Saluki Stadium to host its first-ever nationally televised game on ESPN

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Saluki Stadium has never hosted a nationally televised game since it opened in 2010. That changes this season on October 17, when Southern Illinois hosts Illinois State in a contest that ESPN has selected for a national TV audience.

The news was confirmed this afternoon by the Missouri Valley Football Conference office.

The game will be SIU’s Homecoming contest, and the time and network assignment will be announced on October 7.

The Redbirds are coming off a season in which they won 12 games and finished runner-up to Montana for the FCS title. The Salukis finished 7-5 and did not receive a playoff bid, despite beating Illinois State, 37-7, in the regular-season finale.

Southern Illinois returns 15 players with starting experience — nine on offense and six on defense — including All-American quarterback DJ Williams.

The Salukis have made just a handful of national TV appearances in school history. The last time SIU hosted an ESPN broadcast was the 2007 semifinal playoff game versus Delaware at McAndrew Stadium on ESPN2.

Saluki Football nationally televised games on ESPN

Oct. 27, 2005: at Western Kentucky, ESPNU

Dec. 1, 2005: at Appalachian State, ESPNU

Dec. 8, 2007: Delaware, ESPN2

Sept. 5, 2015: at Indiana, ESPNews

May 2, 2020: at South Dakota State, ESPN2

Dec. 2, 2023: at Idaho, ESPN2

Oct. 17, 2026: Illinois State, TBD