VERMILLION, S.D. — The No. 5-ranked University of South Dakota football team (6-2, 4-1 MVFC) returns to the DakotaDome for the first time in nearly a month on Saturday when they play host to (RV) Indiana State (4-5, 3-2 MVFC) for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+ and Midco Sports on Military Appreciation Day.
MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY
- Saturday is Military Appreciation Day. Current and past military members of the U.S. Armed Forces can redeem two free tickets, plus the purchase of any additional tickets beyond that for $15 each.
- South Dakota is proud to honor and recognize the 24th Infantry Division (U.S. Army), the division of head strength and conditioning coach Clete McLeod.
- At the Coyote Alley tailgate, the South Dakota National Guard will provide military vehicles.
- The game ball will be rappelled from the top of the Dome following the band’s pre-game performance.
GAME STORYLINES
- DEFENDING THE DOME: Since the 2021 season, South Dakota is 17-6 inside the DakotaDome.
- South Dakota has scored 40+ points in all four home games this season.
- The Yotes remain No. 5 in both polls (AFCA Coaches’ & STATS Perform) entering Week 10, following the bye week.
- USD looks to extend their home regular season win streak to six games, dating back to last season. The Yotes sit 4-0 in the Dome this season.
- USD has had 50 chunk plays of 20 or more yards this season with 19 leading to touchdowns.
- The Coyote defense now leads the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 12.5 points per game.
- Furthermore, the passing defense is the best in the Valley, sitting at just 180.9 yards per game.
- The Coyote rushing attack sits 7th in the FCS (213.6 yards per game).
- HC Bob Nielson has coached in 94 career games at South Dakota, sitting at 48 career wins at USD.
- Four more wins for Nielson will put him fourth all-time in program history for games won at USD.
YOTES TO NOTE
- Aidan Bouman has thrown for at least 200 passing yards and one touchdown in the five games this season.
- Quaron Adams has been a spark in the wide receivers group, averaging an MVFC-best 25.0 yards per catch.
- The rushing attack of Charles Pierre Jr. (88.4) and Travis Theis (85.1) sit No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the Valley in rushing yards per game.
- Gary Bryant III leads the defense with his 51.0 tackles per game.
- Dennis Shorter has a team-best two interceptions and leads the MVFC with his 11 pass break-ups.
- Nick Gaes sits tied for the MVFC-lead in sacks, sitting at 6.0 on the season. He has recorded at least one sack in five of the six games he’s played in.
DOMINANT RUSHING GAME
- The run game continues to be a huge part of the Coyote offense, 213.6 rushing yards a game.
- It sits second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, being one of four teams to average 200+ yards on the ground per game.
- The backfield of Theis & Pierre Jr. have combined for six 100-yard rushing games (both did so against SIU).
- Charles Pierre Jr. is the lone Coyote to have a 150-yard rushing game (career-high 153 yards in the win at Youngstown State, Oct. 19).
- He leads the MVFC with his 12 rushing scores on the season, a mark that sits third in the FCS.
STOUT DEFENSE
- The Yotes have made a name for themselves with a strong defensive unit so far this season.
- South Dakota has six interceptions as a team with five different Yotes having one.
- Dennis Shorter now leads the MVFC with his 11 pass break-ups this season, averaging 1.38 per game.
- LB Gary Bryant III leads the defense with his 62 tackles this season.
GETTING PRESSURE ON THE QUARTERBACK
- South Dakota sits sixth in the MVFC in total sacks with 17 on the season.
- Nick Gaes leads the MVFC with his 6.0 sacks on the season.
- Mi’Quise Grace sits T4th in the Valley with his 5.0 sacks this season.
- The duo combines for 11 of the 17 sacks for the Yotes.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES & MILESTONES
- Charles Pierre Jr. cracked the program’s top-10 single season rushing touchdown list with his two scores at Youngstown State, sitting at No. 10 with his 12 rushing scores.
- He also looks to become the first Yote in the FCS era to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. He sits with 705 net yards heading to Brookings.
- Keyondray Jones-Logan is one of two FCS athletes to return two kickoffs back for touchdowns this season.
- Aidan Bouman needs just ONE passing yard to become the sixth Coyote in program history with 5,000 career passing yards.
- Against Southern Illinois (Sept. 28), he became the ninth Coyote to eclipse 4,000 career passing yards.
- Travis Theis looks to continue to move up the USD record book, sitting with 30 rushing touchdowns. Only four Yotes have 30+ touchdowns in their career.
- Theis eclipsed the 3,000-career rushing yard mark in the Dakota Days win over UNI.
- Carter Bell set the new program record in career receptions with his five in the SDSU game (167 & counting).
- He needs just 26 receiving yards to break the receiving yards record (2,532 – record 2,557).
MISC. NOTES
- Following the loss at SDSU last time out, the Coyotes are 13-12 in ranked vs. ranked games and 4-7 in those games on the road.
- South Dakota has put up 400+ yards of offense in the last four of the last five games.
- The Yotes are 1-0 outside of the Central Time Zone this season, though having two games scheduled outside the home time zone.
INSIDE THE INDIANA STATE SERIES
- South Dakota and Indiana State will meet for the ninth time on Saturday. USD leads the all-time series, 6-2.
- All eight meetings have been MVFC contests.
- South Dakota owns the longest win streak in the series, winning three-straight games twice.
- The Yotes can set a new series-best win streak with a win on Saturday.
- The Yotes are a perfect 4-0 in the series when played in Vermillion and the Dome.
INDIANA STATE QUICK HITS
- Indiana State enters the weekend with a 4-5 overall record, while sitting middle of the pack in the MVFC at 3-2.
- The Sycamores have won two-straight games, both being in Terre Haute.
- ISU has yet to win on the road this season, sitting 0-4.
- The offense has been a struggle, sitting 109th in the FCS with just 289.0 yards per game.