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Salukis appear to have locked top four seed

This season, instead of a wait-and-see process, it is a wait-and-see who.

After capturing the Gateway conference championship Saturday by throttling Indiana State 59-10, all that is essentially left is to learn what team is coming to McAndrew Stadium in two weeks.

And by maintaining the No. 1-ranking for eight weeks straight, nine in total, and dominating the Gateway conference by a nearly inconceivable score of 308 to 88, the Salukis are confident those numbers will merit a No.1 seed when the NCAA releases its I-AA playoff bracket on Nov. 21.

"We should. I don't think there is any question," quarterback Joel Sambursky said. "I don't think they even need to have a big discussion about it."

If they are a top four seed, the Salukis would be guaranteed two home games provided they win.

"We are going to be one of those top four teams unquestionably," SIU Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk said.

While what Kowalczyk says does appear to be a lock, last year the Salukis also thought they were going to be at home after finishing with an identical 10-1 record.

They ended up traveling to play eventual national champion Delaware instead.

The fact the Salukis traveled cross country last year has taught the them to be very careful to prognosticate what schools they could potentially be playing. Both the players and head coach Jerry Kill said they haven't begun to look ahead to what team they might play. And Kowalczyk said it is nearly impossible to foresee accurately.

"There is still one week to play. We have a bye, but the rest of the nation still has a game," said Kowalczyk, who added the athletic department would be releasing more information later in the week. "It really is up in the air. Because it is based on geography, as they say, it could tell a little bit. But you got to keep in mind that we went to Delaware last year."

Fan turnout at the first two rounds will figure heavily into whether the Salukis would receive a home playoff game if they made it to the third round. That game would be televised nationally on ESPN2.

And the longer SIU stays at McAndrew Stadium, the better since the Salukis hold a 12-game win streak there. And right now, it might not matter who the opponent is.

"When the first round of the playoffs come, we don't care who we will play," said running back Brandon Jacobs. "The Salukis will be the Salukis no matter who we line up against."