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South Dakota State Jackrabbits football | |||
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First season | 1900 | ||
Athletic director | Justin Sell | ||
Head coach | Dan Jackson 1st season, 0–0 (–) | ||
Stadium | Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium (capacity: 19,340) | ||
Year built | 2016 | ||
Field surface | Turf | ||
Location | Brookings, South Dakota | ||
NCAA division | Division I FCS | ||
Conference | Missouri Valley | ||
Past conferences | NCC (1922–2003), Great West (2004–2007) | ||
All-time record | 655–474–38 (.578) | ||
Playoff record | 24–12 | ||
Claimed national titles | 2 (Div. I FCS): 2022, 2023 | ||
Conference titles | |||
Rivalries | North Dakota State (rivalry) South Dakota (rivalry) North Dakota | ||
Colors | Blue and yellow [1] | ||
Fight song | Ring the Bell | ||
Mascot | Jack Rabbit | ||
Marching band | The Pride of the Dakotas | ||
NCAA FCS Playoff Appearances | (14) 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | ||
Website | Official website |
The South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represents South Dakota State University in college football. The program competes at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level as member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). The Jackrabbits play their home games at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium on South Dakota State's campus in Brookings, South Dakota.
South Dakota State is considered to be among the few perennial powers in the FCS. South Dakota State is also one of only 13 FCS schools to host ESPN's College GameDay .
For the 2019 GameDay matchup, the No. 3 Jackrabbits hosted the No. 1 North Dakota State Bison, where they would lose in a close battle 23–16 after losing their starting QB to a season ending knee injury. [2]
As of August 2024, the Jackrabbits possess a 12-year streak of qualifying for the FCS playoffs, the second-longest in the country at the FCS level. [3] The longest FCS qualification streak - as of August 2024 - belongs to North Dakota State at 13. [4]
South Dakota State are two-time national champions. They achieved their first national championship win in school history on January 8, 2023, defeating North Dakota State 45-21. [5]
Then a year later on January 7, 2024, they repeated by defeating Montana (13–2) with a score of 23–3. The Jackrabbits finished the season with a perfect 15–0 record under first-year head coach Jimmy Rogers, who previously served as defensive coordinator and was a captain of the 2009 SDSU team himself. [6] [7]
The Jackrabbits were an NCAA Division II program in the North Central Conference until moving to the Football Championship Subdivision in 2004.
In March 2004, SDSU initially began their Division I FCS era by being a charter member of the now-defunct Great West Football Conference (along with North Dakota State, Southern Utah, Cal Poly, UC Davis, Northern Colorado) and stayed there until 2007 when they were accepted into the Missouri Valley Football Conference and began league play in the 2008 season.
South Dakota State University has invested in their football program's facilities recently as they have some of the finest amenities and facilities at the FCS level including the largest video/scoreboard in the FCS (2015) a new 19,340-seat stadium (2016), and a large state-of-the-art student-athlete center in the north end zone (2010). Connected to the student-athlete center is one of the largest indoor practice facilities in NCAA Division I (completed in 2014). Due to the success of South Dakota State and North Dakota State football programs, the Dakota Marker game was featured on ESPN’s nationally televised College GameDay on October 26, 2019, becoming one of only a few FCS programs to be featured on the show.
South Dakota State reached the Football Championship Subdivision semi-finals seven times in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 respectively.
They advanced to their first national championship game on May 8, 2021 after defeating the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens 33–3 in the national semi-finals. They played No. 2 Sam Houston State for the national championship on May 16, 2021 and lost 23–21. The Jackrabbits finished the season 8–2 and as national runner-ups.
A year and a half later on January 8, 2023 they advanced to the national championship game again where they would win their first national title over conference rival North Dakota State, 45–21. [8]
On January 7, 2024, the Jackrabbits successfully defended their National Title when they defeated the Montana Grizzlies football team 23-3. Their victory capped a 15-0 undefeated regular season for first-year coach Jimmy Rogers, including an 8-0 Missouri Valley Conference record. [9]
A total of 34 Jackrabbits have played for NFL teams, including eight signed to team rosters as of September2024.
29 Jackrabbits have been drafted in the NFL draft. As of 2021, Jim Langer is the only Jackrabbit to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Rival | Record (W–L–T) | Winning Percentage |
---|---|---|
Illinois State | 6–8 | .429 |
Indiana State | 10–2 | .833 |
Missouri State | 14–1 | .933 |
Murray State | 0–0 | .000 |
North Dakota | 36–47–5 | .434 |
North Dakota State | 45–64–5 | .413 |
Northern Iowa | 25–32–1 | .439 |
South Dakota | 58–54–7 | .518 |
Southern Illinois | 11–4 | .733 |
Western Illinois | 14–4 | .778 |
Youngstown State | 18–7 | .720 |
Through November 2024, the Jackrabbits have appeared in the FCS playoffs fourteen times with an overall record of 24–12 (.667). They have made 13 consecutive appearances in the FCS playoffs, currently the second-longest streak in the nation.
In that span the Jackrabbits have won two national titles, one runner-up finish and have appeared in the semifinals seven times.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | First Round | Montana | L 48–61 |
2012 | First Round Second Round | Eastern Illinois North Dakota State | W 58–10 L 3–28 |
2013 | First Round Second Round | Northern Arizona Eastern Washington | W 26–7 L 17–41 |
2014 | First Round Second Round | Montana State North Dakota State | W 47–40 L 24–27 |
2015 | First Round | Montana | L 17–24 |
2016 | Second Round Quarterfinals | Villanova North Dakota State | W 10–7 L 10–36 |
2017 | Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals | Northern Iowa New Hampshire James Madison | W 37–22 W 56–14 L 16–51 |
2018 | Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals | Duquesne Kennesaw State North Dakota State | W 51–6 W 27–17 L 21–44 |
2019 | Second Round | Northern Iowa | L 10–13 |
2020 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship | Holy Cross Southern Illinois Delaware Sam Houston State | W 31–3 W 31–26 W 33–3 L 21–23 |
2021 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals | UC Davis Sacramento State Villanova Montana State | W 56–24 W 24–19 W 35–21 L 17–31 |
2022 | Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship | Delaware Holy Cross Montana State North Dakota State | W 42–6 W 42–21 W 39–18 W 45–21 |
2023 | Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship | Mercer Villanova Albany Montana | W 41–0 W 23–12 W 59–0 W 23–3 |
2024 | Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals | Montana Incarnate Word North Dakota State | W 35–18 W 55–14 L 21–28 |
The Jackrabbits made one appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs, with a final record of 0–1.[ citation needed ]
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
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1979 | Quarterfinals | Youngstown State | L 7–51 |
# | Coach | Tenure |
---|---|---|
1 | Morrison | 1900 |
2 | L. L. Gilkey | 1901 |
3 | J. Harrison Werner | 1903 |
4 | William Blaine | 1904 |
5 | William Juneau | 1905–1908 |
6 | Jason M. Saunderson | 1909–1910 |
7 | Fred Johnson | 1911 |
8 | Harry W. Ewing | 1912–1917 |
- | No team | 1918 |
9 | Charles A. West | 1919–1927 |
10 | Cy Kasper | 1928–1933 |
11 | Red Threlfall | 1934–1937 |
12 | Jack V. Barnes | 1938–1940 |
13 | Thurlo McCrady | 1941–1946 |
14 | Ralph Ginn | 1947–1968 |
15 | Dave Kragthorpe | 1969 |
16 | Dean Pryor | 1970–1971 |
17 | John Gregory | 1972–1981 |
18 | Wayne Haensel | 1982–1990 |
19 | Mike Daly | 1991–1996 |
20 | John Stiegelmeier | 1997–2022 |
21 | Jimmy Rogers | 2023–2024 |
22 | Dan Jackson | 2025–present |
In 2014, South Dakota State University started construction of a new stadium on the location of the current Coughlin-Alumni Stadium. The new stadium has a total seating capacity of 19,340 with easy expansion to 22,500.
The Stiegelmeier Family Student-Athlete Center (formerly the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex) is the Jackrabbits new State-of-the-art indoor practice facility. The facility was opened on October 11, 2014. The Stiegelmeier Family Student-Athlete Center has bleacher seating for up to 1,000 spectators and can be used for football practice, track practice, softball and baseball practice, track competitions, and other events within the SDSU athletic department. The 149,284-square foot facility is the largest indoor practice facility in Division I athletics and features an eight-lane, 300-meter track which is only one of five collegiate indoor tracks of that size in the nation. Inside the track is an 80-yard football field plus end zones at each end and is composed of a soy-based Astroturf. Within the facility it has areas for sports medicine and strength and conditioning. Sports medicine features include rehab space, a training room, weight room expansion, hydrotherapy, a football team room, offices and academic advising facilities. The Stiegelmeier Family Student-Athlete Center is used by many of SDSU's athletic programs.
[ when? ]
All home and road games are covered on the Jackrabbit Sports Network. The broadcast range of the Jackrabbit Sports Network covers eight states (South Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, and Wyoming), and consists of the following stations:
The Missouri Valley Football Conference and ESPN have signed a six-year media rights agreement, effective from the 2024 season. As part of the deal, a minimum of nine games will be showcased on ESPN, ESPN 2, or ESPN U throughout the contract. Additionally, the MVFC will maintain its "game of the week" digital package on ESPN+. The agreement also includes exclusive airing of additional league contests on ESPN platforms. Jackrabbits games have also been broadcast on Midco Sports Net, Fox College Sports, the Big Ten Network, Fox Sports North, ABC, and various local television networks.
Overall 2–11.
Season | Opponent | Conference | Result | Record |
---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | Iowa State | Big 12 | L 17–44 | 0–1 |
2009 | Minnesota | Big Ten | L 13–16 | 0–2 |
2010 | Nebraska | Big 12 | L 3–17 | 0–3 |
2011 | Illinois | Big Ten | L 3–56 | 0–4 |
2012 | Kansas | Big 12 | L 17–31 | 0–5 |
2013 | Nebraska | Big Ten | L 20–59 | 0–6 |
2014 | Missouri | SEC | L 18–38 | 0–7 |
2015 | Kansas | Big 12 | W 41–38 | 1–7 |
2016 | TCU | Big 12 | L 41–59 | 1–8 |
2018 | Iowa State | Big 12 | Canceled by weather | |
2019 | Minnesota | Big Ten | L 21–28 | 1–9 |
2021 | Colorado State | Mountain West | W 42–23 | 2–9 |
2022 | Iowa | Big Ten | L 3–7 | 2–10 |
2024 | Oklahoma State | Big 12 | L 20–44 | 2–11 |
Announced schedules as of December 20, 2024. [11]
2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 |
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at Oklahoma State | Sacramento State | at Northwestern | at Iowa State | at Nebraska | at Nebraska | |
Incarnate Word | at Montana State | Southeastern Louisiana | ||||
Augustana (SD) | Drake | |||||
at Southeastern Louisiana | Mercyhurst |
South Dakota State University is a public land-grant research university in Brookings, South Dakota, United States. Founded in 1881, it is the state's largest university and is the second oldest continually operating university in the state, trailing the University of South Dakota which was founded in 1862. The university is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, which governs the state's six public universities and two special schools.
The Dakota Marker is the trophy awarded to the winner of the annual football game played between the rival Division I Championship Subdivision North Dakota State University Bison and the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits. Both schools are members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
The South Dakota State Jackrabbits are the 19 intercollegiate teams representing South Dakota State University that compete in the U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. South Dakota State is currently a member of the Summit League, the Missouri Valley Football Conference, the Big 12 Conference and Varsity Equestrian. The university won numerous conference championships and several national titles including the NCAA College Division national title in men's basketball in 1963 and the NCAA Division II national title in women's basketball in 2003.
The 2012 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2012 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by 16th-year head coach John Stiegelmeier, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 9–4 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, placing second in the MVFC. South Dakota State received an at–large bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where the Jackrabbits defeated Eastern Illinois in the first round before falling to fellow MVFC member and eventual national champion, North Dakota State, in the second round. The team played home games at Coughlin–Alumni Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.
The 2013 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2013 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by 17th-year head coach John Stiegelmeier, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 9–5 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing in a four-way tie for second in the MVFC. South Dakota State received an at–large bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where the Jackrabbits defeated Northern Arizona in the first round before falling to Eastern Washington in the second round. The team played home games at Coughlin–Alumni Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.
The 2014 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2014 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by 18th-year head coach John Stiegelmeier, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 9–5 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing fourth in the MVFC. South Dakota State received an at–large bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where the Jackrabbits defeated Montana State in the first round before falling to fellow MVFC member and eventual national champion, North Dakota State, in the second round. The team played home games at Coughlin–Alumni Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.
The South Dakota–South Dakota State football rivalry between the South Dakota Coyotes and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits is a yearly rivalry match-up in football between the two largest public universities in the state of South Dakota: the University of South Dakota in Vermillion and South Dakota State University in Brookings.
The 2015 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2015 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by 19th-year head coach John Stiegelmeier, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 8–4 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for third in the MVFC. South Dakota State received an at–large bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where the Jackrabbits lost to Montana in the first round. The team played home games at Coughlin–Alumni Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.
The 2016 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2016 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by 20th-year head coach John Stiegelmeier, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 9–4 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, sharing the MVFC with North Dakota State. Due to their head-to-head victory over North Dakota State during the regular season, South Dakota State received the MVFC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where, after a first-round bye, the Jackrabbits defeated Villanova in the second round, before losing in the quarterfinals in a re-match with North Dakota State. The team played home games on campus at the newly-opened Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.
The Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium is an outdoor college football stadium in the north central United States, on the campus of South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. It is the home venue of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The stadium was constructed in phases on the previous Coughlin-Alumni Stadium site and has a seating capacity of 19,340. The field has a traditional north-south alignment at an approximate elevation of 1,620 feet (495 m) above sea level.
The 2017 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by 21st-year head coach John Stiegelmeier, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 11–3 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, tying for second place in the MVFC. South Dakota State received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where, after a first-round bye, the Jackrabbits defeated Northern Iowa in the second round and New Hampshire in the quarterfinals before losing to James Madison in the semifinals. The team played home games on campus at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.
The 2018 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by 22nd-year head coach John Stiegelmeier, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 10–3 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, placing second in the MVFC. South Dakota State received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where, after a first round bye, the Jackrabbits defeated Duquesne in the second round and Kennesaw State in the quarterfinals before falling to fellow MVFC member and eventual national champion, North Dakota State, in the semifinals. The team played home games on campus at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.
The 2019 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2019 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by 23rd-year head coach John Stiegelmeier, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 8–5 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for third in the MVFC. South Dakota State received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where, after a first round bye, the Jackrabbits lost to Northern Iowa in the second round. The team played home games on campus at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.
The 2020 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by 24th-year head coach John Stiegelmeier, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 8–2 with a mark of 5–1 in conference play, sharing the MVFC title with Missouri State. South Dakota State received the MVFC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where the Jackrabbits defeated Holy Cross in the first round, fellow MVFC member Southern Illinois in the quarterfinals, and Delaware in the semifinals before losing to Sam Houston State in the NCAA Division I Championship Game. The team played home games on campus at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.
The 2021 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by 25th-year head coach John Stiegelmeier, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 11–4 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for third in the MVFC. South Dakota State received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where the Jackrabbits defeated UC Davis in the first round, Sacramento State in the second round, and Villanova in the quarterfinals before losing to Montana State in the semifinals. The team played home games on campus at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.
The 2022 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led John Stiegelmeier in his 26th and final season as head coach, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 14–1 with a mark of 8–0 in conference play, winning the MVFC title. South Dakota State received the MVFC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where after a first-round bye, the Jackrabbits defeated Delaware in the second round, Holy Cross in the quarterfinals, Montana State in the semifinals, and fellow MVFC member North Dakota State in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game to win program's first national title. The team played home games on campus at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.
The 2022 Missouri Valley Football Conference football season was the 37th season of college football play for the Missouri Valley Football Conference and part of the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season. This was the MVFC's 3rd straight season with 11 teams, and was the last as the conference added a 12th team for the 2023 season.
The 2023 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented the South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by first-year head coach Jimmy Rogers, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 15–0 with a mark of 8–0 in conference play, winning the MVFC title for the second straight season. South Dakota State received the MVFC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where after a first-round bye, the Jackrabbits defeated Mercer in the second round, Villanova in the quarterfinals, Albany in the semifinals, and Montana in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game to win program's second consecutive national title. South Dakota State outscored opponents 146-15 in the four playoff games, completed a wire-to-wire season as the No. 1 ranked team in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), and extended the team's winning streak to 29 games. The team played home games on campus at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.
The 2023 Missouri Valley Football Conference football season was the 38th season of college football play for the Missouri Valley Football Conference and part of the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. This was the MVFC's first season with 12 teams, as the conference added Murray State over the offseason. It was also the last season with 12 teams for now, as it was announced in May 2023 that Western Illinois would be leaving the MVFC after the 2023 season for the Ohio Valley Conference.