Brookings, SD – South Dakota State football will open the old rivalry game schedule announced Wednesday.
The Jackrabbits' visit to Lawrence, Kan., on Sept. 1 will mark the third time they will take on a Big 12 Conference foe since moving to Division I in 2004.
South Dakota State's regular-season finale on Nov. 17 against visiting South Dakota is their first meeting since 2003 and coincides with the Coyotes joining the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The two schools first met in 1889.
In addition to the South Dakota game, the Jackrabbits' other four home games at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium will be against UC Davis (Sept. 15) of the Big Sky Conference and Missouri State (Sept. 29), Western Illinois (Oct. 13) and Youngstown State (Oct. 27) in MVFC play.
The other road games are against Southeastern Louisiana (Sept. 8) of the Southland Conference and MVFC trips to Indiana State (Sept. 22), Northern Iowa (Oct. 20), Southern Illinois (Nov. 3) and 2011 FCS national champion North Dakota State (Nov. 10).
"We're excited about this year's schedule, which features another regional BCS team and the opportunity to play opponents from two of the other premier FCS conferences in the country," Jackrabbits head coach John Stiegelmeier said. "The Missouri Valley Football Conference portion of the schedule doesn't get any easier, but we expect to be in the thick of the race for a league title and a playoff berth heading into back-to-back rivalry games to end the regular season."
2012 South Dakota State Football Schedule
All Times ET
Sept 1, at Kansas, Lawrence, Kan., TBA
Sept 8, at Southeastern Louisiana, Hammond, La., TBA
Sept. 15, UC Davis (Cereal Bowl), Coughlin-Alumni Stadium, 3 p.m.
Sept. 22, at Indiana State*, Terre Haute, Ind., TBA
Sept. 29, Missouri State* (Beef Bowl), Coughlin-Alumni Stadium, 7 p.m.
Oct. 13, Western Illinois* (Hall of Fame Game), Coughlin-Alumni Stadium, 7 p.m.
Oct. 20, at Northern Iowa*, Cedar Falls, Iowa, TBA
Oct. 27, Youngstown State* (Hobo Day), Coughlin-Alumni Stadium, 3 p.m.
Nov. 3, at Southern Illinois*, Carbondale, Ill., TBA
Nov. 10, at North Dakota State*, Fargo, N.D., TBA
Nov. 17, South Dakota*, Coughlin-Alumni Stadium, 3 p.m.
* - Missouri Valley Football Conference