Southern Illinois was ranked eighth in the recently released preseason Missouri Valley Football Conference poll.
The Salukis received 124 points in the poll, putting them ahead of ninth-place Indiana State (115 points) and 10th-place Missouri State (41 points).
Defending NCAA Football Championship Subdivision champion North Dakota State was first with 388 points, with Northern Iowa just behind with 343 points.
Coaches, local media and sports-information directors in the 10-team league voted on the poll.
Three Southern Illinois players received preseason honors. Linebacker Chase Allen was named to the preseason all-conference first team, while wide receiver Billy Reed and running back Daquan Isom received honorable mention.
Southern Illinois opens the 2016 season against Florida Atlantic at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, in Boca Raton, Florida. The Salukis' first home game is against Southeast Missouri at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10.
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