COLLEGE FOOTBALL YSU can assume role of spoiler

Southern Illinois has high hopes entering today's game against the Penguins.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State and Southern Illinois have something in common -- neither team has won a Gateway Football Conference championship.
The Penguins (5-5, 2-3 Gateway) and Salukis (9-0, 5-0) collide today in Carbondale, Ill., at 7 p.m. at McAndrews Stadium.
Southern Illinois is one of the charter members (1985) of the Gateway, while the Penguins joined the conference in 1997.
The unbeaten Salukis have a good chance to end their 18-year drought in the conference and also record their first undefeated season since 1930 if they can win their final two games.
They complete their season against Northern Iowa, which is tied with the Salukis in the Gateway standings.
At stake
YSU is trying to avoid its worst finish in the conference.
The Penguins have never finished lower than a tie for third place and have never had a losing record in conference play.
The Penguins are in fifth place entering today's games.
The Penguins will conclude their season next Saturday against Western Kentucky at Stambaugh Stadium.
In Bowling Green, Ky., Western Kentucky (6-3, 3-2) plays host to Northern Iowa (8-1, 5-0) at 4 p.m.
The Panthers have won eight straight games and are coming off an impressive 47-9 win over Youngstown State.
The Hilltoppers are in a must-win situation if they are to have any chance of making the postseason.
The strength of the Gateway Conference this year means that the league will probably get three teams into the playoffs and the Hilltoppers must win their last two to have a chance.
The series between the two teams is even at 3-3, including Western Kentucky's 31-12 victory at the UNI-Dome last season. Northern Iowa had won the three previous meetings.
In the mix
Western Illinois (6-3, 3-2) is another team battling for the No. 3 spot in the standings. Today it takes on Indiana State (3-7, 0-5) at noon in Terre Haute, Ind.
The Leathernecks snapped a two-game losing streak with a 24-20 victory over Southwest Missouri State last week, and have beaten the Sycamores three straight times and five of their last six meetings.
Western Illinois leads the all-time series 14-12.
The final Gateway matchup today will bear little significance on the conference standings as SMS (4-5, 1-4 Gateway) plays host to Illinois State (4-6, 1-4 Gateway) in Springfield, Mo., at 2 p.m.
The Bears hold the lead in the series 12-10-1, but the Redbirds have won three of the last four meetings, including last year, 30-20, but they haven't won in Springfield since 1999.
mollica@vindy.com