South Dakota State Jackrabbits football

History

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've been to the FCS national championship game three times (2020, 2022 & 2023) and won two of the three.

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.

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.

Classifications

• 1952–1972: NCAA College Division
• 1973–2003: NCAA Division II
• 2004–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

Conference affiliations

• Independent (1889–1921)
• North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1922–2003)
• Great West Conference (2004–2007)
• Missouri Valley Football Conference (2008–present)

Players in the National Football League

A total of 34 Jackrabbits have played for NFL teams, including eight signed to team rosters as of September 2024. Those eight are:

• Dallas Goedert - Philadelphia Eagles
• Christian Rozeboom - Carolina Panthers
• Pierre Strong Jr. - Green Bay Packers
• Chris Oladokun - Kansas City Chiefs
• Tucker Kraft - Green Bay Packers
• Isaiah Stalbird - New Orleans Saints
• Mason McCormick - Pittsburgh Steelers
• Isaiah Davis - New York Jets

There have been a total of 29 Jackrabbits drafted in the NFL draft.

As of 2021, Jim Langer is the only Jackrabbit to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Record versus Missouri Valley Football Conference

• Records current as of November 2021

Postseason appearances

NCAA Division I-AA/FCS playoffs

Through November 2025, the Jackrabbits have appeared in the FCS playoffs fifteen times with an overall record of . They have made 14 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.

NCAA Division II playoffs

The Jackrabbits made one appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs, with a final record of 0–1.

Head coaches

Facilities

• Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium (19,340 capacity)
• Stiegelmeier Family Student-Athlete Center
• Dykhouse Student-Athlete Center (Connected to the Stiegelmeier Family Student-Athlete Center in north end zone)

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.

All-Time statistical leaders

Single-game leaders

• Passing Yards: Dan Fjeldheim (460, 9/28/2002)
• Rushing Yards: Zach Zenner (295 2x, 11/24/2012, 9/7/2013)
• Receiving Yards: Jeff Tiefenthaler (256, 9/27/1986)

Single-Season leaders

• Passing Yards: Taryn Christion (3,714, 2016)
• Rushing Yards: Josh Ranek (2,055, 1999)
• Receiving Yards: Jeff Tiefenthaler (1,534, 1986)

Career leaders

• Passing Yards: Taryn Christion (11,535, 2015–2018)
• Rushing Yards: Josh Ranek, (6,744, 1997–2001)
• Receiving Yards: Jake Wieneke (5,157, 2014–2017)

Media coverage

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:

• WNAX 570AM (Flagship Station)
• KJJQ 910AM
• KRKI 99.5FM
• KOLY 1300AM
• KBFS 1450AM
• KGFX 1060AM
• KXLG 99.1FM

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.

Record against FBS competition

Overall 2–11.

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of January 13, 2026.

References

References

1. "College GameDay: North Dakota State crashes party at South Dakota State". Argus Leader.
2. "JACKS MEET UALBANY IN FCS SEMIFINAL - South Dakota State University Athletics".
3. "South Dakota State 45-21 North Dakota State (Jan 8, 2023) Final Score - ESPN".
4. "South Dakota State 23-3 Montana (Jan 7, 2024) Final Score - ESPN".
5. "Jimmy Rogers - Head Coach - Football Coaches - South Dakota State University Athletics".
6. "South Dakota State wins the 2022 FCS Championship".
7. "2023 Undefeated College Football Teams".
8. "2021 Football Schedule".
9. "South Dakota State Jackrabbits Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com.