Carbondale Reporter

The Southern Illinois University (SIU) Salukis football team unveiled its 2025 schedule, which includes 12 games with five home matches. The season kicks off on August 30 against Division II team, Thomas More, on home ground. Among the highlights are a Family Weekend game against Indiana State on October 4 and a Homecoming clash with Northern Iowa on October 25.

The Salukis' non-conference schedule poses challenges, featuring away games against Big Ten team Purdue on September 6 and the co-champions of the Ohio Valley Conference-Big South, UT Martin and SEMO, on September 13 and 20, respectively. The SIU team has encountered Purdue only once in the past, in a losing effort back in 2014. They hold a historical edge over UT Martin, having won 8 of 9 matchups with their last face-off in 2019.

Traveling to Cape Girardeau, SIU will rekindle its long-standing rivalry with SEMO in the traditional War For the Wheel, part of a series ongoing since 1909.

Within the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC), SIU begins play against Indiana State, followed by a road game facing the defending national champion, North Dakota State, on October 11. SIU's back-to-back home games include contests with North Dakota on October 18 and with Northern Iowa on October 25. They will conclude the regular season with three of their final four games on the road, including visits to Murray State, Youngstown State, and Illinois State.

The Salukis have already initiated spring practices and are set to host their annual Spring Game on April 19 at 11 a.m. Meanwhile, supporters can expect season-ticket renewals to be issued later in the spring, with the announcement of kickoff times anticipated to follow.