Southern Illinois University's football team is set to face Missouri State on Saturday in a bid to end a five-game losing streak. The game, which will be broadcast on ESPN+, sees the Salukis, with a record of 2-6, take on the Bears, who are currently ranked No. 17 and have won their last six games.
The Salukis recently suffered a narrow defeat against Indiana State, where they lost 20-17 after leading at halftime. Head coach Nick Hill remains optimistic about his team's resilience and approach to practice. "Using this game (of football) to teach them about life — you have to be resilient in life as well," Hill said. He emphasized the importance of toughness developed during challenging times.
In past encounters with Missouri State, Southern Illinois has won four out of the last six meetings. Their most recent victory was in Springfield in October 2022, where they overcame an early deficit to win decisively.
The Salukis have faced one of the toughest schedules in college football this season, playing against multiple ranked teams consecutively. True freshman Jake Curry has taken over as quarterback for SIU due to injuries sidelining other players.
Michael Lindauer has been activated as quarterback following an NCAA waiver due to injuries affecting three out of four quarterbacks on the team. Lindauer returned from retirement and contributed significantly in his recent game against Indiana State.
Wide receiver Keontez Lewis continues to perform well despite playing with an injury, ranking among national leaders in receiving yards. Meanwhile, linebacker Ben Bogle is noted for his tackles for loss and sacks performance this season.
On defense, Ubayd Steed and Iverson Brown lead with impressive tackle records and contributions such as forced fumbles and interceptions.
Southern Illinois' special teams see Paul Geelen handling both kicking and punting duties effectively while several team captains remain out due to injuries.
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