It’s that time of the year again – football season.

South Dakota State, ranked third in the FCS polls, takes on FBS member Iowa State today at 7 p.m. at MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa.

The Jackrabbits became the first team in program history to post double-digit wins last season, going 11-3, and advanced to the semifinals for the first time.

They’ve qualified for the FCS Playoffs six consecutive years and seven times overall (2009).

“The biggest mindset I think is, ‘this is who we are this year;’ not who we lost last year, because we lost so many good players and I think the press has dwelled on that a little bit,” said 22nd-year head coach John Stiegelmeier, who has a career record of 148-97 (106-64 Division I era). “Our players want to be known for who they are, so right now it’s one game at a time and this is the new set of Jackrabbits.”

Expectations are high this year for the Cyclones, coming off an 8-5 campaign that saw them win 38-31 at No. 3 Oklahoma and beat No. 4 TCU 14-7 on homecoming.

Iowa State tied for third in the Big 12 Conference with a 5-4 record – the four losses came by a combined 22 points.

The Iowa Hawkeyes beat the Cyclones 44-41 in overtime.

Iowa State defeated 19th-ranked Memphis 21-20 in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Dec. 30 in Tennessee.

“They’re coming off a great year,” said Stiegelmeier. “It could have been a lot better based on their scores, because they had a lot of close games that they lost. I think Coach (Matt) Campbell has done an amazing job blending somebody else’s players and some of his recruits, getting everybody on board and believing in him. It’s a good football team.”

Campbell, who recently agreed to a six-year, $22.5-million contract, has a 46-29 career record – 35-15 at Toledo from 2012-15 and 11-14 at ISU since 2016.

SDSU got through fall camp pretty well.

“We’re good; we’re good,” noted Stiegelmeier. “We’re a little beat up right now but we only have one starter that is going to be out. The energy is good. The excitement to play an FBS game after missing out last year is excellent. We’ll be ready to play.

SDSU vs. FBS opponents

The Jackrabbits are 1-8 versus FBS opponents in their Division I era.

It began with a 44-17 loss at Iowa State on Aug. 28, 2008.

SDSU defeated Kansas 41-38 on Sept. 5, 2015.

The Jackrabbits have had a few close calls over the years, falling 16-13 at Minnesota in 2009, 17-3 at Nebraska in 2010, 31-17 at Kansas in 2012 and 59-41 at TCU in 2016.

Last year marked the first season since 2008 in which SDSU did not face an FBS team.

SDSU VS. FBS OPPONENTS (1-8)

Aug. 28, 2008 – Lost 44-17 at Iowa State.

Nov. 14, 2009 – Lost 16-13 at Minnesota.

Sept. 25, 2010 – Lost 17-3 at Nebraska.

Sept. 10, 2011 – Lost 56-3 at Illinois.

Sept. 1, 2012 – Lost 31-17 at Kansas.

Sept. 21, 2013 – Lost 59-20 at Nebraska.

Aug. 30, 2014 – Lost 38-18 at Mizzou.

Sept. 5, 2015 – Won 41-38 at Kansas.

Sept. 3, 2016 – Lost 59-41 at TCU.

Sept. 1, 2018 – at Iowa State.

SDSU offense

The Jackrabbits have a different look on offense after graduating All-America honorees Jake Wieneke, Dallas Goedert and center Jacob Ohnesorge; however, they return their All-America quarterback – Taryn Christion, the 2016 Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year – along with several other key players.

“We’re not going to do as much as far as isolating receivers on people. … We’re not going to create a bunch of new plays or formations, we’re going to execute our offense and put some pressure on Taryn Christion, which we always have, but probably a little more pressure to find who’s open and throw him the ball,” said Stiegelmeier.

Christion went 249-of-428 for 3,515 yards with a school-record 35 touchdowns and 14 interceptions as a junior. The former Sioux Falls Roosevelt Rough Rider added 500 yards and nine TDs on the ground.

Christion threw for a school-record 3,714 yards in 2016.

“He’s on par,” said Stiegelmeier. “He’s as mature of a guy that I’ve ever been around. He’s as great of a leader as I’ve ever been around. Obviously he has a lot of talent. And I think he’s really expecting to raise his game this year from the past.”

Christion is 23-8 as a starter, appearing in 35 games overall.

He is 617-of-1,023 for 8,515 yards with a school-record 72 TD tosses and 26 interceptions.

Christion is the school recordholder in total yards of offense with 9,697 yards (1,182 on 334 rushes). He’s run for 20 scores.

Christion is well on pace to break the MVFC records for passing yards (10,591), passing touchdowns (79) and total offense (10,952).

Senior Isaac Wallace and junior Mikey Daniel are the top running backs.

Wallace ran for 516 yards (5.1 average) and five touchdowns in 2017. Daniel picked up 482 yards (4.8 average) and 11 scores. Both players ran the ball 101 times.

Cade Johnson had 23 receptions for 318 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman, while Marquise Lewis totaled 20 catches covering 348 yards with four TDs as a sophomore.

Sophomore Kanin Nelson is the team’s backup quarterback and junior Justin Roberts is No. 3 on the depth chart.

Two true freshmen – J’Bore Gibbs and Matt Connors – round out the QB depth chart and will likely redshirt.

SDSU defense

“I think we’re in good shape,” Stiegelmeier said. “We’re minus a D-end (starter Elijah Wilson is out due to injury) but we have great depth at all positions. We’re going to have a backup safety that will be out for the game, also, but ideally, we’ll get him back in a week.

“The energy has been good; the effort has been tremendous. They’re looking forward to it.”

All-America linebacker Christian Rozeboom (6-foot-2, 230 pounds) has led the team in tackles the past two seasons, recording 132 as a freshman and 127 as a sophomore.

“Again, for me, with Christian Rozeboom, it starts with his leadership – both by example and when he says stuff, because he’s so well respected,” said Stiegelmeier. “He’s a great, great player, great athlete that, again, is never content.”

The junior from Sioux Center, Iowa, was MVFC Freshman of the Year in 2016 and has contended for a pair of national awards.

Rozeboom was runner-up for the Jerry Rice Award (top FCS freshman), losing by a single vote.

He took 20th in the Buck Buchanan Award voting in 2017 and is on the watch list in 2018.

Cornerback Jordan Brown is back for his senior campaign.

He was second on the team with 72 stops last year. He had three interceptions, forced a trio of fumbles and broke up nine passes.

Special teams

The Jackrabbits are loaded on special teams.

“We’re in really good shape,” said Stiegelmeier. “We have both our kickers back, our snapper back, an All-American return guy back in Cade Johnson. I mean, if they pick up from where they left off last year, we’re going to be really, really good in special teams.”

Junior Chase Vinatieri went 58-of-62 on PAT kicks (the school record for makes) and 13-of-14 on field goals – long of 55. He also scored a key touchdown on a fake field goal late in a win at Montana State.

His 103 points were the second-most in school history for a kicker.

As a freshman, Vinatieri made all 56 of his PAT attempts and was 11-of-17 on field goals.

Senior Brady Hale is the punter for the fourth consecutive season.

He has a career average of 39.5 yards on 160 punts, 55 of which ended up inside the 20 and 14 of which were touchbacks. He averaged 40.1 yards on 48 punts a year ago.

Sophomore Bradey Sorenson is the long snapper.

Johnson, a sophomore, was a big-play threat returning kicks, scoring a pair of touchdowns – including a 99-yarder. He averaged 28 yards on 30 returns.

Lewis, a junior, returned 15 punts with an 8.4 average.

Redshirt rule

The NCAA amended its redshirt rule, allowing players to play in up to four games without losing a season of eligibility.

The new rule likely won’t change the Jackrabbits’ plans a whole lot.

“We’re not approaching it like we’re going to try some guys out, because in reality a guy gets better every game he plays,” Stiegelmeier explained. “So to try a guy out and make a decision. ... We’re using it like in the past – are we going to pull a redshirt, yes; are we not, no. We have three guys we’re almost certain we’re going to pull redshirts on.

“By chance if they weren’t ready and they played up to four games, we would probably try to stop playing them; but we don’t expect that to happen.

“The only other scenario I see is depth. If you lose a couple of guys at a position, all of a sudden a guy that’s being redshirted or is planning to redshirt is No. 2. Now you have a safety net to be able to give him some games and buy some time until those guys get healthy.”

The true freshman likely to play this season are tight end Blake Kunz, guard Mason McCormick and defensive tackle Caleb Sanders.

Gibbs and Connors will both likely redshirt.

“Both of those guys were good in fall camp, but we’re thinking they’ll redshirt,” Stiegelmeier added.

Brookings Bobcats

Three former BHS standouts are on the SDSU roster again this season – Mikey Daniel, Eddie Miller and Preston Tetzlaff.

• No. 26 Mikey Daniel, RB

Junior, 6-0, 220

Daniel found the end zone 11 times during his sophomore season.

He rushed 101 times for 482 yards – a 4.8 average.

“Mikey is going to play a lot of football. He’s the No. 2 running back; he’ll get a bunch of carries; he’s on a bunch of special teams. He continues to grow in a leadership role, so we’re really, really happy with Mikey.”

Daniel added two receptions for five yards and a pair of kick returns for 40.

He has 12 career rushing touchdowns and 562 yards. He’s totaled 644 all-purpose yards.

• No. 54 Eddie Miller, OL

Sophomore, 6-5, 300

Miller was a backup guard as a true freshman and saw action on special teams in 13 of the team’s 14 games.

“Eddie should start at right guard; he should be the guy,” Stiegelmeier said. “He’s done a good job. The big emphasis with the offensive line is to be on the same page and the more time you can spend with those two guys beside you – the center and the tackle – the better you are. They’ve really progressed through fall camp.”

• No. 46 Preston Tetzlaff, LB

Sophomore, 6-2, 215

Tetzlaff was the squad’s Scout Special Teams Player of the Year during his redshirt season in 2016 but missed 2017 due to an injury.

“Preston’s going to play; he’s done a great job,” Stiegelmeier noted. “He’s healthy and we feel really good about where he’s at as a football player.”

Tetzlaff has had to bounce back from a pair of injuries, but is ready to go in 2018.

“He’s hungry. He’s hungry for some opportunities,” Stiegelmeier added. “In the end, everything could be a positive and in this case I think it’s motivated him – not that he needed it – but motivated him to be even more focused.”

He led the way with five tackles in the Spring Game.

Missouri Valley Football Conference

MVFC Overall

STATS/Coaches W-L PF/PA W-L PF/PA Strk

Southern Illinois 0-0 0/0 1-0 49/10 W1

Indiana State 0-0 0/0 1-0 49/0 W1

1/1 North Dakota State 0-0 0/0 0-0 0/0 W6

3/3 South Dakota State 0-0 0/0 0-0 0/0 L1

13/12 Northern Iowa 0-0 0/0 0-0 0/0 L1

21/20 Illinois State 0-0 0/0 0-0 0/0 L3

25/24 Youngstown State 0-0 0/0 0-0 0/0 W3

South Dakota 0-0 0/0 0-0 0/0 L1

Western Illinois 0-0 0/0 0-1 23/26 L2

Missouri State 0-0 0/0 0-1 17/58 L3

   Notes: The following matchups will not take place in 2018: SDSU-WIU, NDSU-InSU, UNI-SIU, YSU-MSU and IlSU-USD. … USD (26th/34th) and WIU (27th/37th) are receiving votes in both polls, while SIU (t48th) is receiving votes in the STATS poll. … The MVFC is 2-2 in nonconference games this year, including a 1-1 mark versus FCS schools and an 0-1 record against FBS teams. … The MVFC went 20-10 in nonconference games in 2017, including an 18-5 mark versus FCS schools and a 2-5 record against FBS teams. … … The Big Sky-MVFC Challenge Series is back this season and the Big Sky holds an early 1-0 lead with seven games remaining. The Valley went 5-3 in the inaugural year.

   ##Big Sky-MVFC Challenge Series game

WEEK 1

Thursday, Aug. 30

Southern Illinois 49, Murray State 10

Indiana State 49, Quincy 0

##Montana State 26, Western Illinois 23

Oklahoma State 58, Missouri State 17

Notable games

North Dakota 35, Mississippi Valley State 7

Saturday, Sept. 1

Butler (0-0, 0-0 Pioneer) at Youngstown State, Youngstown, Ohio, 2 p.m.

##Cal Poly (0-0, 0-0 Big Sky) at North Dakota State, Fargo, N.D., 2:30 p.m.

South Dakota at Kansas State (0-0, 0-0 Big 12; FBS), Manhattan, Kan., 6 p.m.

Saint Xavier Ill. (0-0, 0-0 Midwest League; NAIA) at Illinois State, Normal, Ill., 6:30 p.m.

South Dakota State at Iowa State (0-0, 0-0 Big 12; FBS, Ames, Iowa, 7 p.m.

##Northern Iowa at No. 24/25 Montana (0-0, 0-0 Big Sky), Missoula, Mont., 7 p.m.

Notable games

Morehouse College (0-0, 0-0 SIAC; DII) at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (0-0, 0-0 SWAC), Pine Bluff, Ark., 6 p.m.

Photo from www.gojacks.com.