South Dakota has studied Southern Illinois all season. On Saturday, they meet in FCS playoffs

The South Dakota football team hasn’t played Southern Illinois since 2019, but that doesn’t mean the Coyotes haven’t seen them recently.

USD head coach Bob Nielson said the Coyotes have been watching them all year. They pop up on film sessions for opponents they studied throughout the regular season.

That could provide an advantage, though the Salukis have that advantage, too.

“We’re able to hit the ground running a little more with game-planning,” Nielson said. “I’m sure they were able to, too.”

If there’s one thing that Nielson is sure of: the Salukis are going to be good. The Coyotes' head coach has said all season long that the Missouri Valley Football Conference presents more challenges than any other league in FCS football. Heading into their first playoff home game since 1986, the Coyotes could face as many as three MVFC opponents before the championship round, including an opportunity to make up for some of the plays they wanted to “have back” against North Dakota State in Fargo last week.

But now, it’s “a one-week season.”

"So just focusing on Saturday,” senior wide receiver Caleb Vander Esch said. “And then when we get to that point, we'll focus on them."

Game details: How to watch USD vs. SIU

The Salukis are a difficult scout, but that’s “just the Missouri Valley,” Nielson said. Southern Illinois began the year 6-0 against FCS opponents, but have slid lately with losses in three of their last four games. They’ve had some like results with the Coyotes: beating South Dakota State and North Dakota while falling to Missouri State. But they also suffered a loss to Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Nielson said the first concern from Southern Illinois is in their “perimeter skill players.” Running backs and wide receivers alike challenged USD greatly on outside plays against North Dakota State, and the Salukis have athletes who get their yardage in similar ways.

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Their quarterback, Nic Baker, has “dual-threat capability” and is very experienced, Nielson said. Running back Javon Williams Jr. and wide receiver Landon Lenoir are the Salukis’ two biggest outside weapons that will force the Coyotes to defend the field “vertically” and “horizontally.”

Following a difficult defensive performance against North Dakota State, the Coyotes are prepared for another challenging day. But they know it.

“Our guys understand that we’re playing an outstanding football team because every week we do that in the Valley,” Nielson said. “And we just added one more Valley week this season.”

How to watch and stream South Dakota football vs. Southern Illinois

WHEN/WHERE: 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, South Dakota

ONLINE/TV: ESPN+

RADIO: Coyote Sports Network/Learfield Sports, KVHT 106.3 FM (Yankton/Vermillion), KQSF 95.7 (Sioux Falls), KKLS 920 (Rapid City), KSDR 1480 (Watertown)

What to know about Coyotes football vs. Salukis

COACHES: USD — Bob Nielson (sixth year, 29-33); SIU — Nick Hill (6th year, 30-36)

SERIES: Tied 3-3

LAST TIME: Southern Illinois beat South Dakota 48-28 in the DakotaDome in 2019.

RANKINGS: South Dakota is T-20, Southern Illinois is 23

KEY PLAYERS: USD: QB Carson Camp, RB Travis Theis, RB Nate Thomas, WR Carter Bell, DB Da'Raun McKinney, OLB Jacob Matthew, S Elijah Reed, LB Jack Cochrane.

SIU: QB Nic Baker, RB Javon Williams Jr., RB Justin Strong, WR Landon Lenoir, S Qua Brown, CB David Miller, LB Kholbe Coleman

ETC: The Salukis started 6-0 against FCS opponents this season, but finished the season losing three of their last four games... Saturday will be the Coyotes' sixth NCAA playoff appearance overall and their second since joining the FCS in 2008. They last made the field in 2017, falling to Sam Houston State in the second round... This is the first home FCS playoff game at the DakotaDome in program history. The DakotaDome last hosted a home playoff game in 1986, when the Coyotes topped Troy State 42-28 in the Division II playoffs... Six Missouri Valley Football Conference made the FCS playoff field, including Western Illinois, which finished the season with just six wins.

Follow Sioux Falls Argus Leader reporter Michael McCleary on Twitter @mikejmccleary.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota vs. Southern Illinois: USD ready for FCS playoffs game