South Dakota State University (SDSU) has secured a spot in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs as the 14-seed. This announcement follows a much-needed victory over North Dakota, ending a four-game losing streak and marking their 14th consecutive appearance in the tournament. The Jackrabbits, with a season record of 8-4, will host the University of New Hampshire on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
The match is scheduled to kick off at noon local time and will be broadcast on ESPN+. Fans can purchase tickets online at gojacks.evenue.net. SDSU season ticket holders have until 17:00 (5 p.m.) on Tuesday, November 21, to secure their usual seats. Any remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday morning.
This game marks the second meeting between the Jackrabbits and the Wildcats in FCS playoff history, the first having occurred in 2017, where SDSU triumphed with a score of 56-14. Both teams are entering the playoffs with identical records of 8-4 and earned at-large bids. The 25th-ranked Wildcats are currently enjoying a five-game winning streak, having concluded their Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) campaign with a record of 6-2.
SDSU started the season strong with seven consecutive wins, briefly reaching the second position in the national rankings. However, a challenging four-game stretch threatened their playoff eligibility. Their recent overtime victory against North Dakota, ending in a score of 34-31, solidified their playoff position.
The FCS playoffs feature a total of 24 teams, with six representatives from the Missouri Valley Football Conference, including SDSU. North Dakota State earned the top seed while the University of South Dakota is seeded 11th and Youngstown State is 15th. Illinois State and North Dakota qualified as unseeded participants.
As the Jackrabbits prepare to face New Hampshire, the stakes are high, and the excitement builds for a chance to advance in the playoffs. The winner of this first-round match will travel to Missoula to compete against the third-seeded Montana.
