By: Bryan Boettcher, USD Sports Information
Pregame
Check out the DJ at Coyote Alley starting at 11 a.m. and located directly east of the DakotaDome. Grab some food from the Hy-Vee pop-up or Q Holdings BBQ Truck. To make the game entrance process as seamless as possible, fans are encouraged to add their tickets to the Apple or Google Wallet in advance and enter the DakotaDome 30 minutes prior to kickoff to avoid lines.
The Game
The oldest State-U rivalry in the nation plays one of its most important games. No. 4 South Dakota and No. 1 South Dakota State meet in a 1 p.m. kick inside the DakotaDome. Winner, in addition to bragging rights, gets first place in the MVFC all to themselves with three game remaining.
South Dakota has won the last two meetings in Vermillion. South Dakota State won 28-3 in Brookings a year ago.
The Coyotes
South Dakota is 6-0 against FCS opponents and hasn't trailed in conference play. The Coyotes' lone loss was at Missouri in the season opener. A win Saturday would give the program its longest winning streak at the FCS level.
Four different running backs have led the team in rushing over the last four weeks. Quarterback
Aidan Bouman, receiver
Carter Bell and tight end
JJ Galbreath highlight the air attack. The defense, led by linebackers
Brock Mogensen and
Stephen Hillis, are second in the nation in points allowed to South Dakota State.
The Jackrabbits
South Dakota State is the defending national champion and winner of 21 consecutive games dating back to a season-opening loss at Iowa in 2022. The Jacks' top defensive player, linebacker Adam Bock, has missed almost the entire season, but rotated in last week and could get more snaps in this one. The offense is multi-faceted, but runs through Isaiah Davis, the leading rusher in the Valley who is averaging 7.4 yards every time he runs it. SDSU has averaged 35 points per game against Valley foes.
Interstate Series
The winner of Saturday's football game will secure two points for its respective athletic department towards the Interstate Series presented by First Interstate Bank. The Interstate Series is a yearlong competition between the two athletic departments.
One Last Thing
Don't leave early. You never know when you might miss something truly special:
