Pregame
Legends and Icons is the theme of this year's Dakota Days celebration. For those traveling to town this week, please join us at 9 a.m. Saturday for the annual parade which runs along Main Street from Vermillion High School to the Vermillion Court House. Then make your way to the DakotaDome for the Coyote Alley Tailgate sponsored by the Freedom Forum. The tailgate takes place directly east of the Dome and this week features the band Stupid Happy Collective. The band will play from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in an area that includes inflatables for kids and three food trucks for patrons.
 
The Beef
Compete in this year's Dakota Days Beef Tailgater of the Game competition which offers prizes for the top three recipes ranging from $250-$100. Beef must be the main ingredient. Participants can bring their items to be judged to the Coyote Sports Properties Trailer any time from 11 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. The white Flags Unlimited 2 trailer is located in the middle of Bud Light Coyote Tailgate Nation on the east side of the DakotaDome.
 
The Game
It is the 105^th Dakota Days football game and it should be a great one as the Coyotes get a rematch with the 14^th-ranked Southern Illinois Salukis. The two teams met in the first round of the FCS playoffs last November and Southern Illinois advanced with a 22-10 win. The first-place Salukis enter with a five-game winning streak that began with an upset of the Big Ten's Northwestern. South Dakota is playing at home for the first time in nearly a month and trying to keep this year's playoff hopes alive. The Coyotes are 5-0 on homecoming in the Bob Nielson era and 66-33-5 overall.
 
The Coyotes
South Dakota is trying to snap a three-game skid. The Coyotes have held their own defensively behind linebackers Brock Mogensen and Stephen Hillis while cornerback Myles Harden continues to lead the nation with six forced turnovers. Offensively, USD features the running back duo of Travis Theis and Shomari Lawrence. The passing game racked up 355 yards and three touchdowns back in week three, but has totaled 281 yards and one score in the three games since.
 
The Salukis
South Dakota will have to find a way to keep up with a Southern Illinois offense that's averaging 30 points per game. The Salukis are talented at the skill positions with quarterback Nic Baker, backs Ro Elliott and Javon Williams Jr., and the Cox twins at receiver. Avante Cox is an all-American who caught 10 passes for 148 yards and a score during the playoff game in Vermillion. Williams is a true hybrid who can run, catch and throw. The defense is directed by former Coyote coordinator Jason Petrino. His unit is among the nation's leaders in sacks and defending the run.
 
The Notes
USD is hosting Southern Illinois for Dakota Days for the first time … the road team has won the games in the series … Hillis leads the Valley and ranks 10^th nationally in tackles … South Dakota has faced the No. 2 (SDSU), No. 3 (Montana), No. 12 (NDSU) and No. 14 (Illinois State) FCS defenses this season. Southern Illinois is ranked No. 32 overall.
 
One Last Thing
South Dakota has knocked off a ranked opponent every year since 2013 (0-3 this year). The last time the Coyotes welcomed a ranked team into town for Dakota Days was 2018 when USD used a goal line stand at the end to top No. 24 Missouri State 35-28.