South Dakota State extended its winning streak over in-state rival South Dakota in the head-to-head Interstate Series athletics competition by posting a 14.5-5.5 victory during the recently completed 2024-25 season.
The Jackrabbits’ nine-point margin of victory matches the largest since the competition began during the 2012-13 athletics season. SDSU previously scored an 18-9 victory during the 2013-14 campaign.
The Interstate Series is presented by First Interstate Bank in conjunction with Learfield and its respective Jackrabbit Sports Properties and Coyote Sports Properties divisions.
“Sports are more than just a game; they create opportunities for families and friends to come together, focus on a common goal, and build fan followings—a community,” said Ryan Boschee, First Interstate Bank Regional President. “First Interstate is proud to support both SDSU and USD Athletics with the Interstate Series because we know opportunities in higher education help create strong, vibrant communities. We stand behind these schools and the student-athletes working hard to ensure this rivalry series is one to remember.”
SDSU built a commanding lead during the fall sports season, racking up 6.5 out of a possible seven points. The lone tally for USD was a half point for a tie in women’s soccer, while the Jackrabbits earned two points each for sweeping the regular season series in volleyball and winning the annual in-state football game. SDSU also picked up two points in cross country as both the Jackrabbit men’s and women’s squads posted higher finishes en route to team titles at the Summit League Championships.
The Jackrabbits widened their lead with five more points during the winter sports season. SDSU claimed four of those points with regular season sweeps in both men’s and women’s basketball, while the Jackrabbit men’s indoor track and field team notched another point with its victory in the Summit League Championships. USD tallied the bulk of its season total in the winter as it recorded higher placings than the Jackrabbits in the Summit League Championships for men’s and women’s swimming and diving, as well as women’s track and field.
To close out the athletics season in the spring, SDSU claimed three of the possible five points by winning the regular season softball series two games to one and turning in higher finishes at Summit League meets for women’s golf and men’s outdoor track and field. The Coyotes gained points in men’s golf and women’s outdoor track and field.
South Dakota State now holds an 8-5 overall advantage in the series. The Jackrabbits’ current streak of three wins in the Interstate Series marks the longest by either program. Two points or less have separated the two programs seven times, including each of the three previous seasons.
INTERSTATE SERIES HISTORY
2012-13: SDSU (14-13)
2013-14: SDSU (18-9)
2014-15: USD (14-13)
2015-16: SDSU (16-11)
2016-17: USD (14-13)
2017-18: USD (14-13)
2018-19: SDSU (14.5-11.5)
2019-20: USD (14.5-6.5)
2020-21: SDSU (13-10)
2021-22: USD via tiebreaker (13-13)
2022-23: SDSU (14-12)
2023-24: SDSU (14-12)
2024-25: SDSU (14.5-5.5)
Note: 2021-22 tiebreaker decided by winner of football game