The highly regarded SIU defense pitched a shutout in the first playoff game at Saluki Stadium.
SIU beat Nicholls — champions of the Southland Conference — by a final of 35-0.
Ro Elliott rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns and Nic Baker passed for 168 yards and two scores as the Salukis advance to the Round of 16 with a game December 2 at Idaho. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. Central.
Southern Illinois is now 8-4 on the season.
The Salukis jumped on Nicholls right away on Saturday.
They took the opening kickoff and marched 74 yards with Ro Elliott scoring on a three yard run at the 12:03 mark of the first quarter.
After a D.J. Johnson interception gave the ball back to the offense at the Nicholls 35, Justin Strong capped the drive with a one yard plunge to make it 14-0 8:28 left in the first.
After the Colonels punted, Aidan Quinn caught a 14 yard touchdown pass from Nic Baker and the Dawgs were up 21-0 at the 00:59 mark of the opening quarter. Baker's TD pass was the 66th of his career, breaking Joel Sambursky's record of 65.
After a scoreless second quarter which included a missed field goal by Southern and a goal line stand to preserve the shutout just before halftime, SIU put it away in the third.
Ro Elliott scored again, this time on a 60 yard burst that made it 28-0 at the 12:10 mark.
The Salukis finished the scoring when Baker hit Vincent Davis from seven yards out with 6:09 remaining in the third quarter.
SIU outgained Nicholls 358-252 and did not turn the ball over while forcing three from the Colonels.
The Salukis committed just two penalties and converted four of five red zone opportunities while not allowing a score on Nicholls' three trips into the red zone.
The audio is from Head Coach Nick Hill's postgame comments.
