South Dakota State dashes Saluki Football's playoff hopes

CARBONDALE, Ill. — The disappointment was palpable in the Saluki Football locker room after South Dakota State spoiled the team’s Senior Day by cruising to a 52-16 win.

The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Salukis (5-6, 3-4) and ended their hopes for a late-season playoff run. Southern will close out the 2026 campaign next week at North Dakota.

FINAL STATS

“I feel let-down right now, not making it to the playoffs both years that I played here,” said SIU quarterback DJ Williams. “It hurts not to be able to give that to a program that's given me so much.”

Williams, who has played with a torn knee ligament since Week 1, passed for 209 yards and accounted for both of the team’s touchdowns. He completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Tae Marrero in the second quarter that drew Southern to within 21-7, and ran one in from two yards out in the fourth quarter, long after the outcome had been decided.

“I dreamed of playing Division I football, and God has blessed me to have some really high-highs in this thing, and some very low-lows as well,” Williams said. “God has helped me maneuver through it all and it's been a journey for sure.”

Although he’d gladly trade personal accomplishments for a win, Williams became just the third active player in the FCS to surpass 10,000 career total yards, joining Youngstown State’s Beau Brungard and Villanova’s Pat McQuaide.

“I have to thank all the teammates, all the coaches that I've had in the past and present that have helped me develop as a player,” he said. “I’ve accomplished a lot, but didn't accomplish the things I really wanted to accomplish.”

Williams and 22 of his teammates were recognized before the game in a Senior Day ceremony. Each player was hugged by head coach Nick Hill as they walked onto the field.

“You try to develop them as people and young men and give them a great experience,” said Hill, reflecting on the group of seniors. “It goes by quick. When you’re 18-to-23 years old, you might not think that it will, but once you become my age, you realize it’s such a short time in your life. You want to make it a memorable experience that really shapes who they are as people.”

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Behind Chase Mason’s season-high 320 passing yards, the No. 4-ranked Jackrabbits (9-2, 6-1) were a well-oiled machine on offense, totaling 628 yards and 35 first downs.

“That's probably the best that I've seen him play all-around and in control of the game,” Hill said.

After falling behind, 24-7, the Salukis opened the second half with a nine-play, 64-yard drive that ended with a Weston Schofield 30-yard field goal, trimming the deficit to 24-10 and providing a brief glimmer of hope. Then South Dakota State answered with a 10-play touchdown drive of its own.

“They were never uncomfortable in any phase of the game,” Hill said. “To beat those guys, we had to create some uncomfortable situations for them. We had to turn them over. We had to hit some explosive plays. We weren't able to do it.”

There were several standout individual performances for the Salukis. Defensive end Ibrahim Sanogo had three tackles for loss, giving him 18.5 on the year to break the school’s single-season record held by Bart Scott.

Linebacker Andrew Behm had 10 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack. The fifth-year senior was reflective after the game.

“Walking off the field, it hit me that it’s the last game I’ll ever play there,” he said. “Just a lot of gratitude for the opportunity I've had to be part of this team and for all my teammates, the brotherhood that we've had throughout this season.”

While wide receiver Tae Marrero didn’t have a chance to add to his school-record punt return average, he did catch a season-high five passes. After missing the team’s first four games due to NCAA eligibility issues, he has capitalized on his opportunity.

“I wish we would've come out with the dub today, but I'm just blessed to have that second chance to go to battle with my boys,” Marrero said.

Williams said the team must now “finish it off the right way next week” at North Dakota, and he thanked the fans.

“I got a ton of love for the good people that stayed with us through it all,” he said. “I prayed for times like this, to do what I'm doing now, and I just have to thank God for that.”