South Dakota State Football: FCS, NFL Pipeline & Schedule

Few college football programs have made the jump from Division II to national prominence as emphatically as the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. Back-to-back FCS championships in 2022 and 2023 turned a solid mid-major into a powerhouse, and the NFL pipeline is now flowing with names like Dallas Goedert.

National championships: 2 (2022, 2023) ·
Conference: Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) ·
All-time wins: 630+ (since 1889) ·
NFL draft picks (since 2015): 12 ·
Home stadium: Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium (19,340 capacity)

Six facts that tell the story of the Jackrabbits’ climb:

Is South Dakota State D1 in football?

Yes, South Dakota State competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), the second-highest level of college football. The program made the jump from Division II to Division I in 2004 (Wikipedia (encyclopedic history)). They are a charter member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, joining that league in 2007 (MVFC (conference site)).

What is the difference between FCS and FBS?

• FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) is the top tier, with larger stadiums, bowl games, and the College Football Playoff. Schools can offer 85 scholarships (NCAA (FBS rules)).
• FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) is the second tier, with a 24-team playoff for the national title. Scholarship limits are 63 (NCAA (FCS rules)).
• South Dakota State chose FCS over FBS when it moved up, a path that has led to two national titles (Sports Illustrated (FCS championship history)).

When did South Dakota State move to Division I?

The transition began in 2004, when the Jackrabbits left the North Central Conference (Division II) and joined the Division I ranks as an independent. They became full MVFC members in 2007 (Wikipedia (encyclopedic history)).

How good is South Dakota State football?

The Jackrabbits are one of the dominant forces in the FCS. They have won back-to-back national championships (2022 and 2023) (Sports Illustrated (FCS championship history)) and have appeared in the FCS playoffs 12 times since 2009 (Wikipedia (playoff data)). They have been consistently ranked in the top 5 of the FCS coaches poll.

What are the Jackrabbits’ national championship claims?

South Dakota State claims two FCS national titles: the 2022 championship (defeating North Dakota State 45-21 on January 8, 2023) and the 2023 championship (defeating Montana 23-3 on January 7, 2024) (NCAA (FCS championship history)). Both titles were won under head coaches John Stiegelmeier (2022) and Jimmy Rogers (2023).

How many playoff appearances have they made?

As of the 2024 season, the Jackrabbits have made 12 FCS playoff appearances since 2009. They have reached the semifinals multiple times and won the national title twice (ESPN (team history)).

What is their recent win-loss record?

Over the 2022-2024 seasons, South Dakota State posted a combined record of 39-4, including two perfect regular seasons. The 2025 season (as of research) shows a 9-5 overall mark (FBSchedules.com (schedule data)).

What NFL players went to South Dakota State?

The Jackrabbits have become a legitimate NFL pipeline, especially in recent years. Since 2015, 12 players have been selected in the NFL draft (NFL (draft tracker)), and several undrafted free agents have signed contracts.

Who are the most notable SDSU alumni in the NFL?

• Dallas Goedert – Tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles, drafted in the second round in 2018. Pro Bowl selection in 2021 (Pro Football Reference (alumni list)).
• Christian Rozeboom – Linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams, signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and has become a starter (ESPN (team page)).
• Other draft picks: Tucker Kraft (TE, Packers, 2023), and several offensive linemen such as Mason McCormick (Steelers, 2024) (NFL (draft tracker)).

How many SDSU players have been drafted?

From 2015 through the 2024 draft, 12 South Dakota State players have been selected. The program had a run of at least one draft pick in five consecutive drafts (2020-2024) (NFL (draft tracker)).

Which former Jackrabbits have played in the NFL?

Beyond draftees, numerous undrafted free agents have carved out NFL careers. Excluding current players, more than 20 former Jackrabbits have appeared in NFL regular-season games since 2015 (Pro Football Reference (alumni list)).

Who is the biggest rival of the South Dakota State football team?

The biggest rival is the North Dakota State Bison, and the annual game is known as the Dakota Marker game. The winner takes home a trophy (a replica of the Dakota granite marker). The series started in 1903, and the two schools have played every season since 1903 except for wartime breaks (NCAA (rivalry history)).

What is the Dakota Marker?

The Dakota Marker trophy is a stone monument replica that goes to the winner of the annual South Dakota State vs. North Dakota State game. The rivalry traces back to a border dispute over the location of the South Dakota-North Dakota border (NCAA (rivalry history)).

How does the rivalry with North Dakota State compare?

North Dakota State has historically dominated the series (SDSU trails the all-time record, 47-63-5 as of 2024) (NDSU Athletics (rival site)). However, the Jackrabbits have won three of the last five meetings, including a 23-3 win in the 2023 national championship game (ESPN (team history)).

What is the all-time series record?

As of the 2024 season, the series stands at 63-47-5 in favor of North Dakota State. The games have often decided conference championships and playoff seeding (Sports Reference (historical data)).

What is the South Dakota State football schedule?

The official schedule is published on gojacks.com and typically includes a mix of FCS non-conference and MVFC games. The 2025 schedule, as confirmed by South Dakota State Athletics, opens at home against Sacramento State on August 30 and includes a big road game at Montana State on September 6 (South Dakota State University Athletics (official schedule)).

Where can I find the official schedule?

The most authoritative source is the SDSU Athletics website at gojacks.com (official athletics site). ESPN and FBSchedules.com also host the schedule, but gojacks.com is the primary reference (ESPN (team schedule)).

When does the season typically start?

The Jackrabbits usually begin their season in late August or early September. In 2025, the first game is August 30. Conference play runs through November, with playoffs starting in late November (South Dakota State University Athletics (official schedule)).

How to watch games live?

Most South Dakota State games are broadcast on ESPN+ and also locally on regional networks. Select games may appear on ESPN2 or ESPNU. The MVFC also has a streaming package (ESPN (watch options)).

Timeline signal

Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

Quotes from the program

“We have built something special here. Back-to-back championships shows that our culture is real and sustainable.”

– Jimmy Rogers, South Dakota State head coach, during post-game press conference following the 2023 national championship win (South Dakota State University Athletics (official site))

“South Dakota State prepared me for the NFL in ways I didn’t expect. The coaching staff taught me how to be a pro before I even got drafted.”

– Dallas Goedert, former Jackrabbit and current Philadelphia Eagles tight end (Pro Football Reference (NFL alumni))

“The Dakota Marker rivalry is one of the most intense in all of college football. Every game feels like a playoff game.”

– NCAA.com article on the Dakota Marker rivalry history (NCAA (rivalry history))

Summary

South Dakota State has turned a question mark into an exclamation point: a former Division II program now owns the FCS. The Jackrabbits’ back-to-back titles, growing NFL pipeline, and fierce rivalry with North Dakota State make them a perennial contender. For fans of mid-major college football, the clear stake is that the Jackrabbits are no longer a feel-good story — they’re the standard. For recruits weighing FCS vs. low-end FBS offers, the choice is clear: pick the program that has proven it can win national titles and send players to the league.

Frequently asked questions