CARBONDALE - Dale Lennon and coordinator Phil Longo have turned Southern Illinois University's offense into one big chameleon.

One successful, surprising, chameleon, and, one thing about chameleons. When they see prey, they focus both of their eyes on it, so don't expect the No. 9/10 Salukis to look past unranked South Dakota State today at McAndrew Stadium.

SIU (7-2 overall and 5-1 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference) has rushed for 1,624 yards and passed for 1,654 this season, and if they can choose correctly today, may still be in the race for the league title next weekend at Illinois State.

A win today against South Dakota State (6-4, 5-1) would set up a road game for the league title next week in Normal.

"We need to establish the run early," senior tailback Larry Warner said, revealing SIU's first goal every week. "We've formed an identity, and it's going to be up to them to come stop it."

With a first-year starting quarterback in redshirt sophomore Chris Dieker, the Salukis have made it tough to scout them with their options. Dieker has completed 55.9 percent of his passes (123 of 220) for 1,502 yards and 13 touchdowns. He hasn't had a 300-yard game yet, but has been efficient enough defenses can't seem to find a way to blitz him effectively two downs in a row.

With big receivers in Damian Sherman and Marc Cheatham, Dieker sometimes doesn't even need much on a pass to get it to them.

The run game has been a constant success, in more ways than one. The Salukis average 4.7 yards per carry, and have been able to use the run game three ways: to set up the pass, grind the clock and convert short-yardage situations.

Larry Warner continues to lead the league in all-purpose yardage, mostly because opposing teams can't simply circle him in their notes. Backups Richard White and Lucien Walker, two different backs, both average more than four yards a carry. White, a kind of go-between the 5-foot-5 Warner and the 6-foot Walker, is still shifty enough to make people miss. Walker, a 209-pound fullback, comes in to shift the speed of the backfield or on short-yardage situations.

"Teams can't just key on me, or the rest of the backs, because the receivers and Dieker are doing a great job, and Joe Allaria, stepping up as a receiver," Warner said. "We got a lot of weapons, and coach is doing a great job of using each and every one of 'em."

SDSU makes it a little simpler to prepare for. The Jackrabbits will, potentially, use a few more offensive formations than SIU, but present only two main problems. Quarterback Ryan Berry, who SIU must find a way to shake a little bit today to be successful, and tailback Kyle Minett, who averages 5.4 yards a carry.

"I think we're going to stick with the basics first, stop the run and make them pass, and then work toward stopping the pass," SIU defensive end Chance Coda said. "We gotta keep to what we know, and what our technique is, and how we run our defense."

Berry will test a secondary that has allowed more than 200 yards per game, on average, through the air this season. The senior quarterback threw for a league-record seven touchdowns last week, and has helped the Jackrabbits put up 144 points in their last three games. SDSU's last three opponents had a combined record of 6-22, but understand it scored on 19 of 20 possessions in the red zone and punted only seven times during those three games.

"You want to have first-down success," Lennon said. "You want to put them in situations where they're more predictable, as far as what they're doing. When they can be 50-50, and pretty much pick and choose whether they're going to run it or pass it, that's when they have the upper hand."

The weather could make it tough to pass today. Forecasters are calling for highs in the low 40s with wind gusts from 15-20 miles per hour and a 40-percent chance for rain. SIU's defense, the top unit against the run, hopes to turn into one that good against the pass today.

"We gotta be good at the zone blitzes and the pressure packages, and that's what we do," Lennon said. "Naturally, we're pretty confident there."

Coat drive: Today's game will have a coat drive for the A Gift of Love charity. Coats will be collected at the entrance gates of McAndrew Stadium and will directly benefit local children in need. Children and adult-sized coats will be accepted.

todd.hefferman@thesouthern.com / 351-5087

What: South Dakota State at No. 9/10 Southern Illinois.

Where: McAndrew Stadium (17,324)

When: Today, 2 p.m.

Records: SDSU is 6-4 overall and 5-1 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference; SIU is 7-2, 5-1.

Coaches: Dale Lennon (7-2 at SIU, 109-35 overall), John Stiegelemeier (74-55 at SDSU, 74-55 overall).

Radio: Saluki Radio Network (WVZA 92.7 FM, WRXX 95.3 FM, WEBQ 102.3 FM, WRUL 97.3 FM, KYRX 97.3 FM, WMOK 920 AM, WHCO 1230 AM, KSLG 1380 AM, WFFX 1490 AM (Mike Reis, Gene Green, Joel Sambursky).

Audio/Visual Webcast: www.siusalukis.com (Saluki All-Access).

Tickets: $8 for kids 3-years-old to high school age, $15 for adult general admission and $19 for adult reserved.

On thesouthern.com: Check out the Dawg Blog, where SIU beat writer Todd Hefferman will preview the game, share his thoughts at halftime and wrap it all up following the game.