The Pregame
Coyote Alley is moving indoors this week to the Dakota Center across the street and next to Pizza Ranch. Join Coyote fans from 9:30-11:30 a.m. for a pregame party ahead of the noon kickoff inside the DakotaDome. A buffet, drink and $5 Fun Zone Card is available for free to the first 200 USD students and $12 for fans. A full bar with drinks is also available.
 
The Game
Sixth-ranked South Dakota (7-2, 5-1 MVFC) hosts 10^th-ranked North Dakota (6-3, 4-2 MVFC) in perhaps the most consequential regular season game to take place inside the DakotaDome. A South Dakota victory keeps the path to a top-eight national seed in the FCS playoffs alive. That seed includes a first-round bye and a home game in the round of 16. A loss would force a win at winless Western Illinois next week to avoid the proverbial playoff bubble.
 
The Coyotes
South Dakota's defense has carried the team to road wins at Indiana State (17-3) and Southern Illinois (14-7) in recent weeks and now the Coyotes hope that momentum will resonate throughout the units in a Senior Day contest in Vermillion.
 
Defense end Brendan Webb is the reigning Valley Defensive Player of the Week after registering four of South Dakota's six sacks in Illinois. Linebacker Brock Mogensen has made at least 12 tackles in three consecutive games. The defense has come up with an interception in back-to-back games.
 
Offensively, South Dakota hopes to return to the team that averaged 31 points in its first five games against FCS foes. That would mean back to balance in the run and passing games. Travis Theis ran for 106 yards at Indiana State, but has been limited to 29 and 38 yards over the last two weeks against stingy fronts. Carter Bell has two 100-yard games this year, but has totaled four catches for 42 yards over the last two games.
 
The Fighting Hawks
North Dakota has a lot to play for as well. A win Saturday would be a big resume boost for a program seeking its fourth FCS playoff berth in five seasons. The Fighting Hawks have a potent offense led by record-setting quarterback Tommy Schuster who threw five touchdowns last week and has 17 scoring strikes against two interceptions all season. North Dakota has averaged a remarkable 45 points in six wins this season. All three of their losses have come on the road at Boise State, South Dakota State and UNI, all formidable foes.
 
The defense has surrendered 33 points to Indiana State and 31 points to Murray State in recent weeks. It's led by familiar names in linebacker Wyatt Pedigo, lineman Ben McNaboe and cornerback C.J. Siegel who were quite effective in last year's 28-19 win against South Dakota up in Grand Forks.
 
One Last Thing
This is the 101^st meeting between the two former NCC rivals. The home team has won all eight matchups at the FCS level. Also, USD head coach Bob Nielson hired UND head coach Bubba Schweigert to be the coach at Minnesota Duluth following the 2003 season so there is a neat little history there. This is the sixth time they meet head-to-head in this rivalry.