The 2026 Southern Illinois Salukis football team represents Southern Illinois University Carbondale as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Salukis are led by eleventh-year head coach Nick Hill, and play their home games at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois.
Preseason MVFC poll
The Missouri Valley Football Conference released its preseason poll on July 14, 2026, voted on by league athletic directors, coaches, and media members. The Salukis were predicted to finish sixth in the conference.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries
at West Florida
Statistics SIUUWF First downs 22 16 Plays–yards 79–403 56–335 Rushes–yards 41–216 39–226 Passing yards 187 109 Passing: comp–att–int 17–38–3 7–17–0 Turnovers 4 3 Time of possession 32:37 27:23 Team Category Player Statistics Southern Illinois Passing Jake Curry 14/30, 168 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Chandler Chapman 10 carries, 75 yards Receiving Allen Middleton 5 receptions, 60 yards, TD West Florida Passing Ty'ray Davis 7/17, 109 yards, 2 TD Rushing Ty'ray Davis 18 carries, 88 yards, TD Receiving Jakari Mozelle 3 receptions, 40 yards, TD
at Samford
Statistics SIUSAM First downs 18 15 Plays–yards 72–334 63–272 Rushes–yards 43–181 27–70 Passing yards 153 202 Passing: comp–att–int 13–29–0 21–36–1 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 32:34 27:26 Team Category Player Statistics Southern Illinois Passing Jake Curry 13/29, 153 yards, 2 TD Rushing Chandler Chapman 24 carries, 133 yards Receiving Markell Quick 3 receptions, 47 yards Samford Passing Gabarri Johnson 20/35, 156 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Ken Cherry 7 carries, 44 yards Receiving Preston Bird 3 receptions, 63 yards
Southeast Missouri State
Statistics SEMOSIU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Southeast Missouri State Passing Rushing Receiving Southern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at Illinois (FBS)
Statistics SIUILL First downs 18 21 Plays–yards 69–257 57–503 Rushes–yards 27–29 28–198 Passing yards 228 305 Passing: comp–att–int 22–42–1 23–29–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 34:06 25:54 Team Category Player Statistics Southern Illinois Passing DJ Williams 20/38, 182 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jake Curry 4 carries, 22 yards Receiving Kyle Thomas 6 receptions, 77 yards Illinois Passing Katin Houser 23/29, 305 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Aidan Laughery 4 carries, 93 yards, TD Receiving Collin Dixon 8 receptions, 131 yards, 2 TD
at Murray State
Statistics SIUMUR First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Southern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Murray State Passing Rushing Receiving
No. 8 Youngstown State
Statistics YSUSIU First downs 23 24 Plays–yards 62–403 70–387 Rushes–yards 33–184 35–99 Passing yards 219 288 Passing: comp–att–int 20–29–2 19–35–1 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 30:26 29:34 Team Category Player Statistics Youngstown State Passing Beau Brungard 20/29, 219 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Beau Brungard 16 carries, 69 yards, TD Receiving Austin Bray 5 receptions, 78 yards, TD Southern Illinois Passing DJ Williams 19/35, 288 yards, INT Rushing Chandler Chapman 11 carries, 49 yards Receiving Kyle Thomas 8 receptions, 155 yards
at No. 10 South Dakota
Statistics SIUSDAK First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Southern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving South Dakota Passing Rushing Receiving
Illinois State
Statistics ILSTSIU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Illinois State Passing Rushing Receiving Southern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
Northern Iowa
Statistics UNISIU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Northern Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving Southern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at Indiana State
Statistics SIUINST First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Southern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Indiana State Passing Rushing Receiving
South Dakota State
Statistics SDSTSIU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics South Dakota State Passing Rushing Receiving Southern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at North Dakota
Statistics SIUUND First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Southern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving North Dakota Passing Rushing Receiving
References