The 2026 college football season in South Dakota is set to ignite in July as teams ramp up preparations, with official games slated to start in late August. The schedule promises a cascade of storylines, from playoff aspirations to historic rivalries.
Playoff Ambitions and Key Dates
Both South Dakota State and the University of South Dakota Coyotes enter the campaign with clear goals: a return to the FCS playoffs and a shot at the national championship. Their programs have built momentum over recent years, and the upcoming slate is designed to test them against the best in the region.
The season opener will see Black Hills State face USF in a non‑conference showdown on August 27, kicking off a series of early contests that will set the tone for the year.
A week later, Dakota Wesleyan and Dakota State will battle for the Chamber of Commerce Trophy on August 29 in Madison, adding a local bragging‑rights element to the opening weekend.
Also on August 29, the Coyotes will launch the Matt Vitzthum era with a home game against Central Connecticut in Vermillion, a matchup that is already drawing expectations of a sell‑out crowd.
South Dakota State will host Stetson in Brookings on the same night, with a sell‑out crowd anticipated, underscoring the growing popularity of the Jackrabbits program.
Augustana will begin its season on the road, opening with a game at Duluth on September 3 before traveling to other opponents, marking the start of a challenging road stretch.
Later in the month, South Dakota State will make a high‑profile return to the FBS ranks when it travels to face Northwestern on September 5, a move that signals the Jackrabbits' ambition to compete at the highest level.
The schedule then shifts to the iconic blue‑turf showdown at Boise State on September 19, followed by a clash with Youngstown State on the same date, pitting two playoff‑contending teams against each other.
October brings a series of rivalry games, including USF hosting Augustana on October 3 at Jim Heinitz Field, and South Dakota State visiting North Dakota in Grand Forks on October 17, setting up a potential in‑state showdown on Halloween against the Jackrabbits in Brookings.
The latter part of the season features additional high‑stakes matchups such as Augustana’s meeting with MSU‑Mankato on November 7 in Mankato, and a November 21 road test at Illinois State for the Coyotes, rounding out a demanding but exciting schedule.