As the Gateway Conference season gets rolling, the surprise is still as Indiana State at the top of the league at 2-0, while Eastern Illinois is in a three-way tie for second at 1-0.

Both the Panthers and Sycamores were picked towards the bottom of the preseason Gateway Conference poll. Northern Iowa and Illinois State are the other still undefeated teams in league play.

SIUC will be looking to rebound from an embarrassing 52-3 loss at the hands of Indiana State Saturday

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Saluki head coach Shawn Watson said for his squad to win its first conference game in his tenure, the Dawgs will have to eliminate the five-turnover and 11 penalty-type performance committed against the Sycamores.

Needless to say I’m disappointed in the way that we played, Watson said. We put them in a position to score a lot of points because we turned the football over and had some penalties that allowed them to keep their drive alive.

It all resulted in points.

The Salukis will try to build on their home win two weeks ago, when SIUC pounded Nicholls State 48-20. The Dawgs host long-time rival Illinois State Saturday, with SIUC leading the series 28-26-3.

For the Dawgs to win, they will have to improve on both sides of the ball as the Salukis are ranked last in total offense and defense in the Gateway.

SIUC finished at the bottom of the league in both categories last year. However, the Dawgs are averaging about 20 more yards on offense and giving up 50 yards less on defense than a season ago.

Eastern Illinois is cruising along at 5-0 overall because the Panthers have not made many mistakes. EIU leads the nation in turnover margin at +13. The Panthers are also highly ranked in rushing offense with a Gateway best 264 yards per game. Panther running backWillie High is averaging 148 of those yards. EIU currently ranks ninth nationally in rushing yardage and its rushing defense also excels, giving up 80 yards per game godd for seventh in the country.

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The Panthers take their nine-game winning streak to Northern Iowa, Saturday. UNI leads that series 12-6-1.

Indiana State’s 2-0 conference start and 4-1 overall record is the Sycamore’s best start since 1984, when the squad won its first nine games. Indiana State is winning with offense and defense. The Sycamores lead the Gateway in total offense with 375 yards per game and lead the conference in total defense giving up only 287 yards a game. Indiana State is outscoring its opponents by an average of 32-17.

The Sycamores travel to Springfield to take on cellar-dwelling Southwest Missouri State Saturday.

Northern Iowa is coming off a 38-7 drubbing at Western Illinois, and now faces the unbeaten Panthers of Eastern Illinois at the UNI Dome. Northern Iowa (1-0 in conference, 2-2 overall) rarely loses at home winning its last four contests. UNI will hope for another big receiving performance from Dedric Ward, whose 203 yards last week places him third on the all-time Gateway receiving list. Ward’s 2,050 yards is only 197 yards away from former Panther Kenny Shedd’s record.

Illinois State (1-0, 2-3) won its first conference game of the year last week when the Redbirds fended off a stout Southwest Missouri State club 20-17 in overtime. Duane Butler was Illinois State’s star, as the free safety made 17 tackles and forced a fumble enabling the Redbirds to defeat the Bears. Illinois State is also getting production from place kicker and punter Todd Kurz whose 38-yard field goal won the game for the Redbirds. Kurz is ranked fourth in the nation, averaging 42 yards per punt.

The Redbirds come down to Carbondale to take on SIUC Saturday.

Western Illinois (0-1, 2-3) has a bye week after a 38-7 loss at home against Northern Iowa. The Leathernecks pass offense is racking up 230 yards a game, which is best in the Gateway and 22nd nationally. However, WIU is also the league’s worst passing efficiency defense. Leatherneck wideout Gunnard Twyner has caught a ball in 27-straight games a conference record.

WIU gets back into conference action at Illinois State Oct. 7.

Southwest Missouri State (0-2, 1-4) is coming off two tough losses:9-7 at Eastern Illinois Sept. 23, and an overtime 20-17 loss at home against Illinois State Saturday.

Even with the two defeats, the Bears are outgaining their opponents by 16 yards per game. The bears are getting beaten by mistakes, committing an average of nine penalties a game and having a -4 turnover ratio.

Southwest Missouri State plays host to Indiana State Saturday. The Bears lead the series 6-3.