Dawgs (7-4) will host Nicholls (6-4) in Round 1 at Saluki Stadium this Saturday November 25
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Southern Illinois University Football Salukis hosted the Indiana State Sycamores Saturday November 18 in what most fans thought was a do-or-die situation for the Salukis.
It was thought that a loss would eliminate SIU from the 2023 NCAA Division I Football Championship race, and that a win would highly strengthen their cause for an at-large bid.
Regardless of which side of the debate one was on, the Salukis took care of business against ISU with a convincing 38-9 victory.
Sunday November 19 at 11:30 a.m. when the pairings were announced for the upcoming NCAA Football Playoffs the SIU SaluSIU Vkis were announced in the first set of teams to be assigned to the field of 24 teams to compete for a National Championship.
SIU 38-Indiana State 9
Coming into the game the Salukis were ranked 16th in the nation in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Sub-Division. The Dawgs had a record of 6-4 overall and a record of 7-4 was needed to more-or-less guarantee a bid in the playoffs.
SIU’s Justin Strong (6) scores the Salukis’ third touchdown of the day Saturday November 18 when SIU hosted Indiana State. Strong caught a 3-yard pass and ran it into the Sycamores’ end zone to give the Dawgs a 21-3 lead at the 14:20 mark of the second quarter. Jim Beers Photo
The Salukis sprinted to a huge 31-3 lead after one half of play to set the tone. Coach Nick Hill had his team ready to take care of business and they came through!
The Sycamores took a slim 3-point lead on their first possession of the game at 7:46 on a 39-yard field goal by Jake Andjelic. That possession ended a 15 play, 55-yard run.
That only stirred the Dawgs to respond with a 31-0 run the remainder of the first half to chop the Sycamores at their base.
SIU senior running back Ro Elliott (1) runs off the field Saturday November 18 after being introduced in the 2023 Senior Day celebration prior to the start of the SIU vs Indiana State game. Saluki Nation said goodbye to 27 seniors who were playing their final regular-season games as a Saluki. They responded by defeating ISU 38-9 to finish 2023 7-4. Jim Beers Photo
Ro Elliott got SIU’s first score on a 9-yard run atthe7:14 mark. Jake Baumgarte kicked the extra point. SIU led, 7-3.
The next SIU score was at the 2:42 mark in the first quarter when quarterback Nick Baker hit Izaiah Hartrup with a 22-yard TD pass. Baumgarte kicked the extra point and the Salukis led, 14-3 after one quarter of competition.
In the second quarter, Baker hit Justin Strong with a 3-yard pass for SIU’s 3rd touchdown. Baumgarte kicked the extra point. That ended a 5-play, 31-yard effort.
With 6:49 remaining in the first half, SIU’s Jake Baumgarte kicked a 25-yard field goal to extend the Saluki lead to 24-3. To close out the first half, SIU’s Nick Baker connected with Izaiah Hartrup for his second touchdown pass of the game with just 31-seconds left to play. It was a 60-yard TD pass. The possession took 5-plays and covered 70 yards. Jake Baumgarte kicked the extra point. Southern led, 31-3 going into the locker room at halftime.
The 2023 SIU marching Salukis celebrate in the stands as the game nears the end with SIU ahead 38-9. Jim Beers Photo
It was Military Appreciation Day at Saluki Stadium and the 2023 Marching Salukis performed their halftime show dedicated to the veterans in attendance.
The SIUI Marching Salukis come off the field after preforming their pre-game “Salute to America” at the SIU vs Indiana State game Saturday November 18. In the saxophone line is Chester’s Cesar Marquez. Jim Beers Photo
In the 4th quarter, SIU defensive linebacker, Dune Smith, sacked ISU quarterback Cade Chambers, causing him to bobble the ball. SIU’s Devin Cowan corralled the loose ball and ran it 61 yards for a touchdown. This increased SIU’s lead to 38-3.
The SIU defense was strong throughout the entire game. They did not allow an orchestrated ISU touchdown the entire day.
The lone Sycamore touchdown came in the 4th quarter (10:56) when the Dawgs fumbled the ball on the ISU 15-yard line and Sycamore Maddie Blackwell ran it all the way to the SIU end zone for a 61-yard touchdown. The extra point was no good. SIU won, the game, 38-9, to improve to 7-4.
The game lasted 3 hours and 12 minutes. SIU has 19 first downs. ISU has 14. SU recorded 92 rushing yards. ISU had 102. The Salukis had 347 total yards gained while the Sycamores had 226.
SIU will host Nicholls in Round 1 of NCAA Football Playoffs
SIU will host a first round game at Saluki Stadium this Saturday November 25. The Chairman of the 2023 NCAA Football Playoff Selection Committee said on his Sunday announcement show that Southern Illinois University was always in the thick of the field when it came to being awarded an at-large bid to the playoff field of 24 teams.
SIU came into the decision-making process with an impressive resume, The Dawgs beat Austin Peay who was the Champion of the United Athletic Conference (UAC). SIU also had an impressive win over Bowl Division Northern Illinois University of the Mid-American Conference.
The Salukis most impressively played the 5th toughest schedule in the Football Championship Sub-Division (FCS). They did not lose to anybody outside of the Top-25 in the National Rankings.
SIU was the only Missouri Valley team to play the No. 1 team in the country, South Dakota State (11-0) to a close 17-10 game. SIU had an opportunity to tie or win that game in the final seconds but failed to accomplish that goal.
The Salukis also play in the top-conference in the nation, the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). The MVC has been ranked the top FCS conference in the country for years and have six teams selected to compete for the National Title in 2023.
South Dakota State is the No. 1 seed in the tournament. This is the third time in the last four seasons that South Dakota State has earned the top seed. They have won 25 consecutive games since 2022.
MVC’s South Dakota (9-2) is the 2023 NCAA Football Playoff FCS 3rd Seed. The top-8 seeds get a first round bye and get to host the second round games at their home fields.
In the final FCS Football polls, six Missouri Valley teams were ranked in the Top-25. In the AFCA Coaches Poll South Dakota State (1), South Dakota (3), North Dakota State (7), North Dakota (14), SIU (17) and Youngstown State (23), made the Top-25. Illinois State received votes.
In the final Stats Perform FCS Poll, six Missouri Valley teams were also ranked in the Top-25 including South Dakota State (1), South Dakota (3), North Dakota State (8), North Dakota (12), SIU (14), and Youngstown State (21). Northern Iowa received votes.
Of the six Missouri Valley teams making it into the playoffs, North Dakota State (No. 7/8) will play Drake in Round 1. SIU (No. 14/17) will play Nicholls in Round 1. North Dakota (No. 12/14) will play Sacramento in Round 1, and Youngstown State (No. 21/23) will play Duquesne in Round 1.
Seeded MVC teams No.1 South Dakota State will play the winner of Gardner-Webb and Mercer in Round 2 and No. 3 South Dakota will play the winner of Sacramento and North Dakota in Round 2.