No. 9/11 North Dakota at No. 12/12 Southern Illinois
Carbondale, Ill. (Saluki Stadium)
Series: SIU leads 3-1
Kickoff: 2 p.m.
Stream: ESPN+
Radio: Fighting Hawks Radio Network
Weekly Presser: Coach Schmidt, Coach Fruechte, Haydn Stay, Antonio Bluiett

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - No. 9/11 North Dakota will visit No. 12/12 Southern Illinois at Saluki Stadium this Saturday. Kickoff between UND and SIU is set for 2 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+. It will also be carried on the Fighting Hawks Radio Network with a pregame show starting at 1 p.m.

North Dakota holds a 4-2 record and is 2-0 in MVFC play after defeating RV/No. 20 Youngstown State, 35-17, inside the Alerus Center last weekend. The Fighting Hawks scored touchdowns on their first four offensive possessions and built a 28-7 lead by halftime. UND closed out the game with a methodical drive, which consumed 7:57 of clock and was capped with a Gaven Ziebarth one-yard touchdown rush. During the 16-play, 72-yard drive, the Hawks picked up 53 yards rushing. Prior to that point, YSU made the game interesting and had scored 10-straight points after intermission to trim the deficit to 28-17 by the end of the third quarter.

Southern Illinois enters the contest at 4-2 overall and 1-1 in league play after falling 45-17 to No. 1/1 North Dakota State last Saturday. The Salukis were bit by the turnover bug in the loss, losing two fumbles and an interception. A pair of those turnovers came inside the NDSU 35. SIU quarterback D.J. Williams led the offensive unit and was 15-for-29 passing for 190 yards while surrendering one interception. He also added 41 yards rushing and a three-yard touchdown scamper.

The Salukis hold a 3-1 lead in the all-time series and a 2-1 edge in the series as MVFC opponents. The home team has won every game played between the two squads in history so far. This will be the first time the two teams have met on the gridiron since Sept. 24, 2022, when SIU won 34-17 at Saluki Stadium.

FULL GAME NOTES ARE HERE.