University of South Dakota Athletics

GAME 1: SOUTH DAKOTA (8-5, 4-4 MVFC) at KANSAS STATE (8-5, 5-4 Big 12)
When	Saturday, Sept. 1 | 6:10 p.m. CDT
Where	Bill Snyder Family Stadium (50,000) | Manhattan, Kansas
Television	None
Watch Online	ESPN3/WatchESPN
Radio	Coyote Sports Network (Joe Van Goor, Gary Culver, John Thayer)
Live Stats	Live Stats
South Dakota Links	Game Notes | Roster | Schedule
KSU Links	Game Notes | Roster | Schedule
MVFC Links	MVFC Notes | Website
Social Media	Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Coyote Tailgate (starts at 3:30 p.m.)

The Game
For the fourth time in the last five years, South Dakota football is playing its season opener on the road against a Power 5 program. The Coyotes are back in Manhattan taking on Bill Snyder's Kansas State Wildcats in a rematch of the 2015 season opener won 34-0 by Kansas State. Tonight will mark the fifth matchup between the two programs dating back to 1980.
 
The difference between then and now, of course, is this version of the Coyotes, headed by coach Bob Nielson, are coming off their best season at the Division I level. USD won eight games last year, and advanced to the round of 16 in its first trip to the FCS playoffs. By comparison, the 2015 squad entered Manhattan with seven combined wins in its prior three seasons.
 
The Opponent
Expectations are always high for a Bill Snyder-coached team and this year is certainly no exception. The 78-year-old coach with his name on the stadium is now in his 27^th season with the Wildcats and he just signed a five-year extension. Kansas State won five of its last six games last season including a Cactus Bowl victory over UCLA to finish with the same record as USD – 8-5.
 
The main question mark for Kansas State entering 2018 is which quarterback will emerge between Alex Delton and Skylar Thompson. Both started four games a year ago and both are expected to see action against the Coyotes tonight.
 
Simmons takes the baton
There is no such quarterback controversy in Vermillion. Junior Austin Simmons has patiently waited for his opportunity and will make his first collegiate start tonight. That said, Coyote fans have seen him play a role in several wins the past two seasons. Most notably, he began the comeback against Weber State two years ago with a touchdown toss on fourth down. He also passed for 205 yards and two touchdowns in a win later that year against defending Valley champ Illinois State.
 
Senior class completes the circle
There are eight players on South Dakota's roster who made their collegiate debuts at Kansas State back in 2015. In fact, Nick Jensen started at left tackle as a redshirt freshman against the Wildcats. Michael Fredrick was the team's leading rusher in that game while Shamar Jackson returned kickoffs. Other Coyotes returning to Manhattan include Clay Fisher (LB), Alex Coker (LB), Isaac Armstead (CB), Tanner Anderson (OL) and Spencer Hopkins (DE).
 
Coyotes' Kansans
There are eight players on South Dakota's roster who hail from Kansas and several others who grew up less than four hours from Manhattan. Kansans expected to start for South Dakota tonight include cornerback Mark Collins Jr. and offensive linemen Cody Jennings and Tanner Anderson. Fellow lineman Tyler Ciurej and receiver Trystn Ducker grew up three hours away in Bellevue, Nebraska.
 
Only game this week…
South Dakota and Kansas State both return all five starters to their respectively offensive lines. KSU is one of five FBS programs whose five starters on the line combined to make all 65 starts last season.