Dual-threat Southern Illinois quarterback D.J. Williams will return for his final season of collegiate football. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Dan Verdun
A pair of late-season, disappointing losses left Southern Illinois out of the FCS playoffs for the second straight fall.
The Salukis managed a 7-5 overall record, but demoralizing losses to nationally ranked Missouri Valley Football Conference members Youngstown State and South Dakota loomed large in the eyes of the playoff selection committee.
“Our four (FCS) losses are to teams that will probably come out of this weekend all ranked in the Top 15,” Hill said following SIU’s win at Illinois State in the season finale.
While Hill’s statement about the four teams held up, the FCS playoff committee did not award Southern with an at-large to the 24-team postseason bracket.
Here’s a look back at SIU’s 2025 season:
Head coach: Nick Hill
Conference: Missouri Valley Football Conference
Overall record (conference record): 7-5 (4-4)
Biggest win: SIU dominated in-state rival Illinois State, 37-7, in the Nov. 22 season finale at Normal’s Hancock Stadium. The 30-point blowout marked the largest winning margin against a ranked opponent since the Salukis spanked the Redbirds, 42-7, in 2017.
Most disappointing loss: One week prior to the win at Illinois State, SIU lost in five overtimes to No. 17/22 South Dakota at Saluki Stadium. The loss, which landed on Senior Day, followed a 48-38 defeat at Youngstown State. Those two losses certainly factored heavily into the Salukis being left out of the postseason.
Breakout players
Offense: Though certainly already well-known around FCS, quarterback D.J. Williams returned from a 2024 injury and led the Saluki offense. Williams topped the team in both passing and rushing. In early January, Williams announced he was returning to Carbondale for his final year of eligibility.
Defense: Like Williams, linebacker Colin Bohanek fought his way back from a season-ending injury in ‘24. The senior led SIU with 87 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss. Bohanek ended his collegiate career with 363 tackles, 33.5 for loss.
Special teams: Kicker-punter Paul Geelen again proved to be a valuable weapon for the Salukis. The Netherlands native made 15 of 17 field goal attempts, including a 53-yarder. He was 14-for-14 on kicks inside 50 yards. Geelen averaged 40.82 yards per punt. He forced opponents to fair catch 44% of his boots. Geelen placed 35% of his punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. He also ran for a 29-yard gain on a fake.
2026 season: Though its schedule has not been officially posted, the website FBSchedules.com states SIU will open Sept. 3 at Sanford. Following its annual regional rivalry game against Southeast Missouri Sept. 12 in Carbondale, the Salukis play at the FBS Illinois Sept. 19. SIU hosts Illinois State Oct. 17 at Saluki Stadium.
Next up: Barry Bottino examines 5 Burning Questions facing Southern Illinois football.
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
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