Terre Haute, Indiana — The Missouri Valley Football Conference portion of the 2021 schedule kicks off Saturday afternoon, when South Dakota State travels to Indiana State.
Start time is set for 1 p.m. Eastern Time (noon Central) at Memorial Stadium in Terre Haute, Indiana. The game will be televised on ESPN+ and also broadcast locally through KELO Xtra and the CW of the Black Hills.
South Dakota State enters the matchup once again ranked second in this week’s Stats Perform media poll and third in the Football Championship Subdivision coaches’ poll. The Jackrabbits, who are coming off their lone bye week of the regular season, improved to 2-0 overall with a 52-7 victory over NCAA Division II opponent Lindenwood in SDSU’s home opener Sept. 11.
Indiana State, meanwhile, upped their overall record to 2-1 after winning 23-21 at Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 18. The Sycamores scored a touchdown on the final play of the game as backup quarterback Kurtis Wilderman connected with Phazione McClurge on a 24-yard pass play.
Indiana State opted out of the 2020-21 spring season, making Saturday’s contest its first MVFC game since November 2019.
Through its first two games this season, the South Dakota State offense has averaged 8.4 yards per play. The Jackrabbits averaged 7.5 yards per play (62 plays, 464 yards) in the Sept. 3 season opener at Colorado State, followed by averaging 9.3 yards per play (60 plays, 460 yards) in their Sept. 11 home opener against Lindenwood.
The Jackrabbits have 14 plays of 20 or more yards in their first two games, the longest of which was a 68-yard run by Pierre Strong, Jr. versus Lindenwood. Strong holds an average of 12.4 yards per rushing attempt, gaining 248 yards on only 20 carries so far this season with three touchdowns.
Conversely, SDSU is limiting the opposition to 4.8 yards per play, including 2.9 yards per rushing attempt.
