GAME 5: INDIANA STATE (2-2) at SOUTH DAKOTA (1-3)
When	Saturday, Oct. 5 | 2:05 p.m. CDT
Where	Vermillion, S.D. | DakotaDome (10,000)
Television	MidcoSN (Jay Elsen, Andre Fields, Elaina Lanson)
Watch Online	FREE webcast | ESPN+
Radio	Coyote Sports Network (Joe Van Goor, Gary Culver, John Thayer)
Live Stats	Live Stats
South Dakota Links	Game Notes | Roster | Schedule | Stats
Indiana State Links	Game Notes | Roster | Schedule | Stats
MVFC Links	MVFC Notes | Website | Stats
Social Media	Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Parking Information | A-Z Guide Football

Tickets
Yes, we still have tickets available! Our friends at Indiana State returned a portion of their allotment and those few tickets remain until they are gone. Buy them directly from the ticket office or online here.
 
Parking
The West grass lot and the South grass lot are not available today due to rain. General parking is still available in Lots 36, 14, 15, 24 and any USD parking lot south of Cherry Street. Check out this map for details.
 
The Game
It is the opening week of Missouri Valley Football Conference play and this one should be a dandy. It features two teams with high playoff expectations coming into 2019, and who need a 1-0 start to stay on course. It also continues a series that produced plenty of drama of late. The Coyotes won a 33-30 double-overtime game in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 2016. The Sycamores won 51-48 in triple overtime in Indiana last season. Sandwiched in between was a 56-6 Coyote victory inside the DakotaDome.
 
The Pageantry
Today is the 103^rd Dakota Days football game, which serves as homecoming for the Coyotes. The first took place in 1914. USD is 64-33-5 (.652) all-time on Dakota Days weekend and have won 14 of their last 18 homecoming contests. A year ago, it was a goal-line stand against then-No. 24 Missouri State that gave USD a 35-28 victory. This is the first time USD has hosted Indiana State on Dakota Days.
 
The Opponent
One of the many storylines of today's game involves Indiana State quarterbacks. Senior Ryan Boyle, the MVFC Newcomer of the Year in 2018 who accounted for seven touchdowns against the Coyotes last year, will miss the rest of 2019 with a torn ACL. That means redshirt sophomore Kurtis Wilderman is set to make his first collegiate start today. Wilderman doesn't have to be Boyle. He has talent at the skill positions and a big offensive line to assist him. Indeed, Indiana State is hoping Wilderman can help jump start a passing attack averaging 173 yards a contest.
 
The Coyotes
South Dakota is looking to put all phases together. It was all offense in a 53-52 loss to Houston Baptist last time inside the Dome, a game decided by a successful 2-point conversion in the final minutes. The Coyotes were all defense in besting Northern Colorado 14-6 two weeks ago in Colorado, limiting the Bears to 223 yards of offense. South Dakota is looking for its first home win of the year in its third try.
 
The Game Plan
Indiana State has averaged better than 200 yards on the ground behind a talented line and the emergence of junior Peterson Kerlegrand, who is averaging better than seven yards a carry and 95 yards per game. Wilderman won't be asked to make all the plays, just enough to move the chains and keep drives alive.
 
South Dakota would prefer a shootout behind the arm of quarterback Austin Simmons, but will have to do so against a defense that has allowed 13 points in its last two games and a total of 175 yards through the air. Simmons is the nation's ninth-leading passer at 302 yards a game.
 
The Defenses
Outside of a head-scratching loss to Dayton in its home opener back in week two, Indiana State has been solid at the expense of some poor offenses in recent weeks. The Sycamores are led by All-American linebacker Jonas Griffith, who led the league in tackles a year ago. The emergence of sidekick Clayton Glasco, who lines up next to him, has helped. Indiana State has 10 sacks and four interceptions through four games.
 
South Dakota is adjusting to a new defense that was burned through the air at times in its first appearances before bearing down against Northern Colorado. The return of junior cornerback Mark Collins Jr. to the starting lineup should provide a lift. This offense, unlike prior teams USD has faced, isn't as interested in tossing the ball around. Instead, USD will lean on a senior-laden defensive line led by two-time All-American end Darin Greenfield to bottle up a run-first offense and get them off schedule.
 
Final Thoughts…
Both teams are coming off bye weeks … Indiana State was 0-11 in 2017, its first season with Coach Curt Mallory, but finished 7-4 last year and probably should have been selected to compete in the FCS playoffs … the Sycamores were preseason No. 16 and were No. 14 before their loss to Dayton in week two … USD quarterback Austin Simmons stands 255 yards shy of 5,000 for his career … Darin Greenfield has produced a sack in three consecutive games … the two teams combined for 1,111 yards in last year's triple overtime contest in Terre Haute