SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
One of the most dominant FCS programs year-to-year, the Jackrabbits are coming off a 9-5 season, where they reached the FCS postseason and fell in the second round. Dan Jackson is entering his second season for the program that won back-to-back national championships in 2022 and 2023.
Last week, South Dakota State, which is ranked No. 2 in the AFCA FCA Coaches Poll, got its season off to a hot start with a 70-7 victory over Stetson at home. The team finished with 628 yards of total offense, rushing for 393 yards and throwing for 235 yards.
The Jackrabbits’ defense was particularly strong last season, totaling the seventh most interceptions in the FCS last year with 15. They also allowed just 125.5 rushing yards per game, the 20th-best mark in the FCS.
“They’re definitely going to challenge us at the line of scrimmage,” Braun said. “They are a physical operation, whether it’s their o-line, their tight ends, their defensive line, their linebacker play, their box play, and their wide receivers are getting in on that party too. Everything that they do comes with a ton of physicality and violence. They’re well-coached. They’re going to challenge you on special teams. I’ve been really impressed with the skill on both sides of the football, and then it starts to show up on special teams.”
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday’s contest against South Dakota State will be Northwestern’s first-ever matchup with the Jackrabbits. Braun is 3-0 against FCS opponents in his tenure at Northwestern (Howard, Eastern Illinois, Western Illinois).
The Jackrabbits are 2-11 against FBS competition, most recently losing 44-20 to Oklahoma State in 2024. When facing Big Ten competition, South Dakota State is 0-5, most recently facing Iowa in 2022.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats have a bye week next weekend ahead of their second nonconference game. On Saturday, September 19, Northwestern will host Colorado at 6:30 p.m. CT for the final game at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.