The Road To Frisco: South Dakota State's Journey To The 2024 FCS National Championship
South Dakota State joined the FCS with North Dakota State in 2004 and spent much of the next 19 years in the shadow of the Bison. In that stretch, the Bison won nine FCS national championships. The Jackrabbits, meanwhile, started becoming a regular mainstay in the FCS playoffs, yet without the championship hardware of their neighbors to the north. From 2012 to 2018, South Dakota State lost to North Dakota State four times in head-to-head playoff games, losing three by 20+ points.
In the spring 2021 season, South Dakota State broke through for their first national championship appearance only to fall short in a 23-21 loss to Sam Houston State. Coach Stiegelmeier led the Jackrabbits back to the championship game two seasons later and South Dakota State defeated the Bison for the first college football national championship in school history.
In the age of the transfer portal, most programs are forced to rebuild after a championship run, but South Dakota State's nucleus decided to return for another run at the championship. Multiple players turned down FBS offers and NFL opportunities, including the entire offensive line. South Dakota State was the most talented and experienced team in the FCS this season, which is a major reason this program has been the consensus No. 1 team since August.
The Jackrabbits won seven games against ranked teams and have added three more impressive wins in the playoffs. This offense is led by the most experienced offensive line in the nation. Quarterback Mark Gronowski had another stellar season and is one of three finalists for the Walter Payton Award. Running back Isaiah Davis has almost 1,500 rushing yards while running back Amar Johnson has recorded over 700 yards rushing. Jadon and Jaxon Janke both had great seasons again and tight end Zach Heins is the best all-around tight end in the FCS. The offense put up impressive efficiency numbers, finishing top two in most advanced statistical metrics.
The South Dakota State defense suffocates opposing offenses by playing mistake-free football and playing fundamental, team defense. This team excels at limiting explosive plays and is holding opponents to only 9.7 points per game. The Jackrabbits had four FCS All-Americans on defense and have put together multiple dominant performances this season. The defense is loaded with impact players including safety Tucker Large, linebacker Jason Freeman, and cornerbacks DyShawn Gales and Dalys Beanum.
The biggest question for South Dakota State entering the season was the head coach after coach John Stiegelmeier retired after leading the program since 1997. The Jackrabbits turned over the reins to young defensive coordinator Jimmy Rogers. The shift to Rogers was quite a change for a program that had the same head coach in four different decades, but Rogers has been part of the Jackrabbit program since he was a player in the early 2000s. Rogers has a chance to make history if the Jackrabbits can win the national championship on Jan. 7.
When South Dakota State plays Montana on Jan. 7 in Frisco the Jackrabbits have a chance to start something few teams can hold claim to in modern college football. Back-to-back championships and 29 straight wins would start the conversation for a solid claim at the next dynasty. South Dakota State would have to back it up with similar playoff success over the next five years, but a win would set them up with great momentum. South Dakota State has been heralded as the favorite to win it all in Frisco since the preseason and it is one thing to be the favorite, but another to finish the job. Coach Rogers and the Jackrabbits have been perfect so far and can finish the season 15-0 with one more win over the Grizzlies.
