Pregame
Heading to Carbondale? Join USD fans and friends for a pregame tailgate from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. near Lot 52 just west of the Banterra Center (1400 Arena Dr.). Parking is available in the nearby parking lots on a first-come, first-served basis. Kickoff at Saluki Stadium is 1 p.m.
 
The Game
No. 9 South Dakota and No. 10 Southern Illinois square off in a battle of top-10 teams. Both enter with 6-2 records. South Dakota is 4-1 inside Valley play and Southern Illinois is 3-2. Winner keeps its hopes alive for a top-eight seed in the FCS playoffs with two regular season games still to come.
 
South Dakota beat Southern Illinois on Dakota Days last year 27-24 behind quarterback Aidan Bouman who entered late in the second quarter with the Coyotes trailing 21-7. Southern Illinois had won the prior two meetings, both in Vermillion. South Dakota is the visitor in this series for the first time since 2018.
 
The Coyotes
South Dakota is trying to quickly move past its loss to top-ranked South Dakota State last week. It ended a six-game winning streak and was the Coyotes' first setback against an FCS team this season. SDSU won the battle of the trenches, and another fierce battle is set for Saturday as the Salukis feature one of the top front sevens defensively in all of FCS.
 
A bevy of backs led by veteran Travis Theis will try to gain ground against that front. Bouman's top targets in the pass game have been Carter Bell and tight end JJ Galbreath. Defensively, linebacker Brock Mogensen is the Valley's leading tackler. USD has held four of its six FCS opponents to fewer than 10 points.
 
The Salukis
Nic Baker is a record-setting quarterback at Southern Illinois, but it's the Salukis' defensive numbers that have been eye popping. They are third in the nation in run defense (83 ypg), third nationally in sacks (3.3 per game) and 15^th in interceptions with nine. Safety PJ Jules is a preseason all-American and linebacker Branson Combs is a preseason all-Valley pick. SIU earned a 14-11 win against FBS Northern Illinois in non-conference play. A 31-3 loss at Youngstown State and a 17-10 loss at home to SDSU two weeks ago are the Salukis' two defeats.
 
Baker is SIU's all-time passing leader with 8,415 yards. His 61 touchdown passes are four shy of the all-time mark. Running back Ro Elliott reached 100 yards against USD last year and needs 19 yards for 2,000 for his career. Charleston Southern transfer Vinson Davis III is the team's leading receiver with 34 catches. Izaiah Hartrup missed nearly all of last year but is a weapon for Baker in the passing game again this season.
 
One Last Thing
Davis III hails from Miramar, Florida, the same hometown as South Dakota starting cornerback Myles Harden and starting safety Josiah Ganues. They attended different high schools but have stayed in touch throughout their collegiate careers. There is a good chance Harden, a preseason all-American, could lineup across from Davis III once or twice Saturday.