Saluki football to play SEMO Oct. 23

The Saluki football team is now scheduled to play rival Southeast Missouri State at 6 p.m. Oct. 23 at Saluki Stadium.

"Travel is sometimes a problem in a pandemic but SEMO is but 45 miles away," said SIU Coach Nick Hill. "People in this area are starved for football."

And the NCAA has said fall games will count on a team's overall record. Win this one and it helps your chances to get into the 16-team playoff field at the end of spring - but lose it and your chances are diminished.

"We're so excited to bring back football this fall for players, staff and fans," said Saluki Athletic Director Liz Jarnigan. "I'm confident in the process we have in place and that we can have a safe and enjoyable evening."

Along with the help of SEMO AD Brady Burke, Jarnigan has reinstated a game that had been scheduled for early September but was postponed because of the COVID pandemic.

Last season, the Redhawks killed SIU's at-large playoff hopes by beating them 44-26 at Cape. The game has become a fight for the "War For The Wheel" trophy - a wooden wheel of an old Mississippi River boat. You get to keep it for a year if you win the match-up.

The Dawgs vs SEMO series started in 1909. We will highlight the match-ups in the coming weeks.