Southern Illinois Salukis football

Southern Illinois Salukis football
Name	Southern Illinois Salukis football
First year	1913
Athletic director	Brad Hewitt
Head coach	Nick Hill
Stadium	Saluki Stadium
Location	Carbondale, Illinois
Conference	Missouri Valley Football Conference
Website	salukifootball.com

Southern Illinois Salukis football is the intercollegiate American football team that represents Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Carbondale, Illinois. The program competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Championship Subdivision and is a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The team has produced NFL players, coached under prominent figures, and played in postseason tournaments such as the NCAA Division I-AA/FCS Playoffs and the College Division postseason.

History

The program began at Southern Illinois University Carbondale during the early 20th century and evolved through eras that intersect with institutions and events like the Missouri Valley Conference realignment, the creation of the NCAA Division I Football Championship system, and regional developments in Midwestern collegiate athletics. Coaches connected to the program have included figures who later associated with programs such as University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, University of Tennessee, Kansas State University, and Northwestern University. Seasons featured matchups against teams from conferences like the Ohio Valley Conference, Gateway Football Conference, and opponents including perennial programs such as Western Illinois University, Illinois State University, Southern Methodist University, and University of Missouri. The Salukis' timeline reflects broader shifts tied to NCAA rule changes, postseason expansions, and coaching movements that also involved entities such as the American Football Coaches Association and national awards like the Walter Payton Award.

Stadium

Home games are played at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, a facility that opened in the 2010s and replaced earlier venues including McAndrew Stadium. Saluki Stadium hosts contests against regional rivals from facilities such as Huskie Stadium at Northern Illinois University, Brown Stadium at Illinois State University (note: older venues), and neutral-site games that have attracted audiences familiar with arenas like Soldier Field in Chicago. The venue has been used for university events tied to Southern Illinois University System and has amenities comparable to peer campuses such as Youngstown State University and North Dakota State University.

Program achievements

The Salukis have achieved postseason berths in the NCAA Division I Football Championship tournament and have produced individual award candidates for honors such as the Jerry Rice Award and the Walter Payton Award. Alumni have reached professional ranks in the National Football League and participated in events like the NFL Draft and Pro Bowl. The program's statistical leaders and all-conference selections have been recognized by groups including the Football Writers Association of America and featured on national lists alongside players from James Madison University, Montana State University, and Sam Houston State University.

Conference affiliations

The program's conference history includes affiliations with the Missouri Valley Football Conference (current), prior participation in the Gateway Football Conference during its rebranding phases, and earlier alignment periods involving the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and interactions with teams from the Ohio Valley Conference and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Conference realignments intersected with national reorganizations led by the NCAA and influenced scheduling against members of the Big Ten Conference and Southeastern Conference in occasional non-conference games.

Rivalries

Primary rivalries feature regional opponents such as Illinois State University (a series with historical significance), Western Illinois University (a traditional Midwestern rivalry), and matchups with teams from institutions like Northern Illinois University and Eastern Illinois University. Games against these rivals have drawn attention from media outlets including ESPN and The Sporting News and have had implications for conference standings within the Missouri Valley Football Conference and predecessor leagues.

Notable players and coaches

Notable alumni and coaches include individuals who advanced to professional or major-college prominence, with ties to organizations such as the National Football League, the Canadian Football League, and coaching staffs at programs like University of Arkansas, University of Alabama, and Auburn University. Saluki alumni have included NFL draftees, Pro Bowl participants, and coaches honored by associations including the American Football Coaches Association. The coaching lineage links to figures who interacted with programs at Oklahoma State University, University of Notre Dame, and University of Kentucky through hires, assistants, or player development.

Season-by-season results

Seasonal records chart the program's progress through decades that mirror developments in postseason formats like the Division I-AA Playoffs and the expansion of the FCS Playoffs. Year-by-year results include conference standings within the Missouri Valley Football Conference and appearances against nationally ranked opponents such as programs from the Big Sky Conference and the Colonial Athletic Association. Historical schedules have featured matchups against teams from University of Cincinnati, University of Louisville, and other regional universities during non-conference play.

Category:Southern Illinois University Carbondale Category:Missouri Valley Football Conference