2026 schedule
Southern Illinois Salukis
2026 season so far
Southern Illinois is 4-5 against the 30th-toughest schedule so far, scoring 22.6 and allowing 26.3 points per game (-3.7 per game).
Southern Illinois plays below the FBS level, so its projections against FBS opponents include the measured gap between divisions.
Next up: at Indiana State in Week 10. We project Southern Illinois 30, Indiana State 25 — Southern Illinois wins 65% of the time.
Projections are statistical estimates for entertainment and analysis only. They are not betting advice and nothing here guarantees any result.
Regular season
12 games- at
West Florida Argonauts
1-0 · SOS #79
Loss 31-34
Week 1
Our number· model now
Southern Illinois by 1
Total 49
Book line
Not posted
Final West Florida by 3. 65 points. No book line was saved for this game.
ESPN+ Pen-Air Field - at
Samford Bulldogs
0-2 · SOS #80
Win 22-18
Week 1
Our number· model now
Southern Illinois by 8
Total 48
Book line
Not posted
Final Southern Illinois by 4. 40 points. No book line was saved for this game.
ESPN+ Seibert Stadium - vs
Southeast Missouri State Redhawks
1-2 · SOS #70
Win 34-20
Week 2
Our number· model now
Southern Illinois by 7
Total 51
Book line
Not posted
Final Southern Illinois by 14. 54 points. No book line was saved for this game.
ESPN+ Saluki Stadium - at
Illinois Fighting Illini
2-1 · SOS #28
Loss 10-48
Week 3
Our number· model now
Illinois by 24
Total 54
Book line
Not posted
Final Illinois by 38. 58 points. No book line was saved for this game.
Peacock Gies Memorial Stadium - at
Murray State Racers
1-4 · SOS #15
Win 46-6
Week 4
Our number· model now
Southern Illinois by 18
Total 56
Book line
Not posted
Final Southern Illinois by 40. 52 points. No book line was saved for this game.
Game-time weather: Partly cloudy, 66°F, Wind calm.Observed during the game · National Weather Service (KPAH)ESPN+ Roy Stewart Stadium - vs
Youngstown State Penguins
4-2 · SOS #24
Loss 16-28
Week 5
Our number· model now
Youngstown State by 9
Total 61
Book line
Not posted
Final Youngstown State by 12. 44 points. No book line was saved for this game.
Game-time weather: Clear, 72°F, Wind 5 mph NE.Observed during the game · National Weather Service (KMDH)ESPN+ Saluki Stadium - at
South Dakota Coyotes
5-2 · SOS #35
Loss 10-31
Week 6
Our number· model now
South Dakota by 11
Total 55
Book line
Not posted
Final South Dakota by 21. 41 points. No book line was saved for this game.
Indoors (dome).ESPN+ The DakotaDome - vs
Illinois State Redbirds
5-2 · SOS #89
Loss 14-35
Week 7
Our number· model now
Illinois State by 7
Total 51
Book line
Not posted
Final Illinois State by 21. 49 points. No book line was saved for this game.
Game-time weather: Clear, 59°F, Wind 7 mph NNE.Observed during the game · National Weather Service (KMDH)ESPNU Saluki Stadium - vs
Northern Iowa Panthers
3-4 · SOS #4
Win 20-17
Week 8
Our number· model now
Southern Illinois by 4
Total 50
Book line
Not posted
Final Southern Illinois by 3. 37 points. No book line was saved for this game.
Game-time weather: Clear, 73°F, Wind 5 mph NE.Observed during the game · National Weather Service (KMDH)ESPN+ Saluki Stadium - at
Indiana State Sycamores
2-6 · SOS #19
Sat, Nov 7, 11:00 PM
Week 10
Proj 30-25 · 65%
Our number
Southern Illinois by 5
Total 55
Book line
Not posted
No book line posted yet.
ESPN+ Memorial Stadium (Terre Haute, IN) - vs
South Dakota State Jackrabbits
6-2 · SOS #52
Sat, Nov 14, 7:00 PM
Week 11
Proj 19-31 · 22%
Our number
South Dakota State by 12
Total 50
Book line
Not posted
No book line posted yet.
ESPN+ Saluki Stadium - at
North Dakota Fighting Hawks
6-3 · SOS #43
Sat, Nov 21, 7:00 PM
Week 12
Proj 21-33 · 21%
Our number
North Dakota by 12
Total 54
Book line
Not posted
No book line posted yet.
ESPN+ Alerus Center
Times shown in your local time
Southern Illinois Salukis stats: basic, advanced and situational
Power rating
-16.5
Adj. offense
18.1
pts vs avg defense
Adj. defense
34.6
pts allowed vs avg offense
Basic stats
Box-score numbers per game.
| Stat | 2026 | FBS rank |
|---|---|---|
| Points per gameEvery point scored, every game. | 22.6 | — |
| Points allowed per gameEvery point conceded, every game. | 26.3 | — |
| Yards per playScrimmage yards divided by scrimmage plays (sacks count as pass plays). | 5.18 | — |
| Yards per play allowedThe same measure for opponents. | 6.19 | — |
| Rushing yards per gameDesigned runs and scrambles. | 160.1 | — |
| Net passing yards per gamePassing yards minus sack yardage. | 188.9 | — |
| Rushing yards allowed per gameOpponents' rushing yards. | 161.1 | — |
| Net passing yards allowed per gameOpponents' net passing yards. | 220.2 | — |
| Turnovers per gameInterceptions thrown and fumbles lost. | 1.11 | — |
| Takeaways per gameInterceptions and fumble recoveries. | 1.33 | — |
| Sacks per gameSacks by this defense. | 1.89 | — |
| Sacks allowed per gameSacks taken by this offense. | 2.22 | — |
Advanced stats
Efficiency from play-by-play, garbage time removed: expected points added (EPA), success rate, explosiveness, havoc, finishing drives, field position and pace.
| Stat | 2026 | FBS rank |
|---|---|---|
| EPA per playExpected points added per snap, garbage time removed. Zero is average; +0.10 is very good. | +0.01 | — |
| EPA per play allowedExpected points the defense gives up per snap. Lower is better. | +0.04 | — |
| Success rateShare of plays that stay on schedule: 50% of the distance on 1st down, 70% on 2nd, all of it on 3rd and 4th. | 37.8% | — |
| Success rate allowedOpponents' success rate. | 39.8% | — |
| Explosive play rateRuns of 12+ yards and passes of 16+ yards, as a share of plays. | 12.3% | — |
| Explosive plays allowedThe same rate for opponents. | 14.4% | — |
| Havoc rateShare of snaps with a tackle for loss, sack, forced fumble, interception or pass break-up. | 14.3% | — |
| Havoc allowedHow often this offense suffers a havoc play. | 13.9% | — |
| Points per scoring opportunityFinishing drives: points per possession that reaches the opponent's 40. | 2.40 | — |
| Points per opportunity allowedHow well the defense holds once opponents cross its 40. | 2.21 | — |
| Average starting field positionWhere this offense's drives begin, on average. | opp 9 | — |
| Opponents' starting field positionWhere opponents' drives begin. | opp 8 | — |
| Offensive plays per game (pace)Scrimmage snaps per game; a tempo measure. | 67.3 | — |
Situational stats
Run vs pass splits, passing downs, third downs and the red zone.
| Stat | 2026 | FBS rank |
|---|---|---|
| Rushing EPA per playExpected points added on runs. | +0.08 | — |
| Passing EPA per playExpected points added on dropbacks, sacks included. | -0.05 | — |
| Rushing EPA allowedRun defense, per play. | +0.03 | — |
| Passing EPA allowedPass defense, per dropback. | +0.04 | — |
| Rushing success rateShare of runs that stay on schedule. | 40.1% | — |
| Passing success rateShare of dropbacks that stay on schedule. | 33.3% | — |
| Run stuff rateRuns stopped at or behind the line. | 19.2% | — |
| Passing-down success rateSuccess on 2nd-and-8+ and 3rd/4th-and-5+. | 32.6% | — |
| Passing-down success allowedHow often opponents escape long-yardage downs. | 31.4% | — |
| Third-down conversion rateThird downs converted by the play itself. | 38.5% | — |
| Third-down rate allowedOpponents' third-down conversions. | 40.2% | — |
| Red-zone touchdown rateDrives reaching the 20 that end in a touchdown. | 36.5% | — |
| Red-zone TD rate allowedOpponents' red-zone touchdown rate. | 37.4% | — |
Power rating = projected margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field, from our opponent-adjusted efficiency model. How it works and how accurate it has been.
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