# 2024 Southern Illinois Salukis football team

The 2024 Southern Illinois Salukis football team represented Southern Illinois University Carbondale as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Salukis were led by ninth-year head coach Nick Hill, and played their home games at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois.
The Salukis quarterback room became decimated by injuries throughout the season, with the team turning to graduate assistant Michael Lindauer as quarterback late in the season; Lindauer previously played quarterback for the Salukis before retiring in June 2024. In the team's season finale, Lindauer threw for 7 touchdowns, breaking the program record for passing touchdowns in a single game.

## Preseason
### MVFC poll

The MVFC released it preseason prediction poll on July 22, 2024. The Salukis were predicted to finish fourth in the conference.
MVFC media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | South Dakota State | 482 (42) |
| 2 | North Dakota State | 437 (1) |
| 3 | South Dakota | 371 |
| 4 | Southern Illinois | 293 |
| 5 | North Dakota | 276 |
| 6 | Illinois State | 264 |
| 7 | Youngtown State | 255 |
| 8 | Northern Iowa | 227 |
| 9 | Missouri State | 164 (1) |
| 10 | Indiana State | 68 |
| 11 | Murray State | 67 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 7:00 p.m. | at BYU* | No. 10 | LaVell Edwards StadiumProvo, UT | ESPN+ | L 13–41 | 63,712 |
| September 7 | 6:00 p.m. | at Austin Peay* | No. 10 | Fortera StadiumClarksville, TN | ESPN+ | W 31–17 | 8,124 |
| September 14 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 12 Incarnate Word* | No. 9 | Saluki StadiumCarbondale, IL | ESPN+ | W 35–28 | 7,879 |
| September 21 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 21 Southeast Missouri State* | No. 7 | Saluki StadiumCarbondale, IL | ESPN+ | L 21–38 | 13,421 |
| September 28 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 5 South Dakota | No. 17 | DakotaDomeVermillion, SD | ESPN+ | L 13–42 | 6,706 |
| October 5 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 18 Illinois State | No. 19 | Saluki StadiumCarbondale, IL | ESPN+ | L 10–45 | 7,157 |
| October 12 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 2 North Dakota State | | Saluki StadiumCarbondale, IL | ESPN+ | L 3–24 | 9,610 |
| October 26 | 12:00 p.m. | at Indiana State | | Memorial StadiumTerre Haute, IN | ESPN+ | L 17–20 | 4,266 |
| November 2 | 2:00 p.m. | at Missouri State | | Robert W. Plaster StadiumSpringfield, MO | ESPN+ | L 17–38 | 8,134 |
| November 9 | 12:00 p.m. | Youngstown State | | Saluki StadiumCarbondale, IL | ESPN+ | W 37–33 | 4,933 |
| November 16 | 2:00 p.m. | at No. 3 South Dakota State | | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD | ESPN+ | L 10–41 | 17,268 |
| November 23 | 12:00 p.m. | Murray State | | Saluki StadiumCarbondale, IL | ESPN+ | W 62–0 | 5,310 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time ||||||||

## Game summaries
### at BYU

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 10 Salukis | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
| Cougars | 14 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 41 |
at LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah
* Date: August 31
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT/6:00 p.m. MDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 89 °F (32 °C)
* Game attendance: 63,712
* Referee: Kevin Randall
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Richard Cross and Barrett Brooks
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | SIU | BYU |
| First downs | 12 | 27 |
| Total yards | 231 | 527 |
| Rushing yards | 123 | 179 |
| Passing yards | 108 | 348 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 20:46 | 39:14 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern Illinois | Passing | D. J. Williams | 10/20, 98 yards, INT |
| Southern Illinois | Rushing | D. J. Williams | 15 rushes, 121 yards, 2 TD |
| Southern Illinois | Receiving | Keontez Lewis | 2 receptions, 49 yards |
| BYU | Passing | Jake Retzlaff | 20/30, 348 yards, 3 TD |
| BYU | Rushing | LJ Martin | 13 rushes, 67 yards, TD |
| BYU | Receiving | Chase Roberts | 7 receptions, 108 yards |

### at Austin Peay

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 10 Salukis | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 31 |
| Governors | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at Fortera Stadium • Clarksville, TN
* Date: September 7, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
* Game attendance: 8,124
* TV: ESPN+
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Southern Illinois | Passing |
| Southern Illinois | Rushing |
| Southern Illinois | Receiving |
| Austin Peay | Passing |
| Austin Peay | Rushing |
| Austin Peay | Receiving |

### No. 12 Incarnate Word

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 12 Cardinals | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| No. 9 Salukis | 14 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
at Saluki Stadium, Carbondale, Illinois
* Date: September 14, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Cloudy, 80 °F (27 °C)
* Game attendance: 7,879
* Referee: Aaron Adams
* TV: ESPN+
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | UIW | SIU |
| First downs | 25 | 23 |
| Total yards | 437 | 543 |
| Rushing yards | 71 | 207 |
| Passing yards | 366 | 336 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:39 | 29:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Incarnate Word | Passing | Zach Calzada | 35/54, 366 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Incarnate Word | Rushing | Dekalon Taylor | 8 rushes, 32 yards |
| Incarnate Word | Receiving | Roy Alexander | 10 receptions, 117 yards |
| Southern Illinois | Passing | D. J. Williams | 19/27, 301 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Southern Illinois | Rushing | D. J. Williams | 12 rushes, 79 yards, TD |
| Southern Illinois | Receiving | Keontez Lewis | 8 receptions, 148 yards, TD |

### No. 21 Southeast Missouri State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 21 Redhawks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 7 Salukis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Saluki Stadium • Carbondale, IL
* Date: September 21, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
* TV: ESPN+
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Southeast Missouri State | Passing |
| Southeast Missouri State | Rushing |
| Southeast Missouri State | Receiving |
| Southern Illinois | Passing |
| Southern Illinois | Rushing |
| Southern Illinois | Receiving |

### at No. 5 South Dakota

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 17 Salukis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 5 Coyotes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD
* Date: September 28, 2024
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
* Game attendance: 6,706
* TV: ESPN+
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Southern Illinois | Passing |
| Southern Illinois | Rushing |
| Southern Illinois | Receiving |
| South Dakota | Passing |
| South Dakota | Rushing |
| South Dakota | Receiving |

### No. 19 Illinois State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 19 Redbirds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 18 Salukis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Saluki Stadium • Carbondale, IL
* Date: October 5, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
* TV: ESPN+
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Illinois State | Passing |
| Illinois State | Rushing |
| Illinois State | Receiving |
| Southern Illinois | Passing |
| Southern Illinois | Rushing |
| Southern Illinois | Receiving |

### No. 2 North Dakota State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 2 Bison | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
| Salukis | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
at Saluki Stadium • Carbondale, IL
* Date: October 12, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 82 °F (28 °C) • Wind: NE at 7 miles per hour (11 km/h)
* Game attendance: 9,610
* Referee: David Hergert
* TV: ESPN+
| Statistics | NDSU | SIU |
| First downs | 22 | 14 |
| Total yards | 363 | 187 |
| Rushing yards | 163 | 35 |
| Passing yards | 200 | 152 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 19–25–0 | 15–27–1 |
| Time of possession | 35:29 | 24:31 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Dakota State | Passing | Cam Miller | 18/24, 193 yards, TD |
| North Dakota State | Rushing | CharMar Brown | 20 carries, 95 yards, TD |
| North Dakota State | Receiving | Bryce Lance | 5 receptions, 63 yards |
| Southern Illinois | Passing | Jake Curry | 15/27, 152 yards, INT |
| Southern Illinois | Rushing | Keontez Lewis | 2 carries, 20 yards |
| Southern Illinois | Receiving | Allen Middleton | 5 receptions, 60 yards |

### at Indiana State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Salukis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sycamores | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Memorial Stadium • Terre Haute, IN
* Date: October 26, 2024
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
* TV: ESPN+
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Southern Illinois | Passing |
| Southern Illinois | Rushing |
| Southern Illinois | Receiving |
| Indiana State | Passing |
| Indiana State | Rushing |
| Indiana State | Receiving |

### at Missouri State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Salukis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Robert W. Plaster Stadium, Springfield, MO
* Date: November 2, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. CST
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Southern Illinois | Passing |
| Southern Illinois | Rushing |
| Southern Illinois | Receiving |
| Missouri State | Passing |
| Missouri State | Rushing |
| Missouri State | Receiving |

### Youngstown State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Penguins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Salukis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Saluki Stadium • Carbondale, IL
* Date: November 9, 2024
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
* TV: ESPN+
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Youngstown State | Passing |
| Youngstown State | Rushing |
| Youngstown State | Receiving |
| Southern Illinois | Passing |
| Southern Illinois | Rushing |
| Southern Illinois | Receiving |

### at No. 3 South Dakota State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Salukis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 3 Jackrabbits | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, Brookings, SD
* Date: November 16, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. CST
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Southern Illinois | Passing |
| Southern Illinois | Rushing |
| Southern Illinois | Receiving |
| South Dakota State | Passing |
| South Dakota State | Rushing |
| South Dakota State | Receiving |

### Murray State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Racers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Salukis | 13 | 28 | 14 | 7 | 62 |
at Saluki Stadium, Carbondale, Illinois
* Date: November 23
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Cloudy, 51 °F (11 °C)
* Game attendance: 5,310
* Referee: Tyler Downs
* TV: ESPN+
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | MURR | SIU |
| First downs | 9 | 25 |
| Total yards | 185 | 529 |
| Rushing yards | 75 | 246 |
| Passing yards | 110 | 283 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 25:58 | 34:02 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Murray State | Passing | Jayden Johannsen | 7/11, 80 yards, 2 INT |
| Murray State | Rushing | Kywon Morgan | 6 rushes, 32 yards |
| Murray State | Receiving | J. K. Carter | 4 receptions, 62 yards |
| Southern Illinois | Passing | Michael Lindauer | 20/33, 283 yards, 7 TD |
| Southern Illinois | Rushing | Allen Middleton | 15 rushes, 124 yards |
| Southern Illinois | Receiving | Keontez Lewis | 5 receptions, 104 yards, 2 TD |