BROOKINGS – South Dakota State has not played a football game since March 20 due to COVID-19.

The Jackrabbits defeated Southern Illinois 44-3 that day and then had their next three games either cancelled or postponed due to COVID issues with the opposing teams. Saturday, No. 4 SDSU will travel to Fargo, N.D., to take on No. 2 NDSU in a game that was originally supposed to be played on April 3.

SDSU head coach John Stiegelmeier said he is concerned about rust, with his team having not hit another team in almost a month.

“The only thing I’m concerned with and worried about is just the rust. You know, not having tackled and not having blocked live a whole lot. Those things that are fundamental in the game, but I think the mental part of the game we’re fine with because we’ve had so much time and we’re healthier than we’ve ever been,” Stiegelmeier said.

The Jacks come into the game with a 4-1 record. They sit behind NDSU (6-1, 5-1) and North Dakota (4-1) in the Missouri Valley standings. If SDSU wins Saturday it would clinch at least a share of the Missouri Valley title. With a win and a UND loss, the Jacks would win the title outright.

SDSU is most likely sitting comfortably in the playoffs with wins over Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois and its lone loss coming to UND. Even with a loss they would likely get an at-large birth. Stiegelmeier said he doesn’t want to build this game up too much.

“I told our guys the past three weeks that we’re treating this game like every other game,” Stiegelmeier said. “I’ve had the tendency to maybe build this game up too much. Our players know how important this game is. It’s a conference championship, it’s the marker trophy, automatic qualifier, it’s a seed or a higher for both of us. 

“So I think if one of the team’s wins convincingly, they’ll be the No. 1 seed. We’ve never been that, obviously NDSU has. A lot at stake and our players don’t need to hear that. They need to go out and be 1-0 today and that’s all they need to worry about.

Saturday will mark the 111th time the SDSU and NDSU have done battle on the football field. NDSU leads the series 63-42-5. The two teams have played for the Dakota Marker trophy since 2004 and NDSU is 10-6 in those games. The Bison have won 12 of the past 14 meetings between the two schools including four playoff games.

You would think a team would get sick of preparing for a team after having done so for the past three weeks, but Stiegelmeier said he will never be sick of preparing for NDSU.

“I don’t get sick preparing for North Dakota State. This is one my favorite games. It’s a great rivalry, it’s a great environment up there. The importance that North Dakota State puts on football is really special and we love going into that environment and competing. I’m concerned of doing too much and that’s what I told my coaches,” Stiegelmeier said.

SDSU and NDSU come into the game with the top two rushing attacks in the MVFC, respectively. The Jacks average 218.6 yards per game on the ground and the Bison are not far behind averaging 217.9 yards.

Hunter Luepke leads the way for the Bison with 312 yards on the ground and five touchdowns. He is one of four players with over 250 yards rushing for NDSU. Domic Gonnella (287), Kobe Johnson (285) and Jalen Bussey (251) are the other three.

“I think North Dakota State is North Dakota State and their wrinkles are not major things,” Stiegelmeier said. “… I think they’re very similar [to years past]. They remain trying to get the ball in the tailbacks hand and try to get four to six to 44 yards every time they hand it off and that’s their forte.”

NDSU gives up 106.7 yards per game on the ground and 283.4 yards total. This will be a tough test for SDSU true freshman quarterback Mark Gronowski. One of the things Gronowski won’t have to deal with is a full Fargo Dome crowd. NDSU is allowing only 50% capacity, but Stiegelmeier said they are still preparing Gronowski for some noise.

“We’ve given him the noise in practice,” Stiegelmeier said. “We’ve talked to him about the environment. We’ve talked to everybody about how we’re going to enter the field after the introductions, all of that stuff. We’ve tried to put him there without being there. We’ve had a lot of guys that have been there and have played there, so they’re a part of that also. Bottom line is, he’s going to have some nerves. I mean I’ll be nervous. Hopefully we’re not too nervous to make the right decisions and right plays and stuff. I’ve said this before, give him plays that he can have success with.”

Gronowski has thrown for 902 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 55% of his passes this season. He has ran for 257 yards and six touchdowns.

The Jacks will be getting back their leading rusher Saturday in Pierre Strong Jr. He missed the Southern Illinois game with a foot injury. Strong has ran for 358 yards and a touchdown in four games this season.

Kickoff between SDSU and NDSU is set for 2:30 p.m. You can watch the game on MidcoSN or on ESPN+. 

This is the final game of the regular season for the Jacks. The playoff selection show is Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on ESPNU.

NCAA Transfer Rule

The NCAA announced Wednesday that Division I athletes in football, men’s and women’s basketball, ice hockey and baseball will be allowed to transfer one time without having to sit out before graduation. 

Athletes in other sports have been able to do this for a long time, but players in these sports have had to sit out a year if they transfer. The rule will go into affect this upcoming fall semester.

Stiegelmeier said he is not a fan of the rule.

“I’m dissapointed in it,” Stiegelmeier said. “I understand why it’s going to be and why it’s due for Division I football. I grew up in a small environment where your word meant something. ... On the other hand, you can say whatever you want, but when you commit to a guy, we don’t have try outs on our team. We don’t release a guy after three years, because we committed to them. 

“So this opens the doors for schools especially like us, FCS schools, to become a feeder system if you will. We’re going to be really proactive and tell guys that we’re not recruiting them for one year or two years or three years. We’re making a commitment to you and expect the same from you.”