The highly anticipated South Dakota State vs. South Dakota State rivalry game is locked in for a prime-time slot, with officials confirming an Oct. 31 kickoff at 3 p.m. in Brookings. The matchup will air nationally on ESPNU, marking the third consecutive season that the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s marquee in-state rivalry has secured a linear ESPN broadcast. This selection was determined prior to the season as part of the MVFC’s exclusive media contract, ensuring maximum visibility for the conference’s flagship contest.
Top-ranked Jackrabbits and Coyotes clash in a high-stakes MVFC showdown this Halloween.
Both programs enter the Halloween showdown as national powers, with SDSU holding the No. 5 seed and USD ranked No. 8 in the Stats Perform Top 25. The Jackrabbits (5-2, 2-1 MVFC) and Coyotes (6-2, 3-1 Valley) are currently battling for supremacy within the conference standings, making this more than just a local bragging rights match. The stakes are elevated by recent history, as USD claimed the 2025 meeting with a 24-17 victory in Vermillion, while SDSU avenged the loss in the previous cycle with a 20-17 overtime thriller in Brookings.
This afternoon kickoff represents a strategic shift from the 6 p.m. slot used in the 2024 Brookings contest, aligning with the network’s broader scheduling preferences for midweek and weekend marquee games. With both teams possessing top-tier defenses and potent offenses, the ESPNU broadcast promises a tactical battle that could define the MVFC title race. Fans across the Dakotas and the nation will tune in to see which program can break the recent parity and extend their dominance in this historic rivalry.
Source: Yahoo Sports
