VERMILLION, S.D. — It's a top-20 showdown inside the DakotaDome on Saturday, September 28 as the No. 5-ranked South Dakota Coyotes (2-1, 0-0 MVFC) play host to the No. 17-ranked Southern Illinois Salukis (2-2, 0-0 MVFC) to open the Missouri Valley Football Conference schedule. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. in Vermillion with the action on ESPN+ and Midco Sports Plus on Hall of Fame and Family Weekend at USD.
 

Game 5 | No. 5/5 South Dakota (2-1, 0-0 MVFC) vs. No. 17/17 Southern Illinois (2-2, 0-0 MVFC)
Date | Time	Saturday, September 28 | 1:00 PM (CT)
Location	Vermillion, S.D. | The DakotaDome (9,100)
Fan Information	Tickets | Parking | Clear Bag Policy | A-to-Z Guide
Television	ESPN+ / Midco Sports Plus - Jay Elsen (PxP) & Andre Fields (Analyst)
Radio	Coyote Sports Network (John Thayer, Gary Culver, Jerry Palleschi) [KVHT 106.3 FM]
Live Stats	(South Dakota): SIDEARM | StatBroadcast
Game Notes	South Dakota | Southern Illinois | MVFC
Social Media	@SDCoyotesFB  | #GoYotes x #WeAreSouthDakota | @sdcoyotesfb  | Facebook

PROMOTIONS

• Saturday is Hall of Fame & Family Weekend at South Dakota.
• The first 1,000 fans (students and public) will receive a Midco stocking cap.
• The 2024 Henry Heider Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at halftime.

 
GAME STORYLINES

• DEFENDING THE DOME: Since the 2021 season, South Dakota is 15-6 inside the DakotaDome.
• Southern Illinois marks the third opponent USD has hosted inside the DakotaDome with the opponent's mascot being in the canine family: Northern State Wolves, Drake Bulldogs, Southern Illinois Salukis.
• The Coyotes are 4-7 in MVFC openers but 4-3 under Nielson.
• The Yotes move up a spot in both polls to No. 5 (AFCA Coaches' & STATS Perform) entering Week 5.
• South Dakota has scored 40+ points in both home games this season.
• The pass game got going last week with Aidan Bouman throwing for 219 yards on 18-for-24 passing, while throwing the first touchdown pass of the season.
• The Coyote defense leads the MVFC in scoring defense at 11.0 ppg (fourth in FCS) and passing defense at 130.7 passing yards per game (seventh in FCS).
• Keyondray Jones-Logan tied the program's single-season kickoff return for touchdown record with his 99-yard return against Drake last week.
• He now has two on the season and in his career, tying Bob Koch (1968-69) for the most in USD history.
• HC Bob Nielson passed Ed Meierkort for fourth-most games coached at USD last week against Drake (90 games).
• Eight more wins for Nielson will put him fourth all-time in program history for games won at USD.

 
DOMINANT RUSHING GAME

• The Yotes rushing attack has been nothing short of spectacular to begin the 2024 season.
• Averaging just under 200 rushing yards per game (193.7), the mark sits 24th in the FCS and seventh in the MVFC.
• Led by Charles Pierre Jr. who has 254 yards on 36 carries (7.1 yards per carry), while averaging 84.7 yards per game.
• Travis Theis broke the 200-yard mark on the season last week against Drake with his 94 yards on nine carries.
• He sits at 201 yards on 30 carries (6.7 yards per carry).

 
STOUT DEFENSE

• The Yotes have hung their hat with their defense early in the season.
• South Dakota has three interceptions as a team with three different Yotes having one; Mike Reid picked up his first pick as a Coyote last week against Drake.
• LB Gary Bryant III leads the defense with his 24 tackles this season.
• Nick Gaes leads the team in tackles for loss (4.5) and sacks (3.5).

 
INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES & MILESTONES

• Keyondray Jones-Logan is one of two FCS athletes to return two kickoffs back for touchdowns this season.
• At Wisconsin, Aidan Bouman cracked the top-10 in program history for career passing yards – now at 3,861 yards.
• He looks to become the ninth Coyote to throw for 4,000+ yards in their career.
• Travis Theis continues to move up the USD rushing record book, entering the week: second in carries (580), fourth in rushing yards (2,695), and T9th in rushing touchdowns (24).
• Carter Bell sits fifth in receiving yards (2,277) and T5th in touchdown receptions (16).
• He also sits fourth in career receptions (149) and with two will move into third.

 
INSIDE THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS SERIES

• South Dakota leads the all-time series with Southern Illinois, 5-4, in a series that dates back to 2014.
• The Yotes lead the series in games played in Vermillion, 3-2.
• USD won the last meeting last season (2023), 14-7 in Carbondale.
• Only once before have the two teams met with both teams nationally ranked. SIU prevailed in 2021, 22-10 inside the DakotaDome.

 
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS QUICK HITS

• Southern Illinois is led by ninth-year head coach Nick Hill and enters Valley play with a 2-2 record.
• SIU has wins over Austin Peay and Incarnate Word (UIW).
• The Salukis fell last week to No. 21-ranked Southeast Missouri State.
• SIU tends to rely on their passing game, sitting third in the MVFC with 239.3 passing yards per game.
• The Saluki rush defense sits 27^th in the FCS at 112.8 rushing yards allowed per game.