The Game
South Dakota kicks off the fall campaign by taking on the Big 12's Kansas Jayhawks in a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday from Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas. It is the third-ever meeting between the two programs with the last coming back in 2013. South Dakota has played an FBS program every (non-COVID) year since 2010 and has wins against Minnesota (2010) and Bowling Green (2017) in that span.
 
If You Are Going…
Join USD fans and friends for a pregame tailgate from 2-6 p.m. in Parking Lot 90, which is located across the street from Allen Fieldhouse and next to the Student Rec Center. The physical address is 1501 Irving Hill Road in Lawrence and a map is here. Shuttles to the Stadium will be available. Tailgating is free to attend, but please RSVP here.
 
The Programs
South Dakota is entering its sixth year under head coach Bob Nielson, one of 13 active NCAA football coaches with 200 career victories. The Coyotes went 1-3 in four games this past spring and had another four games canceled due to COVID-19. USD played three of its four games on the road. The Coyotes last took the field back on March 20 in Youngstown, Ohio.
 
Kansas was 3-18 in two seasons under Les Miles including an 0-9 record in 2020. The Jayhawks have since turned the program over to UW-Whitewater legend Lance Leipold who led Buffalo's program following Whitewater and before joining Kansas. Leipold is 146-39 in 14 years as a head coach.
 
The Rushers
Kansas native Travis Theis is set to make his first collegiate start at running back for the Coyotes, a team that averaged just 80 yards on the ground during the four spring games. Leading rusher Kai Henry is the only USD starter who didn't return this fall so Theis along with second-year freshmen Shomari Lawrence and Mike Mansaray are set to carry the load behind five offensive linemen with starting experience.
 
Kansas hasn't announced a starting quarterback, but the three in contention can all factor into the run game. Velton Gardner and Daniel Hishaw combined for close to 600 yards and four scores last fall. The Jayhawks averaged 105 yards rushing last year, which ranked 116^th nationally.
 
The Passers
Carson Camp started all four games as a true freshman at USD last spring. He completed 82-of-130 passes for 967 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions. He added a rushing score in his collegiate debut, but 20 sacks weighed heavily into the team's rushing numbers. Camp has all-conference wide out Caleb Vander Esch and all-Valley tight end Brett Samson in his arsenal.
 
North Texas transfer Jason Bean is vying to be Kansas' opening-day starter along with freshman Jalon Daniels and senior Miles Kendrick who rotated at the position last fall. Super senior Kwamie Lassiter caught 43 passes for 458 yards and two scores out of the slot to lead Kansas in 2020. The Jayhawks surrendered 47 sacks in nine games a year ago.
 
The Defenses
All-Valley inside linebackers Jack Cochrane and Brock Mogensen are the focal points of coordinator Travis Johansen's 3-4 scheme. The Coyotes allowed 223 yards on the ground last spring, and with Kansas' desire to pound the rock, USD may use more 4-3 looks to counter the attack. Edge rusher Jacob Matthew has led USD in sacks and tackles-for-loss in each of the last two seasons. Cornerback Myles Harden was brilliant as a true freshman and led the nation in passes defended per game.
 
Kansas didn't fare any better in stopping the run last fall and surrendered 46 points per game as a result. Safety Kenny Logan Jr. returns as the team's leading tackler and had half of Kansas' four interceptions. Defensive end Kyron Johnson had three sacks and totaled 42 stops. Defensive coordinator Brian Borland spent 21 years at UW-Whitewater before following Leipold to Buffalo and Kansas.
 
One Last Thing
South Dakota returns to Vermillion and will host Northern Arizona next Saturday in its home opener. It will be the first game inside the newly renovated DakotaDome with no fan restrictions. Those renovations totaled $26 million and included two new entrances, a modern concourse and permanent seating on the west side of the facility. Tickets are available for the 1 p.m. kick by clicking here.