South Dakota State football completes 2023 schedule

By Matt Zimmer

February 08, 2023 at 3:37 PM

SDSU quarterback Mark Gronowski runs his way for his second touchdown against UC Davis during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022 at Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings.

South Dakota State is finding out that not everyone is excited to play the national champions.

The Jackrabbits completed their 2023 football schedule on Wednesday, filling the final date — the Sept. 2 home opener — with a "non-counter", Division II Western Oregon. Because the Wolves are not a Division I team, the presumed win would not count towards SDSU's playoff resume. It's the second time in three years SDSU has had to play a sub-Division I team, hosting Division II Lindenwood in 2021. The Jacks won 52-7 against the Lions, who have since moved up to the Division I FCS level.

That means the Jacks will not have a game with an FBS opponent in 2023. Their non-conference slate is now set: Western Oregon in the opener, Montana State on Sept. 9 in a semifinal rematch, and the Sept. 16 game at Target Field in Minneapolis, where the Jacks will play Drake, a non-scholarship FCS team.

The Jacks then have a bye week before opening conference play on Sept. 30 against North Dakota. They don't play their first road game until Oct. 7 at Illinois State.

Season tickets are now on sale for 2023 Jackrabbit football games at JackrabbitTickets.com. Tickets range from $99-$215 per seat for the season, not including premium seating options.

The Target Field game is not included in season ticket packages, though season ticket holders will have the ability to buy tickets to that game before the general public. All ticket sales for the Target Field game will be through the Minnesota Twins at a later date.

SDSU will take a 14-game winning streak into the 2023 season after capturing their first national championship in 2022. The Jacks will be in their first season under new coach Jimmy Rogers, who replaces the retired John Stiegelmeier.

South Dakota State 2023 football schedule

Sept. 2 WESTERN OREGON
Sept. 9 MONTANA STATE
Sept. 16 Drake at Target Field
Sept. 24 BYE
Sept. 30 NORTH DAKOTA
Oct. 7 at Illinois State
Oct. 14 NORTHERN IOWA
Oct. 21 at Southern Illinois
Oct. 28 at South Dakota
Nov. 4 NORTH DAKOTA STATE
Nov. 11 at Youngstown State
Nov. 18 MISSOURI STATE

By Matt Zimmer

Matt Zimmer is a Sioux Falls native and longtime sports writer. He graduated from Washington High School where he played football, legion baseball and developed his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, he returned to Sioux Falls, began a long career in amateur baseball and started working as a sports freelancer. Zimmer was hired as a sport reporter at the Argus Leader in 2004, where he covered Sioux Falls high schools and colleges before moving to the South Dakota State University beat in 2014.

South Dakota State football completes 2023 schedule

Jackrabbits add Western Oregon for home opener on Sept. 2

South Dakota State 2023 football schedule