Southern Illinois Releases 2026 Football Schedule, Opens at Samford on Sept. 3

Southern Illinois released its 2026 football schedule, sending Nick Hill's squad on a Thursday night road trip to Samford on Sept. 3 to open the season. It marks the Salukis' first Thursday opener since 2021, and one of the more intriguing non-conference bookends to a schedule that includes a Big Ten visit and a Walter Payton Award winner rolling into Carbondale.

Hill, entering his 11th season as head coach, brings a 7-5 overall record and a 4-4 Missouri Valley Football Conference mark from 2025 into a schedule built around five home games and eight conference contests. The program has made three FCS Playoff appearances under Hill since claiming its only national title in 1983.

The Salukis return home Sept. 12 for a Family Weekend matchup against Southeast Missouri State, a regional rivalry game that doubles as SIU's only non-conference home contest. The third and final non-conference game follows on Sept. 19, when Southern Illinois travels to face Illinois of the Big Ten Conference.

MVFC play opens Sept. 26 at Murray State in Murray, Kentucky, a matchup that will mark consecutive seasons SIU has made that trip. The conference schedule heats up Oct. 3 when Youngstown State visits Saluki Stadium. The Penguins will be led by Beau Brungard, who won the 2025 Walter Payton Award, given annually to the top player in FCS football. Back-to-back road trips follow, with a visit to South Dakota on Oct. 10 before the Salukis return home for Homecoming Weekend against Illinois State on Oct. 17 and a Northern Iowa home game Oct. 24. A bye week on Oct. 31 gives the team a breather before the final stretch.

Southern Illinois closes the regular season with two of its final three conference matchups away from home. After a road game at Indiana State on Nov. 7, the Salukis host South Dakota State on Nov. 14 in their final home game of the regular season. The schedule wraps Nov. 21 at North Dakota.

Kickoff times and television assignments have not yet been set. Fans looking to see the team before fall can attend free spring events: Van Metre Field in Du Quoin on April 3, Wildcat Stadium in Marion on April 10, and the Spring Game at Saluki Stadium on April 17.