South Dakota State vs South Dakota live updates, score, highlights

There is a big-time matchup set for Brookings, South Dakota today. No. 6 South Dakota is heading up I-29 to take on No. 5 South Dakota State.

The Jackrabbits (6-2) are coming off a 42-9 home victory over Murray State, while the Coyotes (7-2) beat No. 9 North Dakota 26-23 in overtime last week.

The winner of this game will remain in control of its own destiny for at least a share of the Missouri Valley Football Conference title, and will have the inside track to a bye and potentially top-four seed in the FCS playoffs.

Follow along here for drive-by-drive updates of the Jackrabbits' and Coyotes' top-10 Halloween clash in Brookings.

Check out top moments of South Dakota State football vs North Dakota

South Dakota State vs. South Dakota prediction

02:30 PM ET, October 31 2026, Paul Cifonelli

Paul Cifonelli, Argus Leader: This prediction has worn on me for a few weeks, and it's finally time to put pen to paper.

To start, this game is perfection. It's a big rivalry spot between two in-state teams competing for a conference championship and a bye in the FCS playoffs. It's happening late enough in the season where the stakes are clear and obvious, and a loss for either side will leave them with serious work to do in a short amount of time.

Then comes the coaching aspect. It's South Dakota head coach Matt Vitzthum's first game as a head coach in the series, and South Dakota State head coach Dan Jackson's second. These two get to make their own mark on the rivalry, and any win will be a season-defining one.

These teams appear different on the field, yet they're both undeniably elite. South Dakota State embodies more of a hard-nosed, grinder attitude than South Dakota. I mean, the Jackrabbits have been coming out to "Blind" by Korn.

South Dakota plays a similar brand of football with their explosive run game and play-action passing, but the Coyotes stretch the field vertically a whole lot more.

This game has all the potential of a low-scoring grind. Both defenses can absolutely play in those games, and we've seen that.

All this is to say I'm going with the home team. Both South Dakota State and South Dakota are undefeated at home this season, and putting freshman QB Austyn Modrzewski into this spot feels like an incredibly tough assignment. If he gets the Coyotes out victorious, we should probably have the Jerry Rice Award on hand for him.

South Dakota State QB Chase Mason has been there, done that in big games. He's got a next-level arm, even if the results haven't been eye popping this season. At the end of the day, he's going to make a play or two that will cement his legacy as a Jackrabbit and send SDSU to victory.

South Dakota State vs. South Dakota football TV, stream, radio

Radio: Jackrabbit Sports Network, Coyote Sports Network