Jacks Travel to Illinois State for Key MVFC Matchup

October 1, 2026 Travis Kriens Local, Regional and National Sport stories

GAME 6: #2/2 South Dakota State (4-1, 1-0 MVFC) at #10/11 Illinois State (4-1, 0-1)
 When  Saturday, Oct. 3 | 6 p.m. Central
 Where  Hancock Stadium | Normal, Illinois
 TV  ESPN+
 Radio  Jackrabbits All Access (free audio) | Jackrabbit Sports Network
 Live Stats  GoJacksLive.com
 Game Notes  SDSU | Illinois State | Missouri Valley Football Conference
 Social Media  Twitter | Facebook | #GoJacks

The South Dakota State football team returns to Missouri Valley Football Conference action by facing a highly ranked opponent for the second time in as many league games this season, traveling Saturday for a matchup at Illinois State.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois. The game will be televised exclusively on the ESPN+ streaming platform.

The Jackrabbits, who are ranked second among Football Championship Subdivision teams in both the Stats Perform media poll and by the American Football CoachesAssocation, enter the matchup with a 4-1 overall record and a 1-0 mark in the MVFC. SDSU, which defeated then-No. 9 Youngstown State, 27-20, in the league opener Sept. 19, closed out nonconference play with a 42-7 home victory over Eastern Illinois last week.

Illinois State, meanwhile, dropped in the FCS rankings after suffering a 28-21 upset loss at Northern Iowa in the teams’ league opener last week. The Redbirds, who also are 4-1 overall, check in at No. 10 in the media poll and 11th in the coaches’ rankings this week.

THE SERIES: Saturday’s game marks the 14th meeting on the gridiron between SDSU and Illinois State, a series that dates back to when the Jackrabbits joined the Missouri Valley Football Conference at the start of the 2008 season. SDSU holds a 7-6 lead in the series, with the longest winning streak by either program consisting of three games by Illinois State from 2010-14.

The Jackrabbits have been victorious in each of their last two trips to Hancock Stadium, notching a 38-28 victory in 2018, followed by a 40-21 road win during the 2023 series. Conversely, Illinois State has been the victor in two of its last three visits to SDSU’s Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, including posting a 35-21 win in the most recent matchup on Nov. 15, 2025.

In last year’s meeting, Illinois State capitalized on a number of early Jackrabbit mistakes to race out to a 35-0 lead in the first 20 minutes of the contest. Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse tossed three touchdown passes to Daniel Sobkowicz and ran for another score to lead the Redbirds.

RANKINGS STREAK: The South Dakota State football team began the 2026 season in a familiar spot with a high ranking in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Poll. After holding either the second or third spot in the first six polls of 2026, the Jacks have now appeared in the top 25 of 195 consecutive Stats Perform polls dating back to October 2012.

The Jackrabbits held the top spot in 29 consecutive polls from Oct. 17, 2022, until relinquishing the top spot following their regular season loss at North Dakota State on Oct. 19, 2024.

CAPTAINS: Leading the Jackrabbit football team are six captains:

Christensen, Green and Mason are each in their second seasons as team captains while Kuntz, Ripperda and Van Tol are in their first seasons in the leadership role.

YEAR 23 IN FCS: The 2026 season marks the 23rd year South Dakota State has competed in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Since joining the Division I ranks in 2004, the Jackrabbits have compiled a 197-88 record (.691 winning percentage).

In the decade of the 2020s, SDSU has put together a 73-16 record, which is good for an .820 winning percentage.

ELITE COMPANY: With 14 consecutive appearances in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, South Dakota State enters the 2026 season tied for the third-longest all-time streak since the subdivision was formed in 1978.

Overall, the Jackrabbits have qualified for the FCS playoffs 15 times, with the first berth coming in 2009 and followed by the current streak that began in 2012. SDSU has compiled a 25-13 record in FCS playoff games, winning back-to-back national championships in 2022 and 2023 after a runner-up finish during the 2020-21 spring season.

In addition, the Jackrabbits advanced to the semifinal round in 2017, 2018, 2021 (fall) and 2024.

Montana holds the all-time FCS consecutive playoff streak with 17 consecutive appearances from 1993-2009. North Dakota State moved its streak to 16 seasons in 2025 before departing for the Football Bowl Subdivision and the Mountain West Conference this past offseason. SDSU’s 14 consecutive appearances match New Hampshire’s run from 2004-17.

MVFC HISTORY: The 2025 season marked South Dakota State’s 18th as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Since joining the league in 2008, SDSU is the only program in that span to not have a losing season in conference play.

The Jackrabbits hold a 104-39 record (.727 winning percentage) in MVFC games and have won six or more league games 10 times. SDSU has claimed five league titles (2016, 2020-21, 2022, 2023, 2024) in the past 10 seasons.

SDSU compiled a 23-1 record in league play between the 2022-24 seasons and put together a 19-game league winning streak from November 2021 until October 2024.

Despite all their success in league play, the Jackrabbits have had mixed results in MVFC openers, turning in a 12-7 mark in their initial league game over the past 19 seasons. However, the Jackrabbits have won eight league openers in a row, including their back-to-back one-score wins against Youngstown State (35-30 and 27-20) to begin MVFC play in 2025 and 2026.

LEAGUE FAVORITES: South Dakota State has been picked to return to the top of the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2026, according to a preseason poll announced in conjunction with the league’s annual Media Day in mid-July.

The Jackrabbits received 28 of 36 first-place votes and tallied 312 points to out-distance Illinois State for the top spot in the nine-team poll, which was conducted among the league’s head coaches, sports information directors and a select media panel. The Redbirds, who advanced to the Football Championship Subdivision national title game last season, tallied three first-place votes and 256 points, while Youngstown State was third with 235 points.

In all, five teams received first-place votes. North Dakota and South Dakota each received two first-place votes to finish fourth and fifth with respective totals of 211 and 196 points, while Southern Illinois claimed the other first-place vote to place sixth with 186 points.

Northern Iowa (99 points), Indiana State (80) and Murray State (45) completed the poll.

In addition, 19 Jackrabbit student-athletes were recognized as MVFC Players to Watch. A full listing follows:
QB: Chase Mason
RB: Ramon McKinney Jr.
WR: Grahm Goering, Lofton O’Groske
TE: Greyton Gannon, Coleman Kuntz
OL: Quinten Christensen, Shane Willenbring
DL: Logan Green, Reis Kirschenman, Dawson Ripperda, Jace Sifore, Carter Sitzman
LB: Cullen McShane, Chase Van Tol
DB: Ife Current, Noah St-Juste
P: Max Pelham
RS/APB: Jack Smith

PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS: Led by first-team selection Quinten Christensen on the offensive line, six South Dakota State football players were recognized on the 2026 Stats Perform Football Championship Subdivision Preseason All-America Team.

A senior-to-be from Wessington Springs, Christensen received his first-team nod after a 2025 campaign in which he started all 14 games at left tackle and earned second-team All-America honors from Stats Perform, as well as first-team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference accolades. With Christensen in the lineup, the Jackrabbits averaged 28.6 points per game and topped the 200-yard mark for rushing five times.

Four Jackrabbits were named to the preseason All-America second team, including a pair of defensive stalwarts in defensive end Dawson Ripperda and linebacker Cullen McShane.

Ripperda, a senior from Larchwood, Iowa, ranked second on the team in both tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (5.0) during the 2025 season. He registered a total of 43 tackles and forced and recovered a pair of fumbles.

McShane ranked second on the squad with 88 total tackles a season ago and recorded double figures in tackles three times. A senior from Marquette, Iowa, he also posted 7.5 tackles for loss and forced a fumble while earning second-team all-MVFC honors.

Representing the South Dakota State offense on the second team was wide receiver Lofton O’Groske. A junior from Coon Rapids, Minnesota, O’Groske was the team’s top receiving target during nonconference play before missing the second half of the season due to injury. He tallied 27 receptions for 355 yards and four touchdowns in six games, highlighted by a 12-catch, two-touchdown performance in a double-overtime win at eventual national champion Montana State.

Completing the Jackrabbits’ list of second-team honorees was senior punter Max Pelham. The Ankeny, Iowa, native averaged 47.2 yards on 42 punts in 2025, with 18 of his attempts traveling 50 or more yards. Pelham was a first-team all-MVFC selection and an All-America selection by both the American Football Coaches Association (first team) and Associated Press (honorable mention) a season ago.

Tight end Greyton Gannon rounded out SDSU’s six overall selections with third-team honors. A senior from Eagle, Wisconsin, Gannon tied for third on the Jackrabbits with 33 receptions to go along with 372 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He also was a first-team all-MVFC selection and an honorable mention All-America pick by the Associated Press.

The Jackrabbits’ six honorees were the second most, trailing defending national champion Montana State’s eight picks.

MASON ON PAYTON AWARD LIST: South Dakota State quarterback Chase Mason was one of 30 players named to the initial watch list for the Walter Payton Award, which is presented annually by Stats Perform to the top offensive performer in the Football Championship Subdivision.

A senior from Hurley, Mason in his second season as the Jackrabbits’ starting quarterback in 2026. Limited to nine games in 2025 due to injury, Mason led SDSU to an 8-1 record in his starts and accounted for 21 touchdowns — 15 passing and six rushing. He also completed 64.9 percent (146-of-225) of his passes for 2,005 yards.

Currently sidelined by an injury suffered late in the first half against Youngstown State on Sept. 19, Mason has completed 49-of-89 passes (55.1 percent) for 834 yards with four touchdowns and one interception through four games. His 23 completions and 48 pass attempts Sept. 5 at Northwestern were both single-game career highs, while his three touchdown passes Sept. 12 against New Haven marked the fourth time in his career he has pulled off that trifecta, tying a single-game career best.

Mason finished the game against New Haven by completing his final eight attempts in a 12-for-18 passing performance. All eight of those completions covered at least 11 yards and resulted in first downs, including all three of his touchdowns.

A dual threat, he also ran for touchdowns in each of the last two games — scoring on a 1-yard quarterback sneak versus New Haven and an 18-yard run up the middle against Youngstown State.

The Walter Payton Award celebrates its 40th anniversary this season. Former SDSU quarterback Mark Gronowski was the award winner in 2023.

McSHANE RANKS AMONG BEST ON DEFENSE: South Dakota State linebacker Cullen McShane was named over the summer to the initial watch list for the Stats Perform FCS Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented annually to the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision.

A senior from Marquette, Iowa, McShane was one of 30 players to receive mention on the watch list, which will be updated periodically throughout the 2026 campaign. The 32nd winner of the award will be determined by a media panel and will be announced leading up to the FCS national championship game in January.

McShane is coming off a 2025 season in which he ranked second on the Jackrabbits’ squad with 88 total tackles. He added 7.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble en route to being named to the all-Missouri Valley Football Conference Second Team.

After not factoring in any statistics in limited action in the Aug. 29 opener against Stetson, McShane has tallied 14 tackles and a team-best two sacks over the last four games. He registered a season-high four tackles, including a sack, in the Sept. 5 game at Northwestern, and recorded his second sack as part of a three-tackle performance Sept. 19 against Youngstown State.

PELHAM INCLUDED IN PUNTING WATCH LIST:  South Dakota State punter Max Pelham was recently named as one of 14 players included on the preseason watch list for the 2026 FCS Punter of the Year Award. The award is presented annually by the Augusta Sports Council.

A graduate student from Ankeny, Iowa, Pelham was a semifinalist for the award in 2025, when he averaged 47.2 yards on 42 punts, with 18 of his attempts traveling 50 or more yards. He was a first-team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection and an All-America selection by both the American Football Coaches Association (first team) and Associated Press (honorable mention) a season ago.

In the Aug. 29 opener against Stetson, Pelham’s second punt of the night was a career-long 69-yarder. In five games so far this season, he has punted a total of 14 times for an average of 47.4 yards. Five of his punts have traveled 50 or more yards and six have pinned the opposition inside its own 20-yard line.

The award winner will be determined by the FCS Punter of the Year Award national voting body, which consists of FCS sports information directors and national sports writers. The award winner is scheduled to be announced Dec. 14.

JOHNSON EARNS MVFC, NATIONAL HONORS: South Dakota State running back Josiah Johnson received recognition on a pair of levels, earning conference and national offensive player of the week awards after helping lead the second-ranked Jackrabbits to a 27-20 victory over Youngstown State on Sept. 19.

A sophomore from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Johnson earned Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors after carrying 30 times for a career- high 238 yards and two touchdowns as SDSU opened league play with a home victory against the ninth-ranked Penguins. He scored on a 4-yard run on the opening drive of the game, then added a 16-yard touchdown run on the Jackrabbits’ first offensive possession of the second half.

In addition, Johnson was selected as the Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week after becoming the first Jackrabbit to rush for 200-plus yards since Isaiah Davis ran for 217 yards against UC Davis in a 2021 FCS playoff game. Johnson tallied seven different runs of at least 12 yards versus Youngstown State, including a career-long 39-yarder on SDSU’s first offensive play of the third quarter.

Prior to his Sept. 19 outburst, Johnson’s previous single-game career high for rushing yards was 79 yards in the Sept. 5 loss at Northwestern. His outing marked the 15th time a Jackrabbit running back topped the 200-yard mark in a Division I game and only the sixth time against a league opponent.

Johnson’s performance against Youngstown State vaulted him into the top 10 among Football Championship Subdivision running backs in three different categories so far this season. After rushing for 121 yards and two more touchdowns last week against Eastern Illinois, he heads into this weekend’s matchup against Illinois State ranked fifth in rushing touchdowns (7), seventh in total rushing yards (549) and ninth in rushing yards per game (109.8).

BIG-PLAY JACKS: South Dakota State recorded 10 offensive plays of 20 or more yards, including six that resulted in touchdowns, in the Aug. 29 season opener against Stetson. In addition, the Jackrabbits turned in a pair of returns that chewed up another 65 (punt return for touchdown by freshman Alex Uchtman) and 46 (kickoff return by Ramon McKinney Jr.) yards.

In all, the Jackrabbits finished with 628 yards — 393 rushing, 235 passing — of total offense, marking the team’s highest total in a game since racking up 656 yards at Southern Illinois in 2018. SDSU averaged 11.2 yards per play versus Stetson.

The long offensive scoring plays against Stetson included:

Holst’s touchdown pass to Dulaney was the only pass attempt by the Jackrabbits in the entire second half.

SDSU matched that big-play output Sept. 12 against New Haven with 10 more 20-yard plays, including six that resulted in scores. Jackrabbit tight ends accounted for three of the touchdowns as Coleman Kuntz scored on 25-yard pass play in the second quarter, while Greyton Gannon later tallied touchdown receptions of 24 and 29 yards.

Reserve running back James Basinger added scoring runs of 27 and 55 yards in the second half, building off Ramon McKinney’s 22-yard touchdown run in the front half.

In four games this season, the Jackrabbits have a total of 37 plays of 20-plus yards, plus four returns of 30 or more yards. SDSU tallied nine chunk plays last week versus Eastern Illinois, including touchdown runs of 39 and 48 yards by Basinger, as well as respective rushing touchdowns measuring 61 and 55 yards in the second half by Blair and Johnson.

GROUND AND POUND: South Dakota State enters this week’s matchup against Illinois State leading the Football Championship Subdivision in both rushing offense and total offense.

After topping the 400-yard mark for rushing in a game for the first time in two seasons with 408 yards Sept. 26 against Eastern Illinois, the Jackrabbits are now averaging a subdivision-best 302.4 yards per game on the ground. SDSU has used a committee of running backs to get to that mark, led by Josiah Johnson’s 549 rushing yards (109.8 yards per game).

Reserve running back James Basinger is averaging 13.0 yards per carry, gaining 311 yards on only 24 carries, while Corey Blair Jr. has picked up 274 yards. As a team, the Jackrabbits have averaged 6.8 yards per rushing attempt thus far in 2026.

Through five games, the Jackrabbits also are averaging an FCS-best 526 yards of total offense per game and rank third in scoring offense at 42.8 points per game. In addition, SDSU leads the FCS with 128 first downs on offense, an average of 25.6 per contest.

BALANCE ON OFFENSE: South Dakota State achieved a exact 50-50 split between rushing and passing in its Sept. 12 matchup against New Haven. The Jackrabbits rushed and passed for 256 yards each for a total of 512 yards. SDSU ran 68 offensive plays — 46 rushing and 22 passing — and held the ball for 33 minutes and 43 seconds.

For the season, the Jackrabbits have rushed for 1,512 yards and passed for another 1,118.

LEADOFF HOME RUNS: Jack Smith’s 73-yard catch and run for the Jackrabbits’ first touchdown of the season marked the second time in his career he scored on the team’s initial offensive play of the game.

A sophomore from Sioux Falls, Smith also found the end zone from 75 yards on a rushing play to open the Interstate Series rivalry game at South Dakota on Nov. 8, 2025.

In addition, Corey Blair Jr.’s 52-yard touchdown run against Stetson came on the first play of the second half.

HOLST AT THE HELM: With Chase Mason currently sidelined by injury, junior transfer Josh Holst is expected to make his second start at quarterback for SDSU this week.

Holst made his first start as a Jackrabbit Sept. 26 against Eastern Illinois, completing 11-of-22 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown in a 42-7 SDSU victory.  Overall, Holst has played in four games and completed 15-of-34 passes (44.1 percent) for 270 yards and two touchdowns. His first pass as a Jackrabbit resulted in a 78-yard touchdown to Landon Dulaney in the Aug. 29 season opener against Stetson and ranks as the team’s longest offensive play so far this season.

A native of Marengo, Illinois, Holst has previous collegiate starting experience while playing at Northern Illinois from 2023-25, where he was mentored by current SDSU offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Eric Eidsness. One of his three starts during the 2024 campaign came in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, a game in which he earned MVP honors after completing 18-of-30 passes for 182 yards and touchdowns, as well as rushing 16 times for 65 yards and catching a pass for a 2-point conversion.

Holst is the fourth different Jackrabbit to start a game at quarterback in Dan Jackson‘s two-year tenure as head coach. Mason has started a total of 13 games, with Jack Henry starting the final three games of the 2025 regular season after Luke Marble earned the start in two regular season games a year ago.

GOERING HITS HIS STRIDE: In the first half of the 2026 season, Jackrabbit wide receiver Grahm Goering has picked up where he left off in 2025.

Granted a sixth season of eligibility, Goering currently leads the Jackrabbits with 16 receptions and 293 receiving yards through the first five games of 2026, including recording a career-high nine receptions for 117 yards Sept. 5 at Northwestern. His lone catch last week against Eastern Illinois covered 10 yards.

Over his last eight games, dating back to the 2025 regular season finale at North Dakota, Goering has caught 28 passes for 533 yards and two touchdowns. His 23-yard touchdown in overtime last Nov. 22 at North Dakota sent the Jackrabbits to the playoffs. He then opened postseason play with six catches for 75 yards against New Hampshire, followed by four receptions for a career-best 137 yards at Montana that included a school-record 95-yard touchdown catch and run in the opening quarter.

For his career, Goering has tallied 97 catches for 1,480 yards and seven touchdowns.

100-YARD TANDEMS: For the second time this season, two South Dakota State backs topped the 100-yard mark for rushing in the same game during the Jackrabbits’ 42-7 victory over Eastern Illinois on Sept. 26. In that contest, Josiah Johnson carried 14 times for 121 yards, while James Basinger racked up 116 yards on only nine carries.

Basinger (110 yards) also was part of a 100-yard tandem in the Aug. 29 season opener versus Stetson. Corey Blair Jr. (107) was the other Jackrabbit to reach the century mark, with both needed only eight carries to reach the mark.

Prior to the 2026 season opener, the last SDSU tandem of 100-yard rushers were Isaiah Davis (117) and Amar Johnson (107) against Mercer in the second round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs Dec. 2, 2023, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. It was the third — and final time — the pair accomplished the feat together.

Overall, the Jackrabbits have had two or more 100-yard rushers in the same game 14 times in the Division I era (since 2004), of which four of the performances have taken place in Football Championship Subdivision playoff games (*) . A full listing follows:
•        Oct. 22, 2005 vs. Missouri-Rolla: Cory Koenig (184), Trevor Hohn (161), Anthony Watson (117);
•        Nov. 4, 2006 vs. William Penn: Anthony Watson (159), Trevor Hohn (105);
•        *Nov. 24, 2012 vs. Eastern Illinois: Zach Zenner (295), Reggie Gandy (151);
•        Nov. 12, 2016 vs. South Dakota: Brady Mengarelli (161), Isaac Wallace (102);
•        Sept. 14, 2019 vs. Drake: Pierre Strong Jr. (129), C.J. Wilson (117);
•        March 6, 2021 vs. Western Illinois: Mark Gronowski (120), Isaiah Davis (118);
•        March 20, 2021 at  Southern Illinois: Isaiah Davis (150), Mark Gronowski (103);
•        Sept. 11, 2021 vs. Lindenwood: Pierre Strong Jr. (110), Amar Johnson (105);
•        *Nov. 27, 2021 vs. UC Davis: Isaiah Davis (217), Pierre Strong Jr. (185);
•        *Jan. 8, 2023 vs. North Dakota State: Amar Johnson (126), Isaiah Davis (103);
•        Oct. 7, 2023 at Illinois State: Isaiah Davis (197), Amar Johnson (106);
•        *Dec. 2, 2023 vs. Mercer: Isaiah Davis (117), Amar Johnson (107);
•        Aug. 29, 2026 vs. Stetson: James Basinger (110), Corey Blair Jr. (107).
•        Sept. 26, 2026 vs. Eastern Illinois: Josiah Johnson (121), James Basinger (116).

MR. EFFICIENCY: South Dakota State tight end/fullback Andrew Gustad has produced every time has been called the last two seasons.

A senior from Volin, South Dakota, Gustad has either gained a first down or scored a touchdown on all nine of his offensive touches since the start of the 2025 season. Last year, e picked up a first down on all five of his short-yardage rushing attempts for a total of 14 yards and scored touchdowns on each of his three receptions.

Gustad recorded his first touch of the 2026 season Sept. 19 against Youngstown State, when he picked up first down on a career-long 7-yard carry on the opening drive of the game.

DEPTH ON DEFENSE: A total of 32 different Jackrabbit defenders registered at least one tackle in the Aug. 29 season opener versus Stetson. Max Stanard paced the SDSU defense with a career-high six tackles. Luke Krempges, Matt Goehring and Liam Shaw were each credited with five tackles to also set or match previous career highs.

For the season, 45 defenders have registered at least one stop.

PILING UP THE POINTS: South Dakota State reached the 70-point mark for the third time in the program’s FCS history (since 2004) in the Aug. 29 season opener versus Stetson. The 70-7 score matched a victory over another Pioneer Football League team, Drake, on Sept. 16, 2023, in a game played at Target Field in Minneapolis.

The Jackrabbits’ single-game scoring record is 90, which was posted in a 90-6 home victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 15, 2018.

In addition, SDSU crossed the 50-point threshold for the second time this season and 33rd time in the FCS era with its 57-14 victory over New Haven on Sept. 12.

SECOND-QUARTER DOMINATION: South Dakota State reeled off 33 points in the second quarter of its Sept. 12 Beef Bowl victory over New Haven, continuing an early trend of carrying the momentum into halftime. SDSU’s second-quarter outburst versus New Haven marked the most points in any quarter by a Jackrabbit team since a 35-point second quarter in an Oct. 2, 2021, home game against Dixie State (now known as Utah Tech).

Through five games, the Jackrabbits have outscored their opponents by a 77-20 margin in the second quarter.

GOING THE DISTANCE: South Dakota State embarked on a nine-play, 99-yard touchdown drive as part of its 33-point second quarter versus New Haven on Sept. 12. That marked the first drive of that maximum length by a Jackrabbit team since Mark Gronowski capped a six-play, 99-yard drive with a 67-yard touchdown run in a Football Championship Subdivision playoff game against Southern Illinois on May 2, 2021.

THE 12TH MAN: South Dakota State has benefited from large crowds coming off the program’s back-to-back national championships. In 2023, the Jackrabbits averaged 18,208 fans for regular season games, followed by another record-setting year in 2024 with an average attendance of 18,504 over six regular season home games.

Since the start of the 2023 season, 16 games have been sellouts, including three of the first four home games in 2026. The attendance surge started when 19,332 fans came out for the for Sept. 9, 2023, showdown against Montana State. The crowd played a big role in the game, helping factor in nine false-start penalties by Montana State, including six in the final quarter.

The 2023 Dakota Marker game against North Dakota State, which was a rematch from the 2022 FCS national championship game, drew a then-record 19,431 fans.

SDSU also set program playoff attendance records in all three postseason games it hosted in 2023, highlighted by a crowd of 12,265 in the semifinals against UAlbany.

Large crowds continued to fill Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in 2024 as the first four Jackrabbit home games of season were sellouts and rank in the top nine for most-attended games in facility history.

Following suit, the first five home games of the 2025 season were announced as sellouts, with 19,163 fans filling the stadium for the Aug. 30 opener against Sacramento State. That came two nights after a crowd of about 22,000 attended the Jacks Bash 3 concert featuring country music stars Ty Myers, Thomas Rhett and Blake Shelton.

A stadium-record crowd of 19,477 filed into the stadium for the Oct. 25 Dakota Marker matchup against North Dakota State in a game that pitted the two top-ranked teams in the FCS. That helped SDSU attain an average attendance of 16,278 in 2025.

During the Sept. 12 game against New Haven, the 1-millionth fan for Jackrabbit football games played at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium came through the turnstiles. SDSU has averaged 13,043 fans for the 80 Jackrabbit football games played at the venue.

DANA J. DYKHOUSE STADIUM: Jackrabbit football moved into a new home in September of 2016 with the completion of Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

The stadium, which was constructed in phases on the site of SDSU’s previous home field, Coughlin-Alumni Stadium, seats 19,340 spectators and cost $65 million to build.

Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium is being funded through private gifts and long-term revenue streams, including concessions and suite, loge box and ticket sales. Bonds are financing nearly two-thirds of the project’s construction, with the remaining dollars coming from private support. Lead gifts totaling $12.5 million from former Jackrabbit football player and Sioux Falls banker Dana Dykhouse and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford were announced in October 2013.

The stadium officially opened Sept. 8, 2016, featuring a concert by country music stars Luke Bryan, Little Big Town and Lee Brice as part of the Jacks Bash opening weekend. The first football game was two days later, on Sept. 10, when the Jacks defeated Drake, 56-28.

SDSU has gone on to post a 70-10 record (.875 winning percentage) at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium during its 11 seasons of operation, including a 17-1 mark in FCS playoff games.

The Jacks put together a 33-game home winning streak (including playoff games) that started with a 27-19 victory over North Dakota State on Nov. 6, 2021, and ended with a loss to the rival Bison on Oct. 25, 2025.

In 2024, the Jacks completed their fifth undefeated season while playing at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, compiling an 8-0 record. SDSU previously posted perfect home records in 2018 (7-0), the 2020-21 spring season (5-0) and both 2022 and 2023 (9-0).

Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium was designed by Kansas City-based Crawford Architects, with the construction firm JE Dunn serving as the project manager at risk and Henry Carlson Company of Sioux Falls serving as general contractor.

New artificial turf was installed this past spring in preparation for the 2026 season.

WORKING OVERTIME: For the first time in program history, the Jackrabbit football team in 2025 won a pair of games decided in overtime in the same season.

The first SDSU victory in an extra session came in a Sept. 6 matchup at Montana State. After both teams scored touchdowns in the first overtime, Jackrabbit tight end Brayden Delahoyde hauled in a 25-yard touchdown on the first play of the second extra session to give SDSU a 30-24 lead.

The Jackrabbit defense then stopped Montana State on a fourth-down play inside the SDSU 5-yard line to hand the Bobcats their only loss to an FCS opponent before going on to win the national championship.

In SDSU’s second overtime contest, wide receiver Grahm Goering made a leaping catch off a pass from a scrambling Jack Henry for a 23-yard walk-off touchdown for a 34-31 victory at North Dakota that sent the Jacks into the postseason.

The Jackrabbits are now 8-6 all-time in overtime games.

JACKS IN THE PROS: Nearing the start of the 2026 National Football League season, more than a dozen former South Dakota State standouts were in National Football League training camps this summer, continuing the Jackrabbits’ long tradition of developing players into pro prospects.

Headlining the list are a pair of tight ends — Dallas Goedert of the Philadelphia Eagles and Tucker Kraft of the Green Bay Packers.

After being selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Goedert has gone on to record 414 receptions for 4,757 yards and 37 touchdowns in nine seasons. He won a Super Bowl ring with the Eagles during the 2024 season and followed that in 2025 with career highs of 60 receptions and 11 touchdowns while tallying 591 receiving yards.

Goedert got off to a strong start to the 2026 season by catching four passes for 77 yards, including touchdowns of 17 and 43 yards in the Eagles’ victory over Washington on Sept. 13, but was injured a week later after catching one pass (4 yards) at Tennessee.

Kraft put together a breakthrough second season with the Packers in 2024 and was on a pace to exceed that output with 32 receptions, 489 yards and six touchdowns before suffering a season-ending injury midway through the 2025 campaign. A third-round draft choice of Green Bay in 2023, Kraft has career totals of 122 receptions, 1,657 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns in four professional seasons.

In two games thus far during the 2026 season, Kraft has nine catches for 106 yards, but has yet to catch a touchdown pass..

Linebacker Christian Rozeboom earned a Super Bowl ring with the Los Angeles Rams during the 2021 season and is now in his first season as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rozeboom has notched back-to-back 100-tackle seasons, registering 135 stops with the Rams in 2024 and a team-best 122 tackles last season for Carolina.

Rozeboom was credited with his first three tackles of the season Sept. 27 versus Minnesota.

SDSU had two players selected in the NFL Draft in 2024 when Mason McCormick was taken in the fourth round by Pittsburgh and Isaiah Davis was a fifth-round pick of the New York Jets. McCormick has settled into a starting role at offensive guard with the Steelers, while Davis has seen spot duty for the Jets as a running back and kick returner as he enters his third season.

Another member of the Jackrabbits’ back-to-back national championship teams in the NFL is linebacker Isaiah Stalbird, who is in his third year with the New Orleans Saints. Stalbird is coming off a 2025 season in which he recorded 25 total tackles while serving in a reserve role at linebacker and as a key contributor on special teams. He registered three stops in the Saints’ Sept. 13 season opener at Detroit, then added one tackle a week later in a win over the Baltimore Ravens.

Earning an roster spot out of training camp for the first time was offensive lineman Sam Hagen, who is in his rookie season with the Houston Texans.

Other former Jackrabbit standouts with previous professional experience who were in training camps this fall included quarterback Chris Oladokun (Kansas City), running back Pierre Strong Jr. (Green Bay), running back Amar Johnson (Los Angeles Chargers) and Dalys Beanum (New Orleans Saints).

More recent Jackrabbit additions to the professional ranks were  quarterback Mark Gronowski (Miami) and offensive lineman Evan Beerntsen (Baltimore). Both Gronowski (Iowa) and Beerntsen (Northwestern) played their final collegiate seasons elsewhere in 2025 after previously earning All-America honors at SDSU and playing key roles on SDSU’s back-to-back national championship teams in 2022 and 2023.

Leading the list of Jackrabbit pro football alumni are Hall of Famers Jim Langer and Adam Vinatieri, both of whom are among the 23 undrafted players to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio. Vinatieri was a member of the 2026 Hall of Fame class.

Langer who played football at SDSU from 1967-69 and also was an All-American in baseball, played center on every offensive down during the Miami Dolphins’ perfect season in 1972. He was a first-team All-Pro four times and was selected to play in six Pro Bowl games. He played in three Super Bowl games with the Dolphins from 1970-79 before finishing his career with the Minnesota Vikings from 1980-81. Langer passed away in September 2019.

Vinatieri wrapped up his playing career after becoming the NFL’s all-time scoring leader in 2018 as a member of the Indianapolis Colts. Over Vinatieri’s 24 seasons from 1996-2019, his totals include NFL bests of 599-of-715 on field goal attempts, 83.8 percent, and 2,673 career points. He also ranks second in career extra points with 874.

In all, Vinatieri set 15 NFL records, including 21 100-point seasons.

DAN JACKSON SHOW: The Dan Jackson Show airs throughout the 2026 season.

The weekly, hour-long show originates in front of a live audience at 6 p.m. Mondays at Cubby’s Sports Bar and Grill in downtown Brookings. Hosted by Tyler Merriam, the show airs along the Jackrabbit Sports Network, including flagship station WNAX 570 AM, and can be heard through the Jackrabbit app and online at GoJacks.com.

In addition to radio, broadcasts also will be available for free live viewing on SDSU Athletics’ Facebook and YouTube accounts (@GoJacksSDSU), as well as Midco Sports Plus. Re-broadcasts are scheduled to air on Midco Sports linear channels Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and Fridays at 5 p.m.

Weekly segments include interviews with Jackrabbit coaches, student-athletes and others associated with SDSU football. Fans can submit questions through social media platforms and fans in attendance can register for weekly prizes.

A LOOK AHEAD: The Jackrabbits will have their lone bye week of the 2026 regular season before resuming Missouri Valley Football Conference action with potentially another top-10 battle Oct. 17 at North Dakota. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

-GoJacks.com-