SPORTS

SDSU finalizes 12-game football schedule

Terry Vandrovec
tvandrovec@argusleader.com

Aided by an NCAA Division III school, South Dakota State has completed this season's football schedule with the desired 12 games and six home dates.

The Jackrabbits on Wednesday announced their full slate, the new addition to 11 previously set pairings being a Sept. 20 contest against Wisconsin-Oshkosh at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium. It will be the first non-Division I contest for SDSU since 2006. That year, the Jacks dropped a 17-3 decision to another D-III foe – Wisconsin-La Crosse.

The Jacks compete in the Football Championship Subdivision and have made the playoffs the past two years. They're a probable preseason top-10 pick.

The game against Oshkosh basically will not count for SDSU in terms of postseason consideration. Jacks athletic director Justin Sell said this was a last resort resulting from an inability to ink several offers made to FCS and Division II teams. He got more involved than usual in the scheduling process in an attempt to make something work.

The only other option was to stick with 11 games and have two consecutive bye weeks.

This allows for a sixth home game for the second year in a row, a key moneymaker – and a reduced cost. Last season, SDSU paid Butler $185,000 to play in Brookings. Sell did not disclose the figure that Oshkosh is receiving, but said it is much less.

"It was not for lack of effort," he said, noting an appreciation to Oshkosh – a D-III national semifinalist in 2012 – for taking on the contract.

The Jacks aren't lacking for quality D-I competition. They'll have eight games in the Missouri Valley Football Conference – regarded as the best in the FCS the past two years – highlighted by a Nov. 1 trip to three-time defending national champ North Dakota State and a Nov. 22 home game against rival South Dakota. Other non-league games are against reigning Cotton Bowl champ Missouri, FCS playoff qualifier Southern Utah and perennial FCS contender Cal Poly.

The full slate goes like this: Aug. 30 at Missouri; Sept. 6 vs. Cal Poly; Sept. 13 at Southern Utah; Sept. 20 vs. Wisconsin-Oshkosh; Oct. 4 at Illinois State; Oct. 11 vs. Missouri State; Oct. 18 at Northern Iowa; Oct. 25 vs. Youngstown State; Nov. 1 at North Dakota State; Nov. 8 at Indiana State; Nov. 15. vs. Western Illinois; Nov. 22 vs. South Dakota.

This will be the second-to-last season for SDSU at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium before moving into a $65 million venue. Construction is expected to begin this summer.

SDSU schedule

Saturday - Spring game, 11 a.m.

Aug. 30 - at Missouri, TBA

Sept. 6 - vs. Cal Poly, TBA

Sept. 13 - at Southern Utah, 7 p.m. CT

Sept. 20 - vs. Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 6 p.m.

Oct. 4 - at Illinois State, 2 p.m.

Oct. 11 - vs. Missouri State, 6 p.m.

Oct. 18 - at Northern Iowa, TBA

Oct. 25 - vs. Youngstown State, 2 p.m. (Hobo Day)

Nov. 1 - North Dakota State, 2:30 p.m.

Nov. 8 - at Indiana State, TBA

Nov. 15 - vs. Western Illinois, 2 p.m.

Nov. 22 - vs. USD, 2 p.m.