU will play the Hilltoppers at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2027. Kickoff time and television rights are to be determined. It will be the Salukis' first game against WKU since 2006, when they lost 26-22 in Bowling Green, Ky.Â
SIU is 6-9 lifetime against the Hilltoppers (3-3 at home, 3-6 away). WKU competed in the Gateway from 2001-06, tying for the league title in 2002 with Western Illinois at 6-1. The Hilltoppers won the Division I-AA (FCS) national championship that season under coach Jack Harbaugh. WKU moved to the FBS in 2008 as an independent and joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2009. The Hilltoppers moved to Conference USA in 2014.Â
SIU won the Gateway Conference championship in 2004 under coach Jerry Kill and tied for the title in 2003 and 2005.
WKU will be the first of two FBS opponents for the Salukis in 2027. Two weeks after the game in Bowling Green, SIU is scheduled to play at Wisconsin.Â
The Salukis have been giant killers under coach Nick Hill, a former quarterback who helped SIU beat Indiana in 2006. Since Hill has taken over as coach, SIU has knocked off three FBS opponents, Northern Illinois in 2023 (14-11), Northwestern in 2022 (31-24) and UMass in 2019 (45-20). The Salukis came close to defeating Memphis on the road in 2017, falling 44-31, at Florida Atlantic in 2016 (lost 38-30), and nearly upset Kansas State in 2021 (lost 31-23). SIU's close loss at FAUÂ was Hill's first game as the head coach of his alma mater.Â
The Salukis will return to Florida for the first time since that game next week, when they open the season at West Florida. Kickoff in Pensacola, Fla., on Aug. 27 is set for 6 p.m. The game is scheduled to air on ESPN+.Â
For tickets, go to saluk.is/fbtickets or call 618-453-2000. Fans can also visit the Banterra Center Ticket Office during regular business hours for more information.Â
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_Football, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiFootball, and on Instagram at @siu_football. Fans can also download the Salukis Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
