2025 Southern Illinois Salukis football team

2025 Southern Illinois Salukis football
Conference	Missouri Valley Football Conference
Ranking
STATS	No. 16
FCS Coaches	No. 18
Record	4–3 (1–2 MVFC)
Head coach	Nick Hill (10th season)
Defensive coordinator	Lee Pronschinske (1st season)
Home stadium	Saluki Stadium
Seasons ←  2024 2026 →

2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 1 North Dakota State		4	–	0					7	–	0
No. 2 South Dakota State		3	–	0					7	–	0
No. 8 North Dakota		3	–	0					5	–	2
No. 21 South Dakota		3	–	1					5	–	3
No. 18 Illinois State		1	–	2					4	–	3
No. 16 Southern Illinois		1	–	2					4	–	3
No. 22 Youngstown State		1	–	2					4	–	3
Indiana State		0	–	3					2	–	5
Northern Iowa		0	–	3					2	–	5
Murray State		0	–	3					0	–	7
As of October 21, 2025 Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2025 Southern Illinois Salukis football team represent 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 are led by tenth-year head coach Nick Hill, and play their home games at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois.

Preseason

MVFC poll

Main article: 2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference season § Preseason

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. ^[1]

Transfers

Outgoing

Player	Position	Destination
Allen Middleton	WR	Bowling Green
Jamond Mathis	DE	Kent State
Jamir Conn	DB	Nebraska
Keontez Lewis	WR	Oklahoma
Desman Hearns	DB	Wyoming
Ross Pedro	LS	Unknown

Incoming

Player	Position	Previous school
Jackson Parker	WR	Albany
Jacob Katauskas	OL	Coastal Carolina
Blayne Sisson	WR	Illinois
Fabian McCray	WR	Jackson State
Antonio Ross Jr.	OL	Jackson State
Donnie Wingate	DE	Lindenwood
Ryan Algrim	LS	Minnesota
Matthew McClelland	DB	Morehead State
Dashaun Gibson	DB	Northern Illinois
Kyle Thomas	WR	Northern Illinois
Ty Walls	WR	Oklahoma State
Bernadin Fleurima Jr.	DT	Robert Morris
Naz Hill	DB	Wyoming

^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	6:00 p.m.	Thomas More *	No. 20	Saluki Stadium Carbondale, IL	ESPN+	W 49–3	6,585
September 6	6:30 p.m.	at Purdue *	No. 14	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	BTN	L 17–34	54,663
September 13	6:00 p.m.	at UT Martin *	No. 17	Graham Stadium Martin, TN	ESPN+	W 37–10	5,402
September 20	6:00 p.m.	at Southeast Missouri State *	No. 13	Houck Stadium Cape Girardeau, MO	ESPN+	W 59–31	8,050
October 4	6:00 p.m.	Indiana State	No. 10	Saluki Stadium Carbondale, IL	ESPN+	W 55–27	10,132
October 11	2:30 p.m.	at No. 1 North Dakota State	No. 8	Fargodome Fargo, ND	ESPN+	L 17–45	15,812
October 18	12:00 p.m.	No. 9 North Dakota	No. 12	Saluki Stadium Carbondale, IL	ESPN+	L 19–38	5,132
October 25	2:00 p.m.	Northern Iowa	No. 16	Saluki Stadium Carbondale, IL	ESPN+
November 1	4:00 p.m.	at Murray State		Roy Stewart Stadium Murray, KY	ESPN+
November 8	1:00 p.m.	at Youngstown State		Stambaugh Stadium Youngstown, OH	ESPN+
November 15	12:00 p.m.	South Dakota		Saluki Stadium Carbondale, IL	ESPN+
November 22	12:00 p.m.	at Illinois State		Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	ESPN+
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^{[7] [8]}

Game summaries

Thomas More (DII)

See also: Thomas More Saints football

Thomas More Saints (DII) (0–0) at No. 20 Southern Illinois Salukis (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Saints (DII)	0	3	0	0	3
No. 20 Salukis	7	21	7	14	49

at Saluki Stadium, Carbondale, IL

• Date: August 30, 2025
• Game time: 6:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Sunny
• Game attendance: 6,585
• Referee: Tyler Downs
• TV: ESPN+

Game information

First Quarter (11:11) SIU – DJ Williams 10-yard run, Paul Geelan kick (Drive: 8 plays, 69 yards, 3:44; Southern Illinois 7–0) Second Quarter (11:51) SIU – Jay Jones 18-yard pass from DJ Williams, Paul Geelan kick (Drive: 13 plays, 73 yards, 6:05; Southern Illinois 14–0) (6:40) SIU – Jackson Parker 17-yard pass from DJ Williams, Paul Geelan kick (Drive: 4 plays, 50 yards, 1:25; Southern Illinois 21–0) (2:15) THO – Luke Iden 29-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 64 yards, 4:19; Southern Illinois 21–3) (0:00) SIU – Lem Wash 1-yard run, Paul Geelan kick (Drive: 8 plays, 48 yards, 1:12; Southern Illinois 28–3) Third Quarter (9:55) SIU – Fabian McCray 17-yard pass from DJ Williams, Paul Geelan kick (Drive: 3 plays, 55 yards, 1:18; Southern Illinois 35–3) Fourth Quarter (10:40) SIU – David Obadein 5-yard interception, Paul Geelan kick (Southern Illinois 42–3) (7:28) SIU – Quade Chatmon 3-yard run, Tanner Trachsel kick (Drive: 5 plays, 24 yards, 2:29; Southern Illinois 49–3)

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)

See also: 2025 Purdue Boilermakers football team

No. 14 Southern Illinois Salukis (1–0) at Purdue Boilermakers (FBS) (1–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 14 Salukis	14	0	0	3	17
Boilermakers (FBS)	14	10	3	7	34

at Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, Indiana

• Date: September 6
• Game time: 7:30 p.m.
• Game weather:  
• Game attendance: 54,663
• Referee: Francisco Villar
• TV announcers (BTN): Mark Followill, Anthony Herron, and Dannie Rogers

Game information

First quarter SIU – DJ Williams 7-yard run (Paul Geelen kick), 10:29. Salukis 7–0. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:31. PUR – Arhmad Branch 13-yard pass from Ryan Browne (Spencer Porath kick), 6:34. Tied 7–7. Drive: 9 plays, 72 yards, 3:49. SIU – Ryan Schwendeman 4-yard pass from DJ Williams (Paul Geelen kick), 5:08. Salukis 14–7. Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:26. PUR – Nitro Tuggle 29-yard pass from Ryan Browne (Spencer Porath kick), 1:33. Tied 14–14. Drive: 8 plays, 76 yards, 3:31. Second quarter PUR – Spencer Porath 25-yard field goal, 10:41. Boilermakers 17–14. Drive: 9 plays, 52 yards, 4:15. PUR – Devin Mockobee 1-yard run (Spencer Porath kick), 1:21. Boilermakers 24–14. Drive: 12 plays, 55 yards, 5:00. Third quarter PUR – Spencer Porath 43-yard field goal, 6:15. Boilermakers 27–14. Drive: 10 plays, 23 yards, 4:57. Fourth quarter PUR – Devin Mockobee 1-yard run (Spencer Porath kick), 11:48. Boilermakers 34–14. Drive: 13 plays, 70 yards, 7:10. SIU – Paul Geelen 53-yard field goal, 7:41. Boilermakers 34–17. Drive: 10 plays, 40 yards, 4:07.

Statistics	SIU	PUR
First downs	20	29
Total yards	283	384
Rushes–yards	26–81	53–214
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

See also: 2025 UT Martin Skyhawks football team

No. 17 Southern Illinois Salukis (1–1) at UT Martin Skyhawks (0–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 17 Salukis	7	10	13	7	37
Skyhawks	0	7	3	0	10

at Graham Stadium, Martin, TN

• Date: September 13, 2025
• Game time: 6:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 91 °F (33 °C) • Wind: SW at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
• Game attendance: 5,402
• Referee: Brandon McCain
• TV: ESPN+

Game information

First Quarter (11:35) SIU – DJ Williams 4-yard run, Paul Geelen kick (Drive: 3 plays, 60 yards, 1:31; Southern Illinois 7–0) Second Quarter (11:07) SIU – Fabian McCray 56-yard pass from DJ Williams, Paul Geelen kick (Drive: 5 plays, 73 yards, 3:09; Southern Illinois 14–0) (2:43) UTM – Drake Martinez 2-yard pass from Jase Bauer, Cade Hechter kick (Drive: 11 plays, 69 yards, 6:24; Southern Illinois 14–7) (0:00) SIU – Paul Geelen 28-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 59 yards, 0:30; Southern Illinois 17–7) Third Quarter (11:32) SIU – DJ Williams 13-yard run, Paul Geelen kick (Drive: 7 plays, 58 yards, 3:22; Southern Illinois 24–7) (5:34) UTM – Cade Hechter 33-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 60 yards, 5:58; Southern Illinois 24–10) (2:53) SIU – DJ Williams 12-yard run (Drive: 3 plays, 60 yards, 1:31; Southern Illinois 30–10) Fourth Quarter (1:51) SIU – Chandler Chapman 44-yard run, Paul Geelen kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 3:14; Southern Illinois 37–10)

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

See also: 2025 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team

No. 13 Southern Illinois Salukis (2–1) at Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (1–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 13 Salukis	-	-	-	-	0
Redhawks	-	-	-	-	0

at Houck Stadium, Cape Girardeau, MO

• Date: September 20, 2025
• Game time: 6:00 p.m.
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Erik Sean (play-by-play) and Rick Wieser (analyst)

Statistics	SIU	SEMO
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Southern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Southeast Missouri State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Indiana State

See also: 2025 Indiana State Sycamores football team

Indiana State Sycamores (2–2) vs. No. 10 Southern Illinois Salukis (3–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Sycamores	7	7	6	7	27
No. 10 Salukis	21	17	7	10	55

at Saluki Stadium, Carbondale, IL

• Date: October 4, 2025
• Game time: 6:00 p.m.
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Larry Larson (play-by-play) and Kerry Martin (analyst)

Statistics	INST	SIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Indiana State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Southern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at No. 1 North Dakota State

See also: 2025 North Dakota State Bison football team

No. 8 Southern Illinois Salukis (4–1) vs. No. 1 North Dakota State Bison (5–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 8 Salukis	3	7	0	7	17
No. 1 Bison	7	10	14	14	45

at Fargodome, Fargo, ND

• Date: October 11, 2025
• Game time: 2:30 p.m.
• Game weather: Indoors • Temperature: 70 °F (21 °C)
• Game attendance: 15,812
• Referee: Carl Chapman
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Dom Izzo (play-by-play), Kyle Emanuel (analyst) and Sam Goetzinger (sideline)

Game information

First Quarter (7:15) SIU – Paul Geelen 35-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 58 yards, 7:45; Southern Illinois 3–0) (7:02) NDSU – Bryce Lance 75-yard run, Eli Ozick kick (Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:13; North Dakota State 7–3) Second Quarter (14:56) SIU – Chandler Chapman 5-yard run, Paul Geelen kick (Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 3:15; Southern Illinois 10–7) (6:12) NDSU – Eli Ozick 38-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 42 yards, 2:35; Tied 10–10) (0:29) NDSU – Bryce Lance 9-yard pass from Cole Payton, Eli Ozick kick (Drive: 5 plays, 71 yards, 0:44; North Dakota State 17–10) Third Quarter (10:57) NDSU – Cole Payton 2-yard run, Eli Ozick kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:03; North Dakota State 24–10) (4:51) NDSU – Cole Payton 41-yard run, Eli Ozick kick (Drive: 9 plays, 74 yards, 5:29; North Dakota State 31–10) Fourth Quarter (11:23) NDSU – Barika Kpeenu 6-yard run, Eli Ozick kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 5:32; North Dakota State 38–10) (8:57) NDSU – DJ Scott 24-yard run, Eli Ozick kick (Drive: 4 plays, 32 yards, 1:54; North Dakota State 45–10) (6:58) SIU – DJ Williams 3-yard run, Paul Geelen kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 1:59; North Dakota State 45–17)

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

See also: 2025 North Dakota Fighting Hawks football team

No. 9 North Dakota Fighting Hawks (4–2) vs. No. 12 Southern Illinois Salukis (4–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 9 Fighting Hawks	-	-	-	-	0
No. 12 Salukis	-	-	-	-	0

at Saluki Stadium, Carbondale, IL

• Date: October 18, 2025
• Game time: 2:00 p.m.
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Larry Larson (play-by-play) and Kerry Martin (analyst)

Statistics	UND	SIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
North Dakota	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Southern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Northern Iowa

See also: 2025 Northern Iowa Panthers football team

Northern Iowa Panthers (2–5) vs. No. 16 Southern Illinois Salukis (4–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	-	-	-	-	0
No. 16 Salukis	-	-	-	-	0

at Saluki Stadium, Carbondale, IL

• Date: October 25, 2025
• Game time: 2:00 p.m.

Statistics	UNI	SIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Iowa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Southern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Murray State

See also: 2025 Murray State Racers football team

Southern Illinois Salukis (0–0) vs. Murray State Racers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Salukis	-	-	-	-	0
Racers	-	-	-	-	0

at Roy Stewart Stadium, Murray, KY

• Date: November 1, 2025
• Game time: 4:00 p.m.

Statistics	SIU	MUR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Southern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Murray State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Youngstown State

See also: 2025 Youngstown State Penguins football team

Southern Illinois Salukis (0–0) vs. Youngstown State Penguins (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Salukis	-	-	-	-	0
Penguins	-	-	-	-	0

at Stambaugh Stadium, Youngstown, OH

• Date: November 8, 2025
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.

Statistics	SIU	YSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Southern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Youngstown State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

South Dakota

See also: 2025 South Dakota Coyotes football team

South Dakota Coyotes (0–0) vs. Southern Illinois Salukis (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Coyotes	-	-	-	-	0
Salukis	-	-	-	-	0

at Saluki Stadium, Carbondale, IL

• Date: November 15, 2025
• Game time: 12:00 p.m.

Statistics	SDAK	SIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
South Dakota	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Southern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Illinois State

See also: 2025 Illinois State Redbirds football team

Southern Illinois Salukis (0–0) vs. Illinois State Redbirds (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Salukis	-	-	-	-	0
Redbirds	-	-	-	-	0

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

• Date: November 22, 2025
• Game time: 12:00 p.m.

Statistics	SIU	ILST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Southern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Ranking movements

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	Final
STATS FCS	20	14	17	13	11	10	8	12	16
Coaches	20	15	14	11	12	11	9	12	18

References

1. "Missouri Valley Football Announces predicted order of finish". valley-football.org. Missouri Valley Football Conference. July 21, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
2. "2025 FCS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports.
3. "2025 FBS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports.
4. "2025 FCS-to-FBS Transfers". herosports.
5. "Southern Illinois Salukis 2025 College Football Transfer Portal". 247sports.
6. "2025 Southern Illinois Salukis Football Transfers". on3.
7. "2025 Southern Illinois Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
8. Mathis, Christi (October 29, 2024). "2025 dates announced for SIU's Saluki Family Weekend, Homecoming". siu. Retrieved January 18, 2025.