South Dakota
FCS Championship Preview: South Dakota State vs. Montana | The Analyst
The South Dakota State Jackrabbits have become what the Montana Grizzlies used to be in FCS college football.
Will the Griz have a say about that in the national championship game on Sunday?
SDSU is seeking back-to-back FCS titles, having reached the final for the third time in the last four seasons. In fact, the Jackrabbits have reached at least the semifinal round in six of the last seven postseasons.
That used to be Montana, a two-time FCS champion, which is appearing in the title game for the eighth time, tying for the second-most in history. But it’s the Griz’s first title shot since 2009 after the first seven occurred in a 15-season span from 1995 to 2009.
(Here’s the championship game history of Montana and South Dakota State)
The nation’s top two teams will meet at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, in a much-anticipated showdown. Here’s a capsule preview of the 46th FCS championship game:
No. 1 Seed South Dakota State (14-0) vs. No. 2 Seed Montana (13-1)
Kickoff – 2 p.m. ET Sunday at Toyota Stadium (17,677) in Frisco, Texas (ABC)
Series – Montana leads 8-0 (last meeting: Montana won 24-17 at home in a 2015 first-round playoff game)
Coaches – Montana: Bobby Hauck (129-35, 13th season; 144-84 overall); South Dakota State: Jimmy Rogers (14-0, first season)
5 Players to Watch – Montana: QB Clifton McDowell (138 of 235, 1,861 yards, 13 TDs, 3 INTs; 751 rush yards, 9 TDs), WR/Return Junior Bergen (55 receptions, 766 yards, 5 TDs; 798 kickoff/punt return yards, 4 TDs), RT Brandon Casey (All-Big Sky first team), NT Alex Gubner (39 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 3 sacks), LB Braxton Hill (116 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 7 QB hurries, 3 takeaways); South Dakota State: QB Mark Gronowski (196 of 286, 2,883 yards, 28 TDs, 4 INTs; 349 rush yards, 7 TDs), RB Isaiah Davis (220 carries, 1,491 yards, 17 TDs; 22 receptions, 1 TD), LT Garret Greenfield (three-time Stats Perform FCS All-America first team), LB Jason Freeman (96 tackles, 5 TFLs, 2 INTs, 3 fumble recoveries), FS/PR Tucker Large (43 tackles, 4 INTs, 7 pass breakups; 18.9-yard punt return average, 1 TD)
Notable – Montana: The Grizzlies won FCS national titles in 1995 under coach Don Read and in 2001 under Joe Glenn, while Hauck seeks to win his first in his fourth championship game appearance. The dual-threat McDowell spreads around the offensive touches, including to Eli Gillman (950 rushing yards, 12 total TDs), the 2023 Jerry Rice Award recipient as the national freshman of the year. The Grizzlies rank fifth among 128 FCS teams in scoring defense (16.8-point average), 12th in rushing defense (102.9-yard average) and third in preventing third down conversions (28.6 percent). Bergen, the team’s playoff standout, has four combined touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns this season, but the Grizzlies have have allowed four kicks blocked as well. South Dakota State: The Jackrabbits enter on a 28-game winning streak (third-longest in FCS history) as they seek back-to-back FCS titles – last year under John Stiegelmeier and this season under Rogers, the Eddie Robinson Award winner. The offense boasts a number of NFL prospects, including Davis (24 career games with 100+ rushing yards) and O-linemen Greenfield and Mason McCormick. Gronowski, a junior, joins that trio as a first-team All-American, leading the FCS in passing efficiency (182.7). Dating back to last season, the Jackrabbits have scored on 98 of their last 100 trips inside an opponent’s red zone. The linebacker-led defense has posted shutouts in two of the Jackrabbits’ three playoff games – their 9.7-point overall average allowed bettered only by the 2018 Colgate squad (9.3) since 2010.
2 Key Factors – Montana: The Grizzlies, who utilize a 3-3-5 base defensive alignment, must handle an SDSU offensive line that is considered the best in the FCS to prevent sustained drives by the Jackrabbits. Gubner, the Big Sky defensive player of the year, is excellent at bringing pressure up the middle. The No. 2 seed also must answer SDSU scores and stay within at least one score to have a chance in the fourth quarter for an upset; South Dakota State: With Montana deep in defensive backs, the Jackrabbits must use the run to set up the pass. Davis has been over 100 rushing yards in all seven postseason games the last two seasons, and that’s something they’ve come to rely on at this time of the season. Hunter Dustman set the championship record for punting average last January, but he needs hang time and direction away from the red-hot Bergen (three TD returns in UM’s last two games).
Up Next – The winner will claim the No. 1 final ranking in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll. The 2024 season opener for each team is on Aug. 31: SDSU will play at Oklahoma State and Montana will host Missouri State.
Prediction – South Dakota State 27, Montana 20
PIERRE, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The South Dakota State Museum in Pierre reopened three rooms to the public on July 1st after three years of renovations.
The State Historical Society received funds to enhance the Cultural Heritage Center in 2022, aimed at improving the building and expanding collection storage.
The museum’s exhibits were redeveloped based on extensive public input and updated state social studies standards, ensuring they reflect South Dakota’s story for modern visitors.
The reopening of the three rooms is part of the America 250 celebration.
“Come to Pierre and experience South Dakota’s history! People of many backgrounds have aided the process, so come see the collective work,” said South Dakota State Museum Director David Grabitske.
The South Dakota State Museum is closed on Mondays, but is open from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, Tuesday through Saturday, and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm on Sundays.
Admission is free for all South Dakotans and children from anywhere.
The remainder of the museum gallery space will be reopened later this year.
Copyright 2026 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.
BADLANDS, S.D (KELO)– Cars and campers full of visitors are visiting Badlands National Park today. Tourists are traveling from other states to be in South Dakota for America’s 250th.
“I mean, it’s the kind of thing that you build a road trip for,” said William Retherford, who traveled from Indiana with his family.
For the out-of-state travelers, the beauty of the Badlands can be surprising.
“You picture South Dakota, you think flatland and grass,” said Michael Balafas, who traveled to SD from Idaho. “There are some pockets of South Dakota that are absolutely stunning.”
“It’s hard to even believe that it exists,” said Retherford.
Both families are also enjoying other sites during their trips to western South Dakota.
“What my mom says a lot of the time is, it’s not about the destination but the journey,” said Aralyn Balafas.
Retherford and his family had hoped to be at Mount Rushmore for Friday’s fireworks show.
“We entered eight different ways but didn’t get any tickets,” said Retherford.
Despite not being at the landmark for the show, the trip is well worth it for the country’s 250th.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I mean, we’ll never get to do that again,” said Michael.
“This is the kind of trip that you wait a lifetime for,” said Retherford.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Several new South Dakota laws officially take effect July 1 after being signed into law this session.
This includes new rules on government transparency, online safety, and data privacy.
The Attorney General’s office says the changes are designed to protect South Dakotans both online and in public institutions.
The following 10 bills go into effect July 1:
- Senate Bill 17: Prohibits a candidate or political committee from accepting contributions or loans made by a foreign national. It was unanimously passed by both the House and Senate.
- Senate Bill 41: Revise a provision related to criminal invasions of privacy, prohibit the creation and distribution of digitally fabricated material of an identifiable individual, and provide penalties therefor.
- Senate Bill 42: Enhance the penalties for ingestion, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of a controlled substance in a state correctional facility.
- Senate Bill 43: Address search and seizure provisions applicable to digital currency.
- Senate Bill 44: Establish investigative subpoena authority to gather business records in certain investigations.
- Senate Bill 45: Revise a provision regulating delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, THC-O acetate, and hexahydrocannabinol for persons under the age of under the age of twenty-one and to provide a penalty therefor.
- Senate Bill 46: Modify the requirements for open meeting agendas and provide a penalty therefor.
- Senate Bill 47: Revise the requirements for executive sessions and closed meetings.
- Senate Bill 48: Clarify that an official open meeting agenda must be posted online at least seventy-two hours before the scheduled start of the meeting.
- Senate Bill 49: Safeguards the integrity, privacy, and security of genetic data and provides a civil penalty therefor.
“These bills protect our citizens from online predators, scammers, and illegal drugs, while they strengthen transparency within state government,” said Attorney General Jackley.
Copyright 2026 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.
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