Jacks enter bye focused on prize; MVFB opener on Oct. 4

BROOKINGS – South Dakota State on Saturday night got a lopsided win and a career record for its coach before a standing-room-only crowd. It was all for naught in terms of the Jackrabbits' playoff chances.

That's because the Simple Rating System, one of the tools used by the FCS postseason selection committee, doesn't factor in games played against NCAA Division III or NAIA teams. SDSU's opponent, Wisconsin-Oshkosh, is a member of D-III and therefore not allowed to award athletic scholarships.

Some FCS programs are non-scholarship, too, but wins over those teams do count in terms of at-large consideration. The Jacks got credit for beating one of them – Butler – last season in making the playoffs for the second year in a row.

SDSU hopes to quash the criteria discussion over the course of the season.

"If we take care of business the way we hope to in the Missouri Valley and play at a championship level, it won't affect us," coach John Stiegelmeier said.

The No. 10-ranked Jacks (3-1) didn't want things to turn out this way. Administrators claim to have exhausted all other options in finding a counter club. In the end, it came down to hosting Wisconsin-Oshkosh or having consecutive bye weeks.

SDSU is hardly alone in the predicament. Two other Missouri Valley Football Conference clubs are in the same boat, Southern Illinois hosting NAIA Taylor and the University of South Dakota taking on NAIA William Penn. What's more, 12 of the top 25 teams in the FCS media poll are facing non-counters this season, indicative of the challenges quality programs face in landing home games.

There is some consolation, according to Valley associate commissioner Mike Kern, in that the SRS will be adjusted this year to account for a variation in the number of games. Some will play 12 during the regular season and others 11.

The Jacks will play 12, including eight within the Valley – the top-ranked league in the FCS three years running – and two against the Big Sky plus a visit to reigning SEC East champ Missouri.

"The results so far have validated SDSU – a solid performance at Mizzou and two wins against Big Sky schools," Kern said. "We always recommend schools play a full Division I schedule, but know that isn't always possible. I think since we are in a 12-game cycle, the (Oshkosh) game doesn't hurt."

Bye week arrives; conference play next

SDSU is idle this week, its lone bye of the regular season separating the non-conference and conference portions of the schedule. In that regard, the timing of the break feels natural more than, say, good or bad.

Per usual, the focus during the downtime will be getting physically and mentally refreshed. The Jacks will practice Tuesday through Thursday this week – as they would during a game week – before off days on this weekend, aside from injury treatments.

SDSU was without five regulars in its 41-3 win over Oshkosh: tight end Cam Jones, offensive linemen Trevor Greger and Bryce Siverling, safety Nick Mears and linebacker Drew Kreutzfeldt. Stiegelmeier said that none of the five have been ruled out for the conference opener Oct. 4 at Illinois State (2-0).

Everybody else should be plenty ready by then as the Jacks have had the luxury of big halftime leads in the last two games, meaning they've been able to more evenly distribute reps.

"We'll definitely as a team be feeling better. You always feel better after a bye week," running back Zach Zenner said after the seventh 200-yard performance of his career. "It feels like the coaches are doing what they can to keep guys healthy."

NOTES: Brandon Valley grad senior Ryan Ode made his first career start for SDSU at right tackle. He filled in for Greger, who had started 33 games in a row dating to 2011.

• Zenner moved up to 18th in FCS career rushing yards at 5,174. Titans coach Pat Cerroni said that the senior is probably the best running back Oshkosh has faced in 125 years of fielding a football team.

• After Saturday, Valley teams are a combined 20-1 against FCS squads from other conference. That's the most wins in league history, breaking the mark of 18 set in 1999. There are three games to go.

At a Glance

Weekend: The Jackrabbits dispatched D-III foe Wisconsin-Oshkosh 41-3. Senior running back Zach Zenner ran for 209 yards and three scores.

Missouri Valley opener: Oct. 4 at Illinois State, 2 p.m.