Southern Illinois releases fall 2021 football schedule

By Kevin Kelley -

The Southern Illinois Salukis have released their fall 2021 football schedule, which includes five contests at home.

Southern Illinois is slated to open the 2021 season with back-to-back non-conference contests on the road. SIU visits Southeast Missouri in the annual War for the Wheel contest on Thursday, Sept. 2 before traveling to take on Kansas State on Saturday, Sept. 11.

The Salukis open the home portion of their 2021 football schedule at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Ill., on Saturday, Sept. 18 against Dayton, which also closes out the non-conference portion of Southern Illinois’ 2021 schedule.

The following week on Sept. 25, Southern Illinois opens their Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) schedule at home against Illinois State on Sept. 25 for Family Weekend.

Other home MVFC opponents for Southern Illinois in 2021 include North Dakota (Oct. 16; Homecoming), Missouri State (Nov. 6), and Youngstown State (Nov. 20).

Road MVFC opponents for the Salukis in 2021 include Western Illinois (Oct. 2), South Dakota State (Oct. 9), Northern Iowa (Oct. 30), and Indiana State (Nov. 13).

Below is Southern Illinois’ complete fall 2021 football schedule and a link to their schedule page that will be updated with kickoff times and TV as they are announced.

2021 Southern Illinois Football Schedule

  • 09/02 – at Southeast Missouri
  • 09/11 – at Kansas State
  • 09/18 – Dayton
  • 09/25 – Illinois State*
  • 10/02 – at Western Illinois*
  • 10/09 – at South Dakota State*
  • 10/16 – North Dakota*
  • 10/23 – OFF
  • 10/30 – at Northern Iowa*
  • 11/06 – Missouri State*
  • 11/13 – at Indiana State*
  • 11/20 – Youngstown State*

* MVFC contest.

Southern Illinois is 3-1 so far during the 2020-21 season. The Salukis played one game last fall — a 20-17 win over Southeast Missouri. SIU opened the spring portion of their schedule with a 44-21 loss at North Dakota, but then upset No. 1 North Dakota State at home, 38-14, and defeated Youngstown State on the road, 30-22.

The Salukis are next scheduled to host No. 4 Northern Iowa on Saturday, March 13. The game is slated for 1:00pm ET and it will be streamed via ESPN+.