SDSU

SDSU football: Now comes the hard part

Terry Vandrovec
tvandrovec@argusleader.com

It will be treacherous. That much seems certain about the path South Dakota State is forced to take through the Missouri Valley Football Conference schedule.

The No. 9 Jackrabbits (3-1) aren't alone in that regard. They are part of a robust group of eight top-25 teams in the lower level of NCAA Division I. That's out of a league of 10-team league.

Every team has challenges in the Missouri Valley based on sequence, timing and locations. Those fine points might decide which teams make the playoffs – two bids has been the recent minimum for the conference, and five is the FCS record – and which are left out.

SDSU has handled the Missouri Valley rigors as well as any team since joining the league in 2008. The Jacks are tied with Northern Iowa and North Dakota State for the top mark at 32-16. But the Panthers and Bison each have three league titles in that time – NDSU has claimed the last three national titles, too.

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The Jacks – picked second in the league preseason poll – are seeking their first-ever league crown. The journey begins Saturday at 22nd-ranked Illinois State.

"If the level of play is as high as it appears, and I think it is, those five plays in a game that determine (the outcome) are going to be really important," Coach John Stiegelmeier said. "It's going to be tough all along the way."

At least, SDSU starts out feeling relatively fresh.

The Jacks were idle last week after winning three games in a row by double digits. Also, they will close with consecutive home dates against the lone unranked squads in the Missouri Valley – Western Illinois (2-3) and South Dakota (2-2).

However, that means the Jacks have six games in a row coming up against ranked teams – four on the road. From Oct. 18 to Nov. 1, SDSU will visit UNI, be host Youngstown State and visit NDSU. The Jacks haven't won in Cedar Falls since moving to the NCAA Division I level in 2004 and have only one win in Fargo the past 50 years.

Those issues are for another time. Up first: the unbeaten Redbirds. SDSU hasn't faced them since 2011.

"It's just each week, winning each day," Jacks junior cornerback Jimmie Forsythe said, "getting through practice and getting better every day."

Or control what they can control. Frankly, that might not be enough. Naturally, there will be injuries and surprises along the way. There already have been.

The Jacks lost four-year starting quarterback Austin Sumner for six to eight weeks to a foot injury suffered only 10 minutes into the opener.

Indiana State, picked to finish last in the league, owns upset wins over FBS Ball State and nationally ranked Liberty.

Missouri Valley teams finished 23-1 this season in non-conference contests against other FCS teams. That's the most wins and the best percentage in the 30 years of a league ranked No. 1 in the FCS three seasons in a row.

Separation might be so scant that squads could be helped or hurt by what their opponents do the week before. For instance, on three occasions SDSU will play a team coming off consecutive road games. Might that matter?

Most of this comes as news to the Jacks. The way they see it, the schedule is the schedule, and the goal every week is to go 1-0. Pulling that off even six of eight times should all but ensure a third consecutive playoff berth.

"Our seniors always do a good job of letting you know you can't relax," Forsythe said. "We're not always the most talented team each week; we're going to face teams as talented as us. We have to practice every day as hard as we can like it's a game rep."

SDSU at ILLINOIS ST.

SATURDAY: The ninth-ranked Jackrabbits (3-1) open Missouri Valley play at 2 p.m. in Normal against No. 22 Illinois State (3-0).

ONLINE: Join beat writer Terry Vandrovec for his live chat to talk SDSU football, starting at 2 p.m. Saturday.

USD at S. ILLINOIS

SATURDAY: The Coyotes (2-2) open Missouri Valley action at 6 p.m. in Carbondale against No. 16 Southern Illinois (4-1).

ONLINE: Join beat writer Mick Garry for his live chat to talk USD football, starting at 6 Saturday evening.