Baker, Southern Illinois stun Northwestern 31-24

Updated Sep. 17, 2022 3:59 p.m. ET

Associated Press

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Nic Baker hit Jacob Garrett with a touchdown pass for the second time in the game to break a tie with 12:28 left in the fourth quarter, and Southern Illinois went on to top Northwestern 31-24 on Saturday.

Garrett caught Baker’s toss to cap a 19-play, 74-yard drive to put the Salukis ahead 23-17 as SIU (1-2) beat a Big Ten opponent for only the second time. A Missouri Valley Conference member, Southern Illinois' other win over a Big Ten foe — against seven losses — was against Indiana in 2006 when coach Nick Hill was their quarterback.

SIU made it 31-17 when Baker pushed up the middle for a 1-yard score with 5:09 left after Northwestern quarterback Ryan Hilinski fumbled at the Wildcats 10-yard line.

The Salukis needed the extra score. Hilinski capped a late 16-play, 75-yard drive with a fourth-and-goal touchdown pass to Malik Washington with 1:19 left.

Baker finished with three touchdowns and 241 yards on 23-of-34 passing. Garrett had 47 receiving yards to go with his two scores.

Tyce Daniel also scored off a Baker pass as the Salukis' air game lifted them to the win. SIU finished with 96 total rushing yards.

Baker and Garrett stole the show from Hilinksi, who entered averaging 374.5 yards in two previous games, Hilinski threw for more than 300 yardsin each of them, but settled for 214 in this one on 27-of-43 passing.

Hilinksi scored his first rushing touchdown this season, plowing in on fourth-and-1 late the first quarter, but he also tossed two key interceptions

Evan Hull also scored on a fourth-and-1 for the Wildcats (1-2).

Hull rushed more than 100 yards again, gaining 124 on 25 carries and added eight catches for 33 yards. He entered leading the nation with an average of 235 all-purpose yards per game.

THE TAKEAWAY

Southern Illinois: Led by Baker and Garrett and some timely defensive plays, Salukis were plucky in their ninth game ever against a Big Ten opponent. SIU opens its Missouri Valley schedule next week, The Salukis had lost their only other meeting with Northwestern, 33-7 in 2008, in a heavy rainfall in Evanston.

Northwestern: Hilinski and Hull are the headliners, but weren’t as dominant in this one. Hilinksi’s pass accuracy was questionable again as Wildcats continued to wheel-and-deal against a non-conference opponent. But Northwestern needs to tighten up its play on both sides of the ball, especially as Big Ten play arrives. On the D-side, Northwestern’s three sacks of Baker helped.

NO PICK

It appeared Combs had intercepted Hilinksi a second time midway through the third and raced in four a touchdown that would have put the Saluki’s up 24-14. But SIU was charged with defensive holding that nullified the play and prompted an unsportsmanlike call against Salukis coach Nick Hill.

UP NEXT

Southern Illinois: The Salukis host North Dakota next Saturday in their Missouri Valley Conference opener

Northwestern: The Wildcats host Miami-Ohio next Saturday in their final non-conference game.