2025 Playoff Loss to Montana
SDSU defeated New Hampshire 41–3 in the first round but lost to Montana 50–29 in the second round on December 6, 2025
Wound
Program outlook
Program outlook
South Dakota State's football program ascended from a quiet presence in the Missouri Valley Football Conference to a national power in a single generation.
Since Oct 28: W 31-21 vs South Dakota. 7-2 this season.
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Stiegelmeier, honored as Stats Perform FCS Coach of the Year, announced his retirement less than two weeks after the victory. The transition tested the dynasty's durability.
NDSU's announcement in February 2026 that it would join the Mountain West Conference (FBS) almost certainly ended the Dakota Marker rivalry—the primary institutional identity anchor that had defined SDSU since 2004.
Update (Oct. 28, 2026): South Dakota State is 6-2. It lost 34-18 at Northwestern on Sept. 5 and 21-10 at North Dakota on Oct. 17. The Oct. 17 loss to North Dakota came as a 14-point favorite.
On the field
System-first football: disciplined, scheme-based, quarterback-production football that develops NFL talent on a four-year pipeline. SDSU football prioritizes fundamentals, ball security, and playoff preparedness. The program is not recruitment-heavy; it is system-heavy. Stiegelmeier built it, Rogers proved it traveled, and Jackson now inherits it in a narrowing competitive landscape.
What this program never forgets
Most weeks vanish. These didn’t.
2026
NDSU Announces FBS Move
On February 11, 2026, NDSU announced it would join the Mountain West Conference (FBS) effective 2026, almost certainly ending the Dakota Marker rivalry
Wound
Moment of the year · 2026
Won 70-7 vs Stetson
Week 1 of 2026. A statement win, by 63 points.
2022–2024
South Dakota State has sent 5 players to the NFL Draft since 2022.
Strong. FCS programs that send 5+ to the draft move prospects.
5
picks · last 5 drafts
#78
Tucker Kraft
Tight End · 2023 · 
Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
#119
Mason McCormick
Offensive Guard · 2024 · 
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
#127
Pierre Strong Jr.
Running Back · 2022 · 
New England Patriots
New England Patriots
Players drafted: 16 · 1 in the first roundthe talent factory →
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Conference
MVFC standing · 2026
2nd in the MVFC
South Dakota State is 2nd in the MVFC at 4-1. One team above — that's the direct path to the title game.
| # | Program | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Youngstown State | 5-1 |
| 2 | South Dakota State | 4-1 |
| 3 | South Dakota | 4-2 |
| 4 | Illinois State | 3-2 |
| 5 | Northern Iowa | 3-2 |
| 6 | North Dakota | 3-3 |
| 7 | Southern Illinois | 2-3 |
| 8 | Indiana State | 0-5 |
| 9 | Murray State | 0-5 |
Gameday customs
Rituals
The rituals that anchor a Saturday in this program's world.
Back-to-Back FCS Championships (2022-2023)
since 2022
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The dynasty proved it was a system, not a man, when Rogers inherited and won immediately.
The Dakota Marker Rivalry
since 2004 · trophy game
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The Dakota Marker trophy—a quartzite monument replica marking the 1891-92 border between North and South Dakota—became the rivalry trophy between SDSU and North Dakota State in 2004 when both moved to FCS. The series stands 12-10 in NDSU's favor as of October 2025, with NDSU's February 2026 announcement of a move to the Mountain West Conference (FBS) almost certainly ending the protected conference date and the rivalry as a regular fixture. SDSU holds a 2024 playoff victory (45-24) as the most recent trophy memory.
Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium
since 2016
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The Jackrabbits play at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota—a 19,340-seat facility that opened in August 2016. Named for banker Dana Dykhouse and philanthropist T.
Postseason games
Recent postseason (2017-2024): 6-5
Most recent: 2024 — loss 28-21 (away). Last 5 postseason: 4-1.
2024 L2023 W2023 W2023 W2023 W
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