The Game
The DakotaDome is rocking an NCAA playoff game for the first time since 1986! The Coyotes host fellow Valley foe Southern Illinois in a 5 p.m. first-round contest Saturday in the FCS playoffs. It is the sixth NCAA appearance for South Dakota and second at the FCS level. The Coyotes advanced to the second round of the playoffs in 2017.
 
Southern Illinois, with the same 7-4 and 5-3 MVFC records, is in the playoffs for the second time this year. The Salukis ended a decade-long postseason drought during the spring season where they advanced to the quarterfinals. They are back just months later fighting for the right to advance to a round of 16 contest against No. 2 North Dakota State.
 
The Coyotes
South Dakota had won five of six before running into the Bison last week inside the Fargodome. The Coyotes beat South Dakota State on a Hail Mary pass the game before that on Senior Day inside the Dome. That play/win likely secured one of 13 at large bids the NCAA playoff committee handed out.
 
The Coyotes feature two of the top eight rushers in the Valley in Nate Thomas and Travis Theis. Thomas has run for 260 yards and two scores in the last three games. Theis was battling an illness and played only a handful of snaps last week at NDSU. Quarterback Carson Camp is one of the most efficient passers in the country. He has 17 touchdowns against four picks and is completing 65 percent of his passes. Carter Bell has 40 catches for 648 yards and five touchdowns.
 
The defense is led by a talented front seven and by captain Elijah Reed in the secondary. Reed and company will be challenged by a diverse SIU offense. Linebacker Jack Cochrane finished third in the voting for Valley defensive player of the year. He leads the Coyotes in tackles and the Valley with four interceptions.
 
The Salukis
Southern Illinois has lost three of four after starting 6-1. The first two losses were competitive ones against fellow playoff teams UNI and Missouri State, but last week's 35-18 loss at home to 2-7 Youngstown State was a head scratcher. The Salukis outgained Youngstown State 430-359, but three turnovers and 11 penalties were crippling.
 
Quarterback Nic Baker has a variety of options. He has three talented backs to hand off to led by Javon Williams Jr. who ran for four touchdowns in a win against the Coyotes in Vermillion in 2019. Landon Lenoir has 56 catches for 830 yards and nine touchdowns. Izaia Hartrup (36-461-3), Avante Cox (33-591-4) and tight end Tyce Daniel (27-323-3) are all viable options.
 
Defensively, Southern Illinois is led by linebacker Bryce Notree and safety Qua Brown. The Salukis have been better defending the pass (22^nd nationally) than the run (83^rd nationally). They've forced 11 fumbles, picked off 12 passes and have 31 sacks. Kevin Glajchen leads the Salukis with 5.0 sacks.
 
Last Things…
South Dakota head coach Bob Nielson is taking his 12^th team to the NCAA playoffs in 29 seasons as a head coach … USD is one of 10 FCS teams that have returned a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown … USD faced four playoff teams during the regular season (2-2). Only one team (UNI) faced more. Seven playoff teams faced zero.