Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Southern Illinois
Racers to Kickoff MVFC Schedule by Hosting Salukis
9/25/2026 10:51:00 AM | Football
Murray State Set for 26th Meeting Against Regional Rival
Date (Time): Saturday, Sept. 26 (6 p.m. CDT)
Opponent: Southern Illinois Salukis
Location (Venue): Murray, Ky. (Rudolph Family Field at Roy Stewart Stadium)
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
The Murray State Racers (1-3) return home to open the Missouri Valley Football Conference season by hosting the Southern Illinois Salukis (2-2) on Saturday night.
The Racers enter conference play after picking up one win through a nonconference slate that included a pair of FBS opponents. In the win over Valparaiso, Murray State generated 388 yards of total offense with a balanced effort that combined 194 yards through the air and 194 yards on the ground. Three different Racers scored on the ground, with quarterback Baxter Wright, and running backs Mykel Allen, and Jawaun Northington each punching one in, and Allen adding another touchdown through the air.
The Racer offense has been highlighted by a strong rushing attack thus far in 2026, with several different backs contributing. Tyrell Campbell leads the team with 213 yards and adds a touchdown on the ground, while Mykel Allen has 145 yards and a touchdown of his own. Jawaun Northington has a pair of touchdowns as the team's primary back in goal-line situations. Collin Shannon and Jim Ogle have both spent significant time at the quarterback position, while Shannon leads the way with 405 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Murray State offensive line is one of the leading position groups in the MVFC, giving up just 3 sacks through the first four games to tie South Dakota for the least in the conference.
The Murray State defense has leaned on its ability to create pressure through the early stages of 2026, with 22 tackles for loss and 7 sacks thus far. Jayden Walker leads the team with 4 tackles for loss, while James Morrow leads the way with 1.5 sacks. Preseason All-American Dylan Rowsey leads the team with 28 total tackles, while Rett Hemphill has 18 solo tackles and 26 total tackles. Brooks Esplin has the lone interception on the year, and Cedric Henderson has the lone forced fumble after knocking the ball away from Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker, with Milton White Jr. recovering the fumble.
Series History
Saturday marks the 26th meeting between the Racers and Salukis and their fourth matchup as fellow MVFC members. Southern Illinois holds a 13-10-2 all-time series advantage and won the most recent matchup, 27-7, on Nov. 1, 2025, in Murray, Ky. The Racers' most recent win came in 2002, a 42-24 nonconference home win. Head coach Joe Pannunzio's team was led by running back Billy Blanchard, who racked up 165 yards on 23 carries, while Ron Lane added a pair of touchdowns on the ground.
Scouting the Salukis
Southern Illinois head coach Nick Hill is in his 10th season as the head coach of his alma mater, with a 57-63 all-time record. The Salukis are coming off a 48-10 loss at Big Ten opponent Illinois to cap off their nonconference schedule. Fifth-year quarterback DJ Williams totals 487 yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air and adds 120 yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground through 3 games played. Ben Fiegel and Andrew Behm lead the team with 32 tackles each, and Fiegel adds an interception and a pair of fumble recoveries.
Up Next
Following their matchup against the Salukis, the Racers travel to Grand Forks, N.D., to face No. 17 North Dakota on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m. CDT.
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