Carbondale Reporter

The Southern Illinois University football team, ranked No. 20 in both the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and the AFCA FCS Coaches Preseason Poll, will begin its 2025 season at home against Thomas More on Saturday, August 30 at Saluki Stadium. The matchup is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

Continuing a home-opener tradition, new students will participate in the "Saluki Sprint" before kickoff. This event will be followed by "Hawgs & Dawgs," where motorcycles lead the team onto the field.

Southern Illinois concluded its previous season with a 4-8 overall record and a 2-6 mark in conference play. The team’s season ended with a significant win over Murray State, 63-0, which was the largest margin of victory against a Division I opponent in Saluki Stadium history and ranks as the tenth largest all-time for SIU. Quarterback Michael Lindauer set a single-game passing touchdown record with seven touchdowns during his only career start.

For the upcoming season, Southern Illinois is set to play five games at home and seven on the road—the most road games since 2019. After opening at home versus Thomas More, SIU will embark on a three-game road trip beginning September 6 at Purdue. This marks the fifth consecutive year that SIU faces an FBS opponent; since 2021, it has achieved two wins out of four such matchups.

Other notable games include visits to UT Martin and SEMO before a bye week. The Salukis return home October 4 to face Indiana State during Family Weekend, followed by an away game against defending national champion North Dakota State on October 11. SIU’s only back-to-back home games are scheduled for October 18 and October 25 against North Dakota and Northern Iowa.

In preseason rankings, North Dakota State holds the top spot in both major polls. Southern Illinois is slated to face three ranked teams this season: No.1 North Dakota State (October 11), No.5 South Dakota (November 15), and No.6 Illinois State (November 22).

Senior quarterback DJ Williams returns after missing most of last season due to injury. Before his hand injury in Week 3 last year, Williams had thrown for over 570 yards with four touchdowns and rushed for more than 240 yards with four rushing scores.

Linebacker Colin Bohanek was named to the third team of the Stats Perform Preseason All-America Teams released July 15, leading a group that includes Andrew Behm—returning from injury—and seniors Shug Walker and Chris Presto who combined for over one hundred tackles last year.

Senior punter/kicker Paul Geelen earned recognition on the Shrine Bowl 1000 Watchlist announced July 28 after ranking among national leaders in punting average last season.

Wide receiver Vinson Davis III leads a mostly new receiving corps after making nearly forty catches for over three hundred yards last year. New additions include Fabian McCray from Jackson State—who missed much of last year due to injuries—and Jackson Parker from Albany.

All five projected starting offensive linemen are seniors with extensive experience heading into this campaign.

The Missouri Valley Football Conference Preseason Watch List named twelve Saluki players including DJ Williams, Aidan Quinn, Ryan Schwendeman, Cameron Dye, Noah Fenske, Vinson Davis III, Donnie Wingate, Colin Bohanek, Chris Presto, Jeremiah McClendon, Ryan Algrim, and Paul Geelen.

Fans can follow updates about Southern Illinois football through social media channels or by downloading the “Salukis” mobile app.