THE GAME AT A GLANCE

Thursday, August 29 (7 pm) at University of South Dakota
Head Coach: Bob Nielson
NSU vs. USD All-Time: 0-8	Last Meeting: USD 41 - NSU 16 [1997]

 

FAN INFORMATION & GAME COVERAGE

Live Stats: goyotes.com/sidearmstats/football/summary Live Video: ESPN+ |  plus.espn.com/college  | midcosports.com/streaming/ Radio Broadcast: Fox Sports Aberdeen | 98.5 FM · 1420 AM | radio.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/KGIMAM Tickets: goyotes.evenue.net/list/FB Game Notes: Week 0 | Northern State vs. South Dakota   Fan Details: The Northern State Wolves Club will be hosting a fan bus and pre-game tailgate, full details are at the links below Fan Bus Information | 3 pm from Sioux Falls Tailgate Information | 4:30-6:30 pm South Dakota has a clear bag policy at all home events, to learn more CLICK HERE

 

NORTHERN STATE STORYLINES

• Northern went 5-6 overall in 2023 and broke seven single game, season, and career records
• Four Wolves were named to the NSIC All-Conference teams, Dewaylon Ingram rounded out the season as a NFCA All-American, and Dakota Larson earned the third CSC Academic All-America honor of his career a season ago
• The Wolves averaged 26.7 points, 148.5 yards rushing, 250.5 yards passing, and 398.9 yards of total offense per game last season
• They tallied conversion rates of 42.8% on third down and 50.0% on fourth down, while their opponents converted 44.2% on third down and 63.6% on fourth down
• Northern returns both Colton Hackel and Anthony Vespo at quarterback this season and welcomes Division I transfer Daniel Britt; Hackel led the team in 2023, passing for 1,306 yards and eight touchdowns
• NSU fans saw a taste of Hank Kraft in 2023 when he set a single season record averaging 7.4 yards per carry; the sophomore returns in 2024 and is projected as the team's starter at running back
• The Wolves graduated their top-3 receivers from a season ago in Dewaylon Ingram, Dakota Larson, and Hunter DeRize, and have three transfers projected in the starting spots this fall (Zach Jorgensen, Tanner Branson, and Ty Wiley
• Jake Adams had a breakout freshman season for the Wolves in 2023, racking up 64.0 tackles and two interceptions
• Luke Gunderson found himself on the Reese's Senior Bowl preseason watchlist, returning at linebacker after recording 53.0 tackles in 2023
• Mike Schmidt enters his fifth season at the helm of the Wolves program, holding a career record of 45-28

 

SOUTH DAKOTA STORYLINES

• The University of South Dakota is coming off a 10-3 season in the fall of 2023, reaching the quarter round of the FCS playoffs
• The ten wins marked the first double-digit win season for USD in the Division I era and first overall since 1986
• They closed out the year ranked fourth in the FCS national poll
• The Coyotes averaged 24.0 points, 144.5 yards rushing, 202.1 yards rushing, and 346.5 yards of total offense per game last fall
• The offense converted 44.2% on third down and 63.6% on fourth down, while the defense held their opponents with 41.7% on third down and 57.9% on fourth down
• Aidan Bouman will lead the offense again this season, holding a USD record of 11-6 as the starting quarterback; he threw for 2,551 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2023
• Bouman's top target also returns to the field in Carter Bell who tallied 908 yards receiving, five touchdowns, and all-conference honors last season
• The 2023 leading rusher, Travis Theis returns this fall, following a second team All-MVFC performance, 840 total yards rushing, and six touchdowns
• Dennis Shorter sat second on the team last fall with 97.0 total tackles, including 48 solo stops and an interception
• USD is led by head coach Bob Nielson in his ninth season at the helm and 32nd overall as a head coach; holding a career record of 228-125-1

 

THE WOLVES AND COYOTES HISTORY

• Prior to South Dakota moving to the NCAA Division I level, the Wolves and Coyotes faced off eight times from 1934-1997
• USD holds the all-time record of 8-0 against NSU