Wednesday, January 3, 2018

South Dakota State Completes 2018 Football Slate by Adding Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions

BROOKINGS, South Dakota -- The South Dakota State University football team has completed its 2018 schedule by finalizing a contract to host Arkansas-Pine Bluff in nonconference action.

The matchup, which will be the Jackrabbits' first time hosting a Southwestern Athletic Conference opponent, is scheduled to be played Sept. 15 at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. The game has been designated as the 52nd Annual Beef Bowl.

SDSU's other two non-league games in 2018 will include a Sept. 1 contest at Iowa State and a Sept. 8 home matchup versus Montana State. The Sept. 8 home opener will be the annual Dairy Drive game.

"We are excited to have completed our schedule with a home game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, as well as the challenge of opening the season versus a very good Iowa State team," said Jackrabbit head coach John Stiegelmeier. The Iowa State game will mark SDSU's 10th against a Football Bowl Subdivision program in the Division I era of Jackrabbit football, which began in 2004.



Missouri Valley Football Conference action kicks off Sept. 29 with the annual Dakota Marker game at North Dakota State. The Jackrabbits will then be home each of the next two weeks, hosting Indiana State on Oct. 6 and Youngstown State for Hobo Day on Oct. 13.

The Jackrabbits close out the month of October with road games at Northern Iowa (Oct. 20) and Illinois State (Oct. 27).

SDSU will finish the regular season with two of three November games at home. The Jackrabbits are slated to host Missouri State on Nov. 3 and in-state rival South Dakota on Nov. 17, around a Nov. 10 trip to Southern Illinois.

"The MVFC will be as strong as ever, and we plan to compete at a high level during the conference season," Stiegelmeier said.

Game times and other game promotions will be announced at a later date.

SDSU finished the 2017 season with a school-record 11 wins against three losses. The Jackrabbits qualified for the FCS playoffs for the sixth year in a row and reached the national semifinals for the first time.

2018 SDSU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 1 – at Iowa State
Sept. 8 – MONTANA STATE [Dairy Drive]
Sept. 15 – ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF [Beef Bowl]
Sept. 29 – *at North Dakota State
Oct. 6 – *INDIANA STATE
Oct. 13 – *YOUNGSTOWN STATE [Hobo Day]
Oct. 20 – *at Northern Iowa
Oct. 27 – *at Illinois State
Nov. 3 – *MISSOURI STATE
Nov. 10 – *at Southern Illinois
Nov. 17 – *SOUTH DAKOTA [Showdown Series]
* Missouri Valley Football Conference game

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

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