VERMILLION, S.D. -- The University of South Dakota's head football coach, Ed Meierkort, has announced the Coyotes' 2009 football schedule as USD embarks on its second season of Division I FCS competition.

USD will not shy away from quality competition in 2009, as the schedule includes eight games against Division I FCS foes, including two that qualified for the postseason a year ago (Northern Iowa and Cal Poly).

"This program is moving forward at an accelerated pace, and if you look at the '08 schedule compared to '09, you can see it right away," Meierkort said. "We have some very good home games, including a big Dakota Days game with Cal-Davis. We're right where we need to be. It's time to get ourselves amped up and ready to go."

"With the challenges of finding nonconference games during the transition to Division I, we're pleased to have put together a competitive schedule in 2009," USD Director of Athletics Joel Nielsen said. "We're very excited about the eight FCS games on the schedule. To have a quality schedule against FCS teams in our second year of Division I is very important as we move forward."

The schedule includes five home games for USD and five games on the road. The Coyotes will also play all four Great West Conference schools in 2009: North Dakota, UC Davis, Southern Utah and Cal Poly. In addition, USD is also continuing discussions on adding one more additional game for 2009.

USD will open the 2009 campaign at home against first-time opponent William Penn on Sept. 3. The Statesmen, who compete in the Midwest League, finished 7-4 in 2008 and were ranked 28th in the NAIA postseason poll. William Penn is 26-29 in five seasons under Coach Todd Hafner.

The Coyotes will follow that contest with a road game at Northern Iowa of the Missouri Valley Conference on Sept. 12 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. UNI, a national semifinalist in 2008, finished 12-3 in 2008 and shared the Missouri Valley Conference title. USD battled tough before suffering a 24-13 loss a year ago at the UNI-Dome. The Panthers, who lost to Richmond (21-20) in the FCS national semifinals in 2008 are 75-28 under Coach Mark Farley and a perennial top 25 FCS program. Northern Iowa leads the all-time series, 22-16-1, including 10-6 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

The Coyotes return home on Sept. 19 to face Meierkort's former school, the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Meierkort served as head coach at UWS for 11 seasons before taking over at USD in 2004. The Blue Devils finished 5-5 overall in 2008, including 3-4 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Blue Devils are coached by Duey Naatz, who is 9-11 in his two seasons. Naatz was a long-time assistant coach at UW-Stout under Meierkort. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

On Sept 26, USD will face FCS opponent Southeastern Louisiana University of the Southland Conference at the DakotaDome. It will mark the second meeting between the two schools, as SELU won the 2008 meeting, 31-30, when the Coyotes fell inches short on a two-point conversion at the end of the game. SELU finished 5-7 a year ago. The Lions are 8-18 under Coach Mike Lucas.

The Coyotes' game at Oct. 3 at North Dakota (Grand Forks, N.D.) will mark the latest chapter in the rivalry between the two schools. UND has won the last two meetings by a combined seven points, including a 34-31 overtime thriller over the Coyotes in 2008 at the DakotaDome. It will also mark the Coyotes' first Great West Conference game of 2009. UND, which finished 6-4 in 2008 under first-year Coach Chris Mussman, finished tied for third in the GWC with the Coyotes in 2008. North Dakota and USD will meeting for the 91st time; UND leads the all-time series 57-28-5.

USD continues Great West Conference action on Saturday, Oct. 10 at home against UC-Davis. That contest will mark USD's annual Dakota Days game. The game will be the first meeting between the schools since 1986, when they faced each other in the NCAA Division II playoffs. UC Davis finished 5-7 a year ago, including 2-1 in the Great West Conference. Bob Biggs is entering his 17th year at UC Davis with a record of 124-61-1.

After the Dakota Days game against UC Davis, the Coyotes hit the road again to face Montana State of the Big Sky Conference in Bozeman, Mont., on Oct. 17. The Bobcats downed USD, 37-18 in last year's contest in Bozeman. It will be the second meeting ever between the two schools. Rob Ash is entering his third year as Montana State's head coach; he is 13-10 in two years at the school. The Coyotes stay on the road for an Oct. 31st game in Greeley, Colo., when they play at the University of Northern Colorado of the Big Sky Conference. It will mark the first meeting between the two former North Central Conference rivals since 2002. Northern Colorado leads the overall series 16-9. The Bears were 1-10 a year ago and are 3-31 under Coach Scott Downing, who will be entering his fourth year at the school.

USD returns to GWC play on Nov. 7 at home against Southern Utah. The Coyotes beat SUU, 42-20, for their first-ever win over an FCS foe on Nov. 15, 2008. It is the second meeting between the two teams. Ed Lamb is entering his second season as Southern Utah's head coach; he guided the Thunderbirds to a 4-7 mark last season.

The Coyotes conclude the season with a conference road game at Cal Poly on Nov. 14 in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Cal Poly beat the Coyotes, 49-22 a year ago. The Mustangs won the Great West Conference and qualified for the Division I FCS playoffs. The 2009 contest will be the second meeting between the two schools.

2009 USD Football Schedule Date Opponent Sept. 3 William Penn University Sept. 12 @ University of Northern Iowa Sept. 19 University of Wisconsin, Stout Sept. 26 Southeastern Louisiana University Oct. 3 @ University of North Dakota* Oct. 10 UC Davis (Dakota Days)* Oct. 17 @ Montana State University Oct. 31 @ University of Northern Colorado Nov. 7 Southern Utah University* Nov. 14 @ Cal Poly* Home games in bold *Great West Conference game Times TBA