Southern Illinoise University Athletics
No. 24/25 Saluki Football heads to Illinois
09/16/2026 | 6:08:00 | Football, General
The Salukis (2-1) head northeast to Champaign to take on Illinois (1-1) Saturday at 1 p.m. The game is scheduled to air on Peacock and the Saluki Radio Network. Fans can tune in at WCIL-FM 101.5 locally and through The Varsity Network, or through the SIU Salukis mobile app. Luke Martin, Pat Poore and Mike Trude will call the game on the radio. Paul Burmeister (play-by-play), Ian Book (analyst) and Ashley ShahAhmadi will call the game on Peacock.
Illinois leads the series 4-0. The two teams haven't played since 2013, when the Salukis fell 42-34.Â
A Win For The Wheel
   Down seven at home in the War For The Wheel against regional rival SEMO, SIU rallied to win 34-20 with a 21-0 surge in the fourth quarter Saturday.Â
   The Salukis intercepted Braylen Ragland on the Redhawks' final three possessions, and quarterback DJ Williams led the comeback in front of more than 12,000 fans at Saluki Stadium. Williams helped tie the game with a 2-yard touchdown run with 7:48 to play, and added two more scoring runs for the win. Williams finished with 67 yards rushing on seven carries and threw for 286 and a touchdown.Â
   Wide receiver Kyle Thomas had the bulk of Williams' yards through the air, snaring five balls for 144 yards. His 24-yard touchdown pass in the back-right corner of the end zone right before the half helped SIU to tie the game at 13. Linebacker Andrew Behm had a game-high 12 tackles, including a pass breakup that led to one of the four interceptions.Â
   SIU surged ahead 5-4 in the War For The Wheel against the Redhawks. The win snapped a five-year streak of the road team taking home the wheel.Â
Ball Hawkin'Â
   SIU forced only 12 turnovers all last season, but are on pace to eclipse that number after the first conference game of the year.Â
   The Salukis picked off four SEMO passes Saturday, the most since intercepting Marion native Matt Brown four times at Illinois State on Oct. 6, 2012. SIU's defense closed the game, in fact, with three straight interceptions at Saluki Stadium to open the door for quarterback DJ Williams' two late touchdown runs. They enter Saturday's game at Illinois with eight forced turnovers, five picks and three fumble recoveries. SIU has given away seven (four interceptions and three lost fumbles).Â
   SIU beat the Redbirds and Brown, who went on to set the MVFC all-time passing record, 17-0, back in 2012. Tyler Williamson, Bryan Presume, Terrell Wilson and DJ Cameron picked off Brown at Hancock Stadium. Anthony Thompson returned a blocked punt 16 yards for a touchdown, Austin Johnson hit a 33-yard field goal, and Mika'il McCall rushed for a 1-yard touchdown.Â
   David Obadein, Charlie Whelpley, Gavin Shepard and Sebastian Vargas came up with SIU's interceptions against the Redhawks.Â
Fiegel, Sanogo named Valley Football players of the week
   Linebacker Ben Fiegel and defensive end Ibrahim Sanogo were honored by the MVFC after the win at Samford.
   Fiegel, a 6-3, 230-pound junior from Batavia, Ill., came up with SIU's first interception of the season and had a team-high 10 tackles. Fiegel added 3.0 tackles for loss and was named the league's defensive player of the week.Â
   Sanogo teamed up with defensive tackle Amir Dwight for a safety in the opening quarter and finished the game with 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. The 6-2, 244-pound graduate transfer from Albany had seven tackles and two quarterback hurries. Sanogo was named the league's newcomer of the week.     Â
Road Warriors in 2026
   For the second straight year, SIU will play seven road games, beginning in Pensacola, Fla., against West Florida.Â
   The Salukis went 4-3 away from home last season. It was the fourth time in the last five years they went at least .500 away from Carbondale. SIU went 1-5 on the road in 2024, 4-3 in 2023, 3-3 in 2022 and 5-3 in 2021. This year the Salukis are 1-1 away from Saluki Stadium.
   SIU plays four of their first five games on the road. SIU opens at West Florida, then travels to Samford in Alabama before hosting Southeast Missouri State Sept. 12. The Salukis then play Illinois in Champaign Sept. 19 before opening MVFC play at Murray State Sept. 26.
Williams Back For Another Run
   Quarterback DJ Williams returns after one of the best offensive seasons in history in 2025. The Harvey, Ill., native rushed for 847 yards, an SIU record for quarterbacks in a season, and 18 touchdowns, which tied for the fourth-most of any Saluki in history for one year. His 2,846 passing yards ranked 11th in the country in the FCS, and his 22 passing touchdowns ranked 18th.Â
   Williams finished third in voting for the MVFC Offensive Player of the Year Award and eighth in the Walter Payton Award, which is given to the FCS' best player. This season, he was a second team preseason All-American by Phil Steele and a third team preseason All-American by Stats Perform.
   Williams surpassed 300 passing yards three times, including a 361-yard performance at Youngstown State on Nov. 8. He also threw at least three touchdown passes in four games. He rushed for more than 100 yards three times during the season. He recorded 128 yards and three touchdowns Sept. 13 at UT Martin, 151 yards and two touchdowns Sept. 20 at SEMO, and 134 yards and four touchdowns at Illinois State Nov. 22. His four rushing touchdowns against the Redbirds tied for the third-most in a single game in program history.
Triple Threat in the Backfield
   One reason SIU averaged 36.4 points per game last season, the most since 2007 (37.9 ppg.), was its vaunted rushing attack.Â
   The Salukis had five different running backs rush for at least one touchdown last season, and return two starters from the backfield to go with Williams. Edward Robinson (5-foot-11, 195 pounds, Jr.) started three of the last four games and finished the season with his biggest effort of the year. Robinson rushed for 145 yards on 19 carries in SIU's win at No. 11 Illinois State to end the season.Â
   Backfield mate Chandler Chapman (5-11, 210, Jr.) started five games last season and finished the year with 465 yards and six touchdowns off 78 carries. While Williams led the Salukis with 18 rushing touchdowns last season, look for Robinson and Chapman to be big contributors out of the backfield.Â
Oh Captain, My Captain
   Four seniors and one junior were elected team captains this season by the players. Senior linebacker Andrew Behm, senior guard Derek Harden Jr., senior linebacker Chris Presto and Williams joined junior defensive lineman Amir Dwight as captains.
   Williams, a preseason third team All-American by Stats Perform, is coming off one of the best offensive seasons by a Saluki quarterback in history. Behm (61 tackles last season) and Presto (59 stops) are two of the team's leading returning tacklers and two of five returning starters on defense. Harden Jr. started the first 11 games last season and was a preseason first team All-American by Phil Steele this year.Â
   Dwight, a 6-1, 272-pound junior from Cordele, Ga., finished third on the team last season with 3.0 sacks. His four quarterback hurries led the Saluki defense.Â
Salukis Land 13 Players on MVFC Preseason Watch List
   SIU was picked sixth in the MVFC preseason poll and had 13 players on the league's preseason watch list.Â
   Williams, Harden Jr., offensive lineman Blaine Halley, wide receiver Allen Middleton and running backs Edward Robinson and Chandler Chapman made the list. Behm, Presto, Dwight, defensive end Jake Parrella and defensive back Vinny Pierre Jr. were SIU's defensive selections.Â
   Long snapper Ryan Algrim, a preseason first team All-American by Phil Steele, also made the list. Algrim was a five-star long snapper and the 16th-ranked player at that position in the country by Rubio Long Snapping coming out of Kaneland High School (Maple Park, Ill.). Algrim snapped all 12 games last season for the Salukis and is attempting to become the program's first All-American long snapper.Â
   Five other specialists have been honored:Â
* K Craig Coffin (First Team 2006, Second Team 2004)
* P Mark Gagliano (First Team 1996)
* P Tom Striegel (Third Team 1981)
* P Scott Ravanesi (Honorable Mention 2007)
* P Lane Reazin (FCS Sophomore All-America Honorable Mention 2017)
Bidding for Blackout Cancer Jerseys Ends Sept. 28
   The best fundraiser in the country is back! Bidding for the Salukis Blackout Cancer football jerseys ends on Monday, Sept. 28, at 8 p.m. Fans can bid to put the name of a loved one on the back of an actual SIU jersey when the Salukis take on Northern Iowa Oct. 24. Bidding is done through an online auction format at salukisblackoutcancer.com (https://saluk.is/3SSUkfT).
   Fans can bid directly on jersey numbers and have an option to win a guaranteed jersey at "Buy It Now" pricing. Proceeds go toward the Coach Kill Cancer Fund to assist cancer patients in the southern 16 counties of Illinois that are actively fighting cancer.Â
Fans can also purchase Blackout Cancer merchandise at https://saluk.is/BOCMerch.Â
Single-game tickets and mini-plans available now
   Single-game and two-game ticket multipacks are available at the Saluki Ticket Office inside the Banterra Center or online. Fans can purchase tickets for the upcoming game against Youngstown State Oct. 3 at Saluk.is/siuvsysu. Multipacks are available at Saluk.is/fbminiplans.Â
   Fans throughout the region will be recognized at the game as part of Southern Illinois Day.Â
Looking at the Fighting Illini
   Illinois has one of the most experienced rosters in the country, according to The Athletic, and has six former head coaches on its roster. The Illini's roster ranks 14th among Division I programs in career games played (1,438). Jared Elliott (Western Illinois), Mark Farley (Northern Iowa) and Myers Hendrickson (Western Illinois) were all head coaches in the MVFC before joining head coach Bret Bielema's staff.Â
   Quarterback Katin Houser, a transfer from East Carolina, ranks among the nation's leaders in touchdown passes (14th, six) and completion percentage (28th, 71.2%). Wide receiver Collin Dixon enters Saturday's game tied for the Big Ten in receiving touchdowns (five). Illinois' offensive line has not allowed a sack yet this season.Â
   Illinois opened the season with a 42-23 win over UAB at home but fell to Duke last weekend, 31-27, ending a 10-game winning streak against non-conference opponents.Â
Postseason success under HillÂ
   Of SIU's 11 playoff appearances in school history, Hill was the quarterback of two teams (2006, 2007) and head coach of three (2020, 2021, 2023). The Salukis have won 11 playoff games in school history and Hill was a part of six of them (quarterbacked three wins and coached three more).
   Since 2019, only three FCS programs have won three or more playoff games (South Dakota State, North Dakota State and Southern Illinois).
Saluki Football in the last five seasons...
* Three FCS Playoff appearances and three playoff wins
* 12-14 against FCS ranked teams, including wins over No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4.
* 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)
* FCS Playoffs Elite 8 (Spring, 2021)
* Playoffs Sweet 16 (Fall, 2021, 2023)
* Twenty-two weeks ranked in the FCS Top 10, as high as No. 3 (Oct. 25, 2021)
In 11 Playoff Appearances, SIU is 11-10.Â
First four appearances:
1983: Beat Indiana St. in the first round 23-7, beat Nevada in the second round 23-7 and beat Western Carolina in Charleston, SC for the 1AA Championship, 43-7.
2003: Lost at Delaware in the first round, 45-7.
2004: Lost to Eastern Washington in the first round, 35-31.
2005: Won at Eastern Illinois in the first round 21-6 and lost at Appalachian St. in the second round, 38-24.
2006: Beat UT-Martin 36-30 in the first round and lost at Montana 20-3 in the second round.
2007: Beat Eastern Illinois 30-11 in the first round, beat Massachusetts 34-27 in the second round and lost to Delaware in the Final Four, 20-17.
2008: Lost to New Hampshire in the first round, 29-20.
2009: Beat Eastern Illinois, 48-7 in the first round and lost to William and Mary in the second round, 24-3.
2020-21 (Spring): Won at Weber St. in the first round, 34-31 and lost at South Dakota St. in the Elite Eight, 31-26.
2021: Won at South Dakota in the first round, 22-10. Lost at North Dakota State in the second round, 38-7.
2023: Beat Nicholls State, 35-0. Lost at Idaho, 20-17 (OT)
The Golden Era of Saluki Football (Coach Jerry Kill 2003-09)
* Overall Record: 70-19 (.787)
* Conference Record: 42-8 (.840)
* Conference Championships: 5 (2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009)
* FBS Wins: at Indiana (2006), at Northern Illinois (2007)
* FCS Playoff Appearances: All 7 years
* FCS Playoff Wins: 5
* Deepest Postseason Run: Final Four in 2007, Nick Hill's senior year
* Weeks in Top 25: 99-consecutive weeks from 2003 to 2010
* Weeks at No. 1: 18 weeks during 2004 and 2005
One of 2Â FCS teams to beat FBS opponents in both 2022 and 2023 seasons
   Southern Illinois was one of two FCS teams that beat FBS opponents in both 2022 and 2023. The Salukis defeated Northwestern in 2022 and beat Northern Illinois in 2023. Sacramento State beat Colorado State (2022) and Stanford (2023).Â
   Since becoming a I-AA/FCS member in 1982, SIU is 6-38 versus FBS teams. Nick Hill was involved in five of the wins as either a player (Indiana-2006, Northern Illinois-2007) or head coach (UMass-2019, Northwestern-2022, Northern Illinois-2023).
   SIU is 2-20 all-time against Power Five opponents, and head coach Nick Hill was a key factor in both wins. In 2006, Hill threw four touchdown passes and orchestrated a 35-28 win at Indiana. The Salukis were the only FCS program to beat a Power Five opponent in 2022, topping Northwestern, 31-24.Â
Salukis on active NFL rosters
   SIU currently has three players on NFL rosters — S Jeremy Chinn (Las Vegas), LB Branson Combs (Jacksonville) and S PJ Jules (Cincinnati).
* Chinn was a second-round draft pick (64th overall) in the 2020 draft and runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year. The safety signed a two-year, $16.25 million contract with Las Vegas in March 2025. Chinn had 62 solo tackles last season for the Raiders. He also had one sack and two pass breakups. Chinn is about to start his seventh season in the NFL.Â
* Jules, who was on the Bengals' practice squad in 2024, tied for second on the team with 16 special teams tackles in 2025. Jules had nine solo stops in 14 games last season.Â
* Combs had nine tackles for the Jags in 2025, including three solos. He played in 10 games.Â
Salukis' NFL Tradition
 * 43 SIU football alums went on to play in the NFL
 * RB Brandon Jacobs was a two-time Super Bowl Champion with the New York Giants.
* QB Jim Hart was a four-time Pro Bowl selection who threw for 34,665 career yards with the St. Louis Cardinals. Later, he served as SIU's director of athletics.
* LB Bart Scott was an 11-year NFL pro with the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets.Â
* OL Carl Mauck was a 13-year NFL veteran and 21-year NFL assistant coach (OL). He also coached at SIU from 2006-07. Â
FOLLOW THE SALUKISÂ
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.
