The 2025 Southern Illinois Salukis football team represented Southern Illinois University Carbondale as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Salukis were led by tenth-year head coach Nick Hill, and played their home games at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois.
Preseason MVFC poll
The Missouri Valley Football Conference released its preseason poll on July 21, 2025, voted on by league athletic directors, coaches, and media members. The Salukis were predicted to finish sixth in the conference.
Transfers
Outgoing Allen MiddletonWRBowling GreenJamond MathisDEKent StateJamir ConnDBNebraskaRoss PedroLSNorthern IllinoisKeontez LewisWROklahomaDesman HearnsDBWyoming
Incoming Jackson ParkerWRAlbanyJacob KatauskasOLCoastal CarolinaBlayne SissonWRIllinoisFabian McCrayWRJackson StateAntonio Ross Jr.OLJackson StateDonnie WingateDELindenwoodRyan AlgrimLSMinnesotaMatthew McClellandDBMorehead StateDashaun GibsonDBNorthern IllinoisKyle ThomasWRNorthern IllinoisTy WallsWROklahoma StateBernadin Fleurima Jr.DTRobert MorrisNaz HillDBWyoming
Schedule
Game summaries All times are Central time.
Thomas More (DII)
Statistics THO SIU First downs 13 24 Total yards 191 386 Rushing yards 60 148 Passing yards 131 238 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–29–2 20–29–0 Time of possession 33:12 26:48 Team Category Player Statistics Thomas More Passing Griffin Scalf 16/23, 98 yards, INT Rushing Eli White 12 carries, 33 yards Receiving Brook Harris 2 receptions, 33 yards Southern Illinois Passing DJ Williams 18/24, 227 yards, 3 TD Rushing Shaun Lester Jr. 8 carries, 39 yards Receiving Vinson Davis III 6 receptions, 97 yards
at Purdue (FBS)
Statistics SIUPUR First downs 20 29 Total yards 283 384 Rushing yards 81 214 Passing yards 202 170 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–34–0 14–23–1 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 23:14 36:46 Team Category Player Statistics Southern Illinois Passing DJ Williams 20/33, 202 yards, TD Rushing Vinson Davis III 2 carries, 22 yards Receiving Fabian McCray 2 receptions, 72 yards Purdue Passing Ryan Browne 14/23, 170 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Devin Mockobee 32 carries, 126 yards, 2 TD Receiving George Burhenn 3 receptions, 48 yards
at UT Martin
Statistics SIU UTM First downs 22 16 Total yards 490 291 Rushing yards 273 113 Passing yards 217 178 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–18–2 23–32–1 Time of possession 29:05 30:55 Team Category Player Statistics Southern Illinois Passing DJ Williams 13/18, 217 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing DJ Williams 14 carries, 128 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jay Jones 4 receptions, 65 yards UT Martin Passing Jase Bauer 22/29, 173 yards, TD Rushing Jase Bauer 9 carries, 52 yards Receiving Bryce Bailey 6 receptions, 70 yards
at Southeast Missouri State
Statistics SIU SEMO First downs 22 34 Total yards 612 569 Rushing yards 270 147 Passing yards 342 422 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–25–0 33–47–1 Time of possession 26:41 33:19 Team Category Player Statistics Southern Illinois Passing DJ Williams 18/25, 342 yards, 4 TD Rushing DJ Williams 10 carries, 164 yards, 2 TD Receiving Vinson Davis III 8 receptions, 185 yards, 2 TD Southeast Missouri State Passing Jax Leatherwood 33/47, 422 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Brandon Epton, Jr. 18 carries, 94 yards Receiving Kalvin Gilbert 7 receptions, 125 yards
Indiana State
Statistics INST SIU First downs 23 25 Total yards 446 656 Rushing yards 322 430 Passing yards 124 226 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–26–1 19–34–0 Time of possession 30:04 29:56 Team Category Player Statistics Indiana State Passing Brock Riddle 7/17, 80 yards, INT Rushing Nick Osho 28 carries, 213 yards, 2 TD Receiving Zack Drawdy Jr. 4 receptions, 58 yards Southern Illinois Passing DJ Williams 19/31, 226 yards, 2 TD Rushing Edward Robinson 9 carries, 124 yards, TD Receiving Vinson Davis III 7 receptions, 140 yards, TD
at No. 1 North Dakota State
Statistics SIU NDSU First downs 22 24 Total yards 313 540 Rushing yards 123 264 Passing yards 190 276 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–29–1 16–19–0 Time of possession 27:14 32:45 Team Category Player Statistics Southern Illinois Passing DJ Williams 15/29, 190 yards, INT Rushing DJ Williams 15 carries, 41 yards, TD Receiving Fabian McCray 4 receptions, 52 yards North Dakota State Passing Cole Payton 13/16, 243 yards, TD Rushing Bryce Lance 1 carry, 75 yards, TD Receiving Bryce Lance 4 receptions, 79 yards, TD
No. 9 North Dakota
Statistics UND SIU First downs 22 20 Total yards 384 337 Rushing yards 311 79 Passing yards 73 258 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–15–0 29–46–1 Time of possession 32:00 28:00 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 9/15, 73 yards, TD Rushing Sawyer Seidl 14 carries, 108 yards, 3 TD Receiving Nate DeMontagnac 2 receptions, 30 yardsSouthern Illinois Passing DJ Williams 29/46, 258 yards, TD, INT Rushing Chandler Chapman 15 carries, 68 yards, TD Receiving Fabian McCray 6 receptions, 97 yards
Northern Iowa
Statistics UNI SIU First downs 11 21 Total yards 247 433 Rushing yards 120 230 Passing yards 127 203 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–25–1 20–25–0 Time of possession 28:14 31:46 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Iowa Passing Jaxon Dailey 8/15, 93 yards, 2 TD Rushing Matthew Schecklman 9 carries, 51 yards Receiving Bill Jackson 5 receptions, 40 yardsSouthern Illinois Passing DJ Williams 19/23, 190 yards, 2 TD Rushing Edward Robinson 9 carries, 86 yards Receiving Jay Jones 3 receptions, 52 yards, TD
at Murray State
Statistics SIU MUR First downs 23 29 Total yards 404 300 Rushing yards 233 178 Passing yards 171 122 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–20–0 15–28–2 Time of possession 35:41 24:19 Team Category Player Statistics Southern Illinois Passing DJ Williams 11/20, 171 yards, TD Rushing Edward Robinson 18 carries, 109 yards Receiving Lem Wash 2 receptions, 79 yards, TD Murray State Passing Jim Ogle 14/26, 124 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jawaun Washington 16 carries, 81 yards Receiving J'kalon Carter 6 receptions, 61 yards, TD
at No. 21 Youngstown State
Statistics SIU YSU First downs 25 29 Total yards 537 648 Rushing yards 176 303 Passing yards 361 345 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–42–0 26–35–0 Time of possession 25:17 34:43 Team Category Player Statistics Southern Illinois Passing DJ Williams 23/42, 361 yards, 3 TD Rushing Edward Robinson 11 carries, 85 yards Receiving Ryan Schwendeman 5 receptions, 96 yards Youngstown State Passing Beau Brungard 26/35, 345 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jaden Gilbert 9 carries, 149 yards, TD Receiving Luke Hensley 4 receptions, 70 yards
No. 17 South Dakota
Statistics SDAK SIU First downs 31 21 Total yards 524 455 Rushing yards 224 148 Passing yards 300 307 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–30–1 20–34–1 Time of possession 35:33 24:27 Team Category Player Statistics South Dakota Passing Aidan Bouman 21/30, 300 yards, 5 TD, INT Rushing Carson Fletcher 19 carries, 104 yards Receiving Larenzo Fenner 6 receptions, 130 yards, 3 TD Southern Illinois Passing DJ Williams 19/31, 303 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing DJ Williams 16 carries, 89 yards Receiving Jay Jones 3 receptions, 108 yards, 2 TD
at No. 11 Illinois State
Statistics SIU ILST First downs 22 12 Total yards 455 217 Rushing yards 296 73 Passing yards 159 144 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–31–0 15–27–2 Time of possession 36:53 23:07 Team Category Player Statistics Southern Illinois Passing DJ Williams 18/30, 159 yards Rushing Eddie Robinson 19 carries, 145 yards Receiving Jay Jones 4 receptions, 60 yards Illinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 12/22, 134 yards, 1 INT Rushing Victor Dawson 14 carries, 25 yards Receiving Dylan Lord 4 receptions, 67 yards
Ranking movements
References