Parking Information |
A-Z Guide Football
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Tickets
There are no tickets available to purchase for today's game. It is officially a sellout.
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Showdown Series
This is the eighth year of the South Dakota Showdown Series presented by South Dakota Corn. The Showdown Series tracks head-to-head matchups between South Dakota State and South Dakota thoughout the academic year. The Coyotes currently lead this year's series 3.5-1.5. Today's game is worth two points.
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Feeding South Dakota is the philanthropic arm of the South Dakota Showdown Series, and both SDSU and USD are encouraging fans to "Get off the Bench" to help us fight hunger in our state. There are several ways you can donate meals to those in need:
- Go online to FeedingSouthDakota.org/Showdown and click "Donate Here"
- Donate cash into the red donation barrels located throughout the DakotaDome concourse, or at the Aramark concession stands. You can use your credit card to donate.
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The Tailgate Concert
Fans of all colors are invited to enjoy a concert held near the USD tennis courts on the east side of the DakotaDome. Jesse Becker, who played men's basketball at USD from 2005-09, and his band will perform for the crowd.
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The Game
Today marks the 114
th meeting in a series that dates back to 1889. South Dakota State is No. 5 in this week's rankings and will likely secure one of eight seeds in the FCS 24-team playoff with a win today. South Dakota, meanwhile, is seeking its second 4-4 finish inside the Valley in three years. The Coyotes are also trying to knock off a ranked opponent for the seventh consecutive season.
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The Jacks
SDSU could be without its two top rushers in Pierre Strong Jr. and C.J. Wilson and starting quarterback J'Bore Gibbs. That didn't matter much last week in a 38-7 thumping of UNI. That's because the Jacks boast one of the best defenses they've had statistically in recent seasons. Just one team, Youngstown State, has posted 400 yards of offense against them, and more than half of the Jacks' foes have failed to score more than 14 points.
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The Coyotes
South Dakota could be without leading rusher
Kai Henry, but is hopeful to have receivers
Dakarai Allen and
Kody Case back in the lineup for the Valley's leading passer,
Austin Simmons. Sophomore
Canaan Brooks has ran for a touchdown in three straight games, and
Ben Klett and true freshman
Travis Theis are ready for handoffs as well. Defensively, USD is led by middle linebacker
Jack Cochrane who needs six tackles to become the Coyotes' third 100-tackle performer since 2000.
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The Numbers of Simmons
USD quarterback
Austin Simmons ranks 13
th nationally in total offense at 294 yards per game. He needs six passing yards today to pass Hall of Famer Wesley Beschorner for second place on the Coyotes' all-time passing list, and three yards on the ground to reach 1,000 career yards rushing. Also, 38 completions would tie South Dakota's career mark of 603. Simmons can climb total offense and passing yard charts with a big game today.
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The Series
South Dakota and South Dakota State have met every seasons for the last 105 years except during World Wars I and II and from 2004-11 after SDSU made the jump to Division I. USD held a 48-34-7 lead in the series at the end of the 1990s, but the Jacks have won 21 of the last 24 games since 1990 to take their first lead in the series which now sits at 55-51-7. SDSU has won all seven matchups at the FCS level.
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One Last Thing…
It is Senior Day inside the DakotaDome. South Dakota and head coach
Bob Nielson will honor 10 seniors in a pregame ceremony. Each have been significant contributors to this Coyote program in recent seasons. In all, the class has won more games than any other that has competed inside the Missouri Valley Football Conference. They also contributed heavily to USD's 8-win campaign in 2017 that culminated with the program's first trip (and win) inside the FCS playoffs.
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