Issuu

SDSUCollegian.com

INFO

October 21, 2026

Collegian Media corrects all confirmed errors that are brought to reporters’ or editors’ attention. After editors confirm the error and the accurate information, the correction will appear as soon as possible on the same platform. Errors that could be libelous or require a more prominent display may require different handling at the editor-in-chief’s discretion. In all cases, transparency in making a correction is essential.

ON DEMAND

THE COLLEGIAN REPORT On last week’s Collegian Report, we heard about students’ feedback on the renovated Larsons Commons, cover the ﬁrst oﬃcial event of Hobo Week, and share one man’s story of academic failure to Lockheed Martin engineer.

NEWSROOM: 605-688-6164 EMAIL:

IN YOUR INBOX

THE JUMP NEWSLETTER Get the most important news of the week delivered into your inbox every Wednesday.

TheSDSUCollegian@gmail.com @SDSUCOLLEGIAN MEDIA SDSUCOLLEGIAN.COM

IS “WHAT’S NEXT” IN YOUR

BIG PICTURE?

It’s In Ours, Too. College is about more than earning a

For more information, visit BANKeasy.com.

degree. Between classes, work, and new experiences, you have enough to manage. First Bank & Trust makes banking simple with convenient tools and local support, so you can stay focused on your goals. 800.843.1552

WWW.BANKEASY.COM

MEMBER FDIC

October 21, 2026

SDSUCollegian.com

NEWS

STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Potential invocation ordinance fails

WILLEM LIM News Director

On Monday, the Student’s Association (SA) debated on Ordinance 26-2-O, which would allow the SA to include an “optional opening prayer, invocation, or moment of silent reflection” before the pledge of allegiance at their meetings. If passed, the SA could invite recognized leaders that represent religious or faith-based groups on campus or the surrounding community to give an invocation on a rotating basis. The ordinance also allows for senators who do not associate or agree with the invocation to step out without any consequence. The prime sponsor, Finance Chair Dominic Delahoyde, said that the ordinance’s main purpose is to help represent the different religious organizations on campus. “This may not be a perfect resolution… but I do feel that it is a starting point, and a good area to start having our religious orgs being heard,” Delahoyde said. While some members of the SA who opposed the ordinance appreciated the idea of representing different religious organizations on campus, the opposing party mostly expressed concern that this decree would end up causing more harm than good. “I think that this could get very muddy, very quick,” said Government Affairs Chair Jacki Mollison. “Especially because seven of us here are employed by the state, where if we aren’t doing this in a way that’s non-denominational enough, we would be sponsoring religious government speech.” Senator Noelle Dunn argued that since the majority of religious organizations on campus are Christian groups, this ordinance could make it seem that the SA favors one denomination over the others. Senator Madisen Younie also added to this argument by saying that since there is a majority of Christian groups

WILLEM LIM / COLLEGIAN MEDIA Students’ Association President Sophie Spier addresses the senate in the Lewis and Clark room in the upper level of the Student Union on Monday, Oct. 19.

on campus, she worries that this only gives the illusion of a rotating basis. “I mean it’s hard when there’s just not equal representation in the community, there’s not going to be equal representation at the meetings,” Younie said. Senator Younie also worries that if senators leave every time there’s an invocation or prayer, this could leave a negative perception on the SA. “I would just suggest that if there is a group of senators who would like to pray any certain prayer that be done before the meeting or outside the meeting, or if we want to invite religious organizations to come and speak during public comments - that would be my two cents,” Younie said. Chief of Staff Andrew Shar-

ples-Schmidt, another sponsor of the ordinance, argued that even if there is a larger population of one group versus a smaller population, that it will be difficult to represent everyone. “I understand that concern. I don’t think that’s specifically an issue,” Sharples-Schmidt said. “I don’t think we have to equally represent every single demographic because I believe that’s impossible.” Eventually, the debate closed out with SA president Sophie Spier saying that as the president, she does not have any qualification to be responsible to approve any invocation of any kind, and foresees the same thing for future representatives. “I ask that before you vote tonight, that you keep in mind the impartiality

of Student’s Association, and what unintended consequences this policy maye have,” Spier said. The ordinance did not pass, with two of the senators adding a friendly amendment to remove themselves as sponsors. IN OTHER NEWS: Dr. Kristi Tornquist, who will be retiring from her position as Dean of the Library, came to address the SA to talk about involvement with the library. To read more on Tornquist’s retirement, visit sdsucollegian.com, or watch the feature story on The Collegian Report on Collegian Media’s YouTube at SDSUCollegianMedia.

NEWS

SDSUCollegian.com

October 21, 2026

Student leaders seek change in new fleet vehicle rules

SUSANNA SCHAEFER / COLLEGIAN MEDIA The motor pool fleet parking lot located near the tailgate area north of Dana J. Dykehouse stadium. Photo taken on Tuesday, Oct 20.

KYLIE MOCKLER Reporter A new policy instituted by the South Dakota Board of Regents (SDBOR) prohibiting many students from driving state vehicles is drawing criticism from student leaders. At its Oct. 5 meeting, SDSU Students’ Association, passed a resolution requesting the revision of the interim vehicle policy. The resolution was passed after the president of

the robotics club, Ian Brueggeman, addressed the Students’ Association during public forum. “It’s going to be difficult for us to travel to any of our competitions,” Brueggeman said, “because none of the competitions are sponsored by the school.” Students’ Association President Sophie Spier said, “The resolution mostly emphasizes the heavy burden that expecting a SOPHIE SPIER student to drive their own vehicle and sign a

waiver saying that they are financially liable for anything that happens is difficult. For any student that’s still on their parents’ insurance, it’s not just that student that’s at risk; it’s now that family that’s at risk.” The Board of Regents met on Oct. 7-8, at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. At this Regents meeting, they had the first reading for the policy, the second hearing will happen at their December meeting. In the past, students not employed by the uni-

October 21, 2026

SDSUCollegian.com

NEWS

“We also hear the concerns that have been brought forth by students and advisers of student organizations, and we are sharing them up into the organization and advocating as best we can.” MICHAELA WILLIS VP of Student Affairs versity signed volunteer agreements to use state vehicles. Now, students not employed by the university are no longer allowed to drive these state vehicles. Tracy Greene, SDSU vice president and general counsel said, “to clarify, students may drive fleet vehicles only if they are a state employee and only within their role and scope of employment.” When asked if a specific incident had occurred to influence this policy, Greene replied, “The state is always looking at best practices for the use of these state-owned vehicles.” Shuree Mortenson, the South Dakota Board of Regents director of communications added, “Recently, the South Dakota Office of Fleet and Travel Management identified vehicle-usage trends that indicated a need to review and clarify how the Board of Regents implements these rules consistently and clearly across all campuses.” After doing more research, the Regents decided to modify the MICHAELA existing policy. SDSU officials WILLIS were notified last spring, but additional guidance wasn’t received until August, when the new change to the policy was made. At this time, only certain people identified by the SDBOR are allowed to drive fleet or university-assigned vehicles. These include student employees and volunteers who are external to the university and have completed a volunteer agreement. Many school clubs are affected by the change in policy. “This would affect every student organization that we have at South Dakota State University,” said Michaela Willis, the vice president for student affairs and enrollment management. “We have over 240 student organizations currently.” Among the clubs affected is Little International. Brandon Gengler, the manager for the 104th Little International, said in the past state vehicles, driven by students, were used to complete numerous tasks throughout the year for Little International. Some of these include transporting animals and students and picking up equipment and feed for the animals.

SUSANNA SCHAEFER / COLLEGIAN MEDIA South Dakota State University motor pool vans parked in the ﬂeet parking lot on the north side of campus. Photo taken on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Since the policy change announcement, the Little International executive team has been brainstorming new ideas. “It’s (the policy) still very new to us so we’re still trying to work on how we can still use the motor pool vehicles because it is a really nice utility to have. But maybe there’s other alternatives,” Gengler said. Some alternatives they have talked about are using personal vehicles to transport animals and pick up equipment for the show. With the use of personal vehicles, the Little International would reimburse students for fuel. The policy states that the use of state-owned vehicles must be for the purpose of conducting state business. That could include recruiting students or staﬀ, or transportation used for a university-sponsored, structured or scheduled activity. Unacceptable use could include the use of vehicles for personal use or providing transportation services for students, non-state employees or employees for any other reason other than state business. “The university continues to advocate to support our students and student travel,” Willis said. “We also hear the concerns that have been brought forth by students and advisers of student organizations, and we are sharing them up into the organization and advocating as best we can.”

SDSUCollegian.com

NEWS

October 21, 2026

New kids on the block

EMMA LANGEROCK Reporter The Kappa Sigma fraternity is on its way to becoming the first new fraternity on the SDSU campus since 2016. The group has now grown to 35 active members and achieved a milestone late last month by being recognized as a student organization through the Students’Association. Junior Evan Huag is a business economics and finance double major from Sioux Falls and serves as the grand master, or president, of the new fraternity. He said Kappa Sigma had enough members last spring to make it the third-largest fraternity on campus, even without official colony chapter status. The group’s next step is to get approved by the Interfraternity Council (IFC). Once that’s secured, they can begin to charter and colonize. Huag and another member from his group, sophomore finance major Dylan Jahraus from Brandon, described why they got interested in Greek life in the first place. As a new organization, the group gets a chance to become a new part of the SDSU community. “We can set a stand for years ahead,” Jahraus said. Starting a Greek organization isn’t as simple as getting a group of friends together and throwing fun events. There’s a process that takes recruiting members, organization and gaining university recognition and national approval. There are three main steps that gain a certain student group recognition on the university and national level. Haug said the first step is finding the right group of guys. This “interest group” as they call it, requires commitment and loyalty to the cause. After gaining interest from peers, the group must follow certain require-

PHOTO COURTESY KAPPA SIGMA From left: Ben Henrichs, Chase DuBois, Bryce Murphy, Dylan Jahraus, Evan Haug, and Eli Buss.

ments. The Kappa Sigma national organization requires service hours from each person, and operational programs and workshops for the group to complete before further action occurs. “It definitely takes time and interest,” Huag said. “We had to divvy up the workload and complete one task at a time.” As “founding fathers” of this new fraternity, the members have the opportunity to shape the culture and set a strong standard that future members can continue to build on. Instead of becoming just another fraternity on campus, this group wants to establish their own identity. “We want to take the initiative to stand out.” Jahraus said. As a new fraternity this year, they do not have an official house or establishment. They hold weekly meetings on campus, or at “satellite houses,” which are members’ residences off campus. Establishing a house for the fraternity

will take a long time, Huag and Jahraus said. Because they are new, they have no alumni to support the large effort. Leo Brown, the senior vice president and chief recruitment officer for Kappa Sigma who helped this group through the organizational efforts, said that a successful new chapter will meet and understand the values of Kappa Sigma. They should contribute to the community, have successful brotherhood events, and certainly, “create great relationships.” Brown said this group of students was extremely organized and serious about the commitment it takes. He said that getting established takes time and dedication, but the group has approached the process with an eager excitement to be a part of something new. The group recently held a 5K Military Heroes event with the SDSU Wellness Society. Together, they raised $3,500 at the event to put toward future

events and club initiatives. The new Kappa Sigma group hopes to grow Greek life as a whole. Huag expects to “get people talking and get people interested.” By starting something new, the group hopes to show other students the opportunities that can come with being involved with a Greek organization. Huag and Jahraus talked about the student involvement that extends beyond the SDSU campus. Fundraisers, sponsorships, and service projects can give students a chance to contribute to the Brookings community and build connections off campus. They said Greek life is a way for students to build fundamental skills that they can’t find in a classroom. Extracurricular commitments such as fraternities or sororities can teach students about leadership, service, and philanthropy.

October 21, 2026

SDSUCollegian.com

NEWS

FROM 0.7 GPA TO ENGINEER

Speaker encourages students to learn from their failure AMINA AIDARKHANOVA Multimedia Reporter A low grade or a failed class can make college students question whether they belong in higher education. A lecture at South Dakota State University encouraged students to see academic setbacks as opportunities to grow rather than reasons to give up. Mannie Canto, who was expelled from school after earning a 0.7 GPA before later achieving academic success, shared his journey with SDSU students during “Engineering Your Comeback: Standing on Success Built From Failure” on Oct. 13. The event brought together students from different backgrounds and academic disciplines through a collaboration involving the Joint Engineering Council (JEC), Latin American Student Association (LASA), Black Student Alliance (BSA) and university partners. Jay Molock, a student success advisor known to students as “Mr. J,” first encountered Canto at a first-generation conference in Texas. After hearing Canto discuss his experiences, Molock saw an opportunity to bring his story to SDSU. “I think he was uninspired to do the work,” Molock said of Canto’s earlier academic struggles. “And because he was uninspired to do the work, his GPA plummeted.” Molock said Canto’s journey could resonate with students who question whether they belong in college, especially those navigating the transition from high school to higher education. Some students may struggle with coursework, while others may feel they do not fit into their campus environment, Molock said. Canto’s experience offered an example of how a difficult academic start does not have to determine someone’s future. William O’Connell, a senior studying mechanical engineering and human biology who serves as JEC president, said Canto was selected because his story extended beyond

engineering. O’Connell said JEC typically hosts industry speakers who introduce students to professional opportunities and perspectives. Canto’s experience offered a different kind of lesson by showing students how difficulties can become part of personal and professional development. O’Connell also recalled receiving a 50% on an engineering mathematics exam early in his studies. He eventually performed well in the course, an experience that reinforced the importance of continuing to work through academic challenges. “You just have to keep going forward,” O’Connell said. For students involved in LASA, Canto’s story also carried a personal connection. Matthias Calderone Colomarco, a sophomore studying geographic information systems serves as LASA’s ex-officio representative. He said Canto’s experience reminded him of his own transition from high school to college. “I really see myself in him,” Calderone Colomarco said. Calderone Colomarco said he did not perform as well academically in high school but has been doing better in college. Hearing about Canto’s academic struggles and later accomplishments helped him see that a difficult start does not prevent someone from pursuing future goals. He also said the lecture reinforced the idea that failure can provide motivation to improve rather than signal the end of someone’s progress. Juliana Del Valle Rivera, a second-year student majoring in theater and journalism who serves as BSA’s ex-officio representative, said Canto’s message was relevant to students across academic disciplines. “Failure often teaches lessons that success cannot,” Del Valle Rivera said. She said students can lose confidence when they compare their progress with classmates or focus on other people’s accomplishments without rec-

AMINA AIDARKHANOVA / COLLEGIAN MEDIA

Mannie Canto speaks to students from various majors and backgrounds.

ognizing the diﬃculties behind them. Student organizations can help students navigate those pressures by providing community, peer support and opportunities to connect with people facing similar challenges, Del Valle Rivera said. “A supportive campus community is one where students feel comfortable asking for help and know they won’t be judged for struggling,” she said. Molock said SDSU oﬀers resources for students who need academic support, including tutoring and advising. He encouraged students to take advantage of those opportunities rather than

attempting to navigate every challenge alone. “I advise, you decide,” Molock said, describing his approach to advising students. He said his role is to provide guidance, while students ultimately decide whether to act on that advice. Molock estimated that about 80 students attended Canto’s event. He said the lecture’s impact could extend beyond the number of people in the audience if even one student left feeling more capable of overcoming a setback. “My goal is to impact the one,” Molock said.

SDSUCollegian.com

NEWS

October 21, 2026

NATHAN DRESSEL / COLLEGIAN MEDIA Thea Tanton being crowned as Miss SDSU by former title holder Sydney Meissner earlier this month at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center in Brookings.

PASSING DOWN THE CROWN

NATHAN DRESSEL Multimedia Reporter

There is a new face representing the university now, as Thea Tanton won the Miss SDSU title. This is Tanton’s fourth title, with her previous titles being Miss Badlands, Miss Missouri River and Miss Heart of the Prairies. Through her work toward earning these titles, Tanton ran on a platform of water safety, starting a fundraising campaign to help families in need obtain life jackets. “My goal is to raise enough money to provide 30 lifejackets to families in need,” Tanton wrote her GoFundMe website. “Together, we can work to make our waters — and our communities — safer for every child.” Along with Miss SDSU, three other titles were awarded that night, including the new Miss Brook-

ings, Jensine Matson, Miss McCrory Gardens, Addison Van’t Hof, and Miss PRIDE of the Dakotas, Madilynn Fischer. Miranda Mack was the main host for the event. She was a former Miss SDSU and Miss South Dakota in 2017. Now, this is her third year directing the Miss SDSU organization. “It’s just fun to follow them and see them improve,” Mack said when asked about the outgoing ambassadors. “You meet their moms, you get to know their parents, it’s just fun and special.” The three-hour event was split into three different categories that both the teen and college contestants participated in. Two of which were evening wear and fitness, where the contestants wore outfits and modeled on stage, while also answering difficult interview questions. The talent portion was filled with different acts from the contestants, which included singing,

interpretive dances, original speeches and even highspeed painting and cake decorating. Sydney Meissner, former Miss SDSU, helped host the competition and expressed appreciation and gratitude for her position after handing over the crown to Tanton. “Being Miss SDSU was one of the greatest things that I’ve ever done in my life,” Meissner said. “Getting to learn people’s stories and talk to members of the Jackrabbit community was one of the best things I’ve ever done.” Tanton is excited to represent the university as Miss SDSU and has expressed some interest in competing for Miss South Dakota. “I’ve been competing in the Miss America organization for four years now,” Tanton said. “I’m just really excited for this year, and I cannot wait to show SDSU my personality and who I am.”

October 21, 2026

SDSUCollegian.com

NEWS

MONEY MANAGEMENT ELSIE MCINTOSH Reporter

As college freshmen adjust to their new lives on campus there’s more than academics, work and social life concerns to cause them stress. Another new challenge for many is managing their finances on their own for the first time. For students at South Dakota State University, the first semester brings more than new classes and independence. It also brings the responsibility of understanding financial aid, paying for necessities and balancing their checkbook. Asha Hertler, a first-year adviser at SDSU, said financial concerns are a common source of stress among students. “It is a complicated area because there are a lot of different ways that

students get stressed from finances,” Hertler said. Students may worry about taking on debt to pay for college or navigating financial aid for the first time. First-generation college students may face additional challenges because they may be unfamiliar with the resources available to them. But, Hertler said that the biggest financial challenge she sees among first-year students is finding a balance between earning money and focusing on college. Some say that they have a hard time trying to manage their work hours and school hours. “The most common piece I see is that struggle of trying to make money now, versus waiting to make that money in the future,” Hertler said. Some students respond to financial pressure by working more hours, but often times that can create additional

problems. Hertler encourages students to work no more than about 15 hours a week when possible, with the exception that some students have financial responsibilities that require them to work more. Students may need to work to pay for their education, help support their families or cover personal expenses. But for students who have scholarships or other financial aid supporting their education, Hertler encourages them to prioritize their role as a student. “If you’re able to have that support through scholarships or other aid to be here, then be here, fully present, be a student be a college student, have that experience, go to class,” Hertler said. Working too many hours can affect areas of students’ lives beyond academics, she said. It can interfere with mental health, social connections and students’ ability to manage their over-

all responsibilities. Students should determine strategically how much they actually need to work instead of automatically taking on as many hours as possible, Hertler said. “I didn’t expect my finances to become more stressful than my schoolwork,” said first-year student Elizabeth Lafler. Hertler said freshmen may encounter unfamiliar financial terminology and processes, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, accepting financial aid, scholarships or keeping track of deadlines. “If you aren’t connected with someone like an adviser or the Financial Aid Office, it is incredibly overwhelming,” Hertler said. To read the full version of this story, visit sdsucollegian.com

A10

SDSUCollegian.com

SPORTS

October 21, 2026

AMINA AIDARKHANOVA / COLLEGIAN MEDIA Students share a meal with a Brookings family during Bum-A-Meal on Oct. 19, 2026. When the event first started, students walked home from the railroads and knocked on the door of houses with their porch lights on, asking for ingredients to make stew.

Hobo Day returns for 114th year

Traditions like Bum-A-Meal, Rally at the Rails continue REMIE RODUNER Reporter South Dakota State University’s 114th Hobo Week is taking over Brookings. The celebration caps off on Saturday with the Hobo Day Parade and football game against Murray State. This week’s traditions are planned entirely by students and expected to draw about 40,000 people. Danielle Witte, SDSU’s traditions advisor, described Hobo Day as the largest one-day event in both Dakotas. She said its appeal comes from how many generations it reaches. Alumni return for it, SDSU students embrace

the event, and the community of Brookings celebrates along with them. “It just connects people from old to young,” Witte said. The week kicked off last Thursday, Oct. 15, with Hobo Gear Prep Night at the University Student Union, where students put together their Hobo outfits. Grace Weaver, the marketing assistant Pooba, said the committee added new touches to established events to keep them appealing to busy students. This year’s prep night included some things like bouquet making, button making, permanent jewelry and clothing for students to build their own

Hobo outfit, and other activities. Bum-A-Meal, a tradition in which students are matched with Brookings host homes for dinner, followed on Monday, Oct. 19. Catherine Klein, the events assistant Pooba, said the committee worked through the summer to recruit hosts and pair them with groups of students. In total, 75 homes signed up to feed 999 students, Witte said, and she expects both numbers to grow. Klein said the Volstorff Ballroom was already booked for Monday evening, so the committee moved the event to Club 71 at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. “It is basically a big puzzle to get

everyone paired together,” Klein said when asked about matching students with homes. Tuesday Oct. 20 was the Jacks Got Talent show and Bum-Over. BumOver is a competition for participants to build cardboard homes. Rally at the Rails is downtown Brookings on Wednesday night and BumFire is hosted on Thursday evening alongside the University Program Council’s Mulligan Stew. On Saturday, the Hobo Day Parade steps off at 9:30 a.m. and travels from Medary Avenue to downtown. The football team plays Murray State at 2 p.m. at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

October 21, 2026

SDSUCollegian.com

Claire Siverhus, the parade assistant Pooba, said she has watched the parade her whole life and is excited to see it from the other side. “I’ve been going to this parade my entire life, so it’s kind of fun to see it from the parade Pooba point of view,” Siverhus said. Siverhus said the parade takes months of planning that begins in January. Six coordinators handle dignitaries, transportation, student and community entries, security and bands. Student organizations can apply to enter floats, and the Fantastic Floats grant program helps groups that cannot afford to build one. Siverhus said this year’s Bum Band, made up of Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band members, is expected to be its largest yet at about 45 people. Organizers faced one late challenge this fall. Siverhus said a new interim Board of Regents policy keeps student organizations from renting fleet vehicles, which the parade had used for dignitaries and barricade setup. Dignitaries will drive their own vehicles

NEWS

this year. Witte said the committee has handled the change well. Behind the scenes, the committee has 18 members: the Grand Pooba, three assistant Poobas and the members who work under them. Witte said the committee primarily runs the event just for the love of the tradition. The group handles permits, street closures and coordination with city and campus police. Klein said she hopes students remember who is behind the event. “I think a lot of students might not realize that we are just students like them planning these events,” Klein said. The committee includes sophomores through seniors, and for many members this is their ﬁrst time planning something this large. Weaver said that is part of what makes the week special. “It’s pretty unique to have a fully student-run homecoming, especially with an event as big as ours,” she said.

PICTURE YOURSELF IN THE

SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION AND JOURNALISM

AREAS OF STUDY

» Advertising » Communiation Studies » Agricultural Communication » Journalism » Communication Education » Public Relations

AWARD-WINNING

student media opportunities — Collegian Media

NATIONALLY COMPETITIVE speech and debate team — Jackrabbits Forensics

@SDSTATECOJO

@SDSUCOJO

SD STATE SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION AND JOURNALISM School of Communication and Journalism | PJ104 | 08/26

A11

Hobo Week Schedule Wednesday, Oct. 21: Rally at the Rails - downtown Brookings (5 p.m.) Thursday, Oct. 22: Soccer vs. USD - Fishback Soccer Park (6 p.m.) BumFire and UPC’s Mulligan Stew - north of the SJAC (8 p.m.) Friday, Oct. 23: Volleyball vs. USD - First Bank & Trust Arena (7 p.m.) UPC Hobo BINGO - Market Stage (5-7 p.m.) Dirty Lil’s Disco - Volstorﬀ Ballroom (7-10 p.m.) Saturday, Oct. 24: Hobo Day Parade (9:30 a.m.) Football vs. Murray State - Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium (2 p.m.) Weary Wil Chill - Pierson basement (7-10 p.m.)

A12

SDSUCollegian.com

Debug your gameplan. Verify you’re a student; unlock $579 value.

October 21, 2026

SDSUCollegian.com

SPORTS

A13

Cross country 26th at pre-nationals

NATHAN THOMPSON Assistant Sports Director

The SDSU cross country team spread itself between two meets on Friday, running at both the Platte River Rumble in Omaha and the Under Armour Pre-National Invitational in Indiana.

Pre-Nationals

The SDSU men’s team brought their top seven runners to race at pre-nationals. The team placed 26th out of 44, a relatively good run given the competition. They scored 643 points and also managed to beat their Summit League competition in UND, who placed 31st with 738 points. The Jackrabbits were led by common frontrunner Jackson Dutcher, who ran 24:04 for the 63rd fastest time of the meet. The Jackrabbits managed their usual tight spread, 41 seconds between first and fifth on the team. While this tight pack has proved advantageous at larger meets, it wasn’t enough to garner the point total the Jackrabbits hoped for, as 182 non-Jackrabbit athletes also crossed the finish line between the 24 and 25 minute mark. 17 seconds behind Dutcher, but 46 places behind, was Cashton Johnson, who ran a 24:21. Close behind was Will Lohr, who ran 24:27 for 128th place. Eli Hall ran 24:33 for 157th place and rounding out the Jack’s scoring, five at a round 200th place was Branden Kampsen, who ran 24:45. The women’s team placed 42nd out of 43, beating only Dayton, by a narrow four points. SDSU put up 1155 points. UND placed 17th with 470 points. The Jackrabbits were led by standout freshman Faith Wiese, who ran 21:18, which earned her 161st place. Wiese was the only Jackrabbit to place in the top 200, as the next to finish was Nora Peterson, in 234th place with a time of 21:48. Kelsey Schmidt ran 21:52 for 249th. Annie Robinson and Eleni Lovgren rounded out the scoring five just 0.1 seconds apart from each other,

SDSU ATHLETICS Freshman Faith Wiese focuses up, as she storms towards her team leading 161st place ﬁnish.

both running 22:15. Robinson was 283rd, while Lovgren was 284th. Nicole Swanson ran 22:49 in 307th, and Ella Boekelheide was in 311th, running her debut 6K in 23:04. Just like the men, the scoring women all finished within a minute of each other. However, 46% of racers finished between 21 and 22 minutes. With three out of five runners finishing in this time slot, it was difficult for them to differentiate themselves from the other teams, as their three fastest runners finished in the same 60 seconds as 148 other competitors.

Platte River Rumble

SDSU’s other men’s team won the Platte River Rumble, scoring just 26 points. Creighton, who had kept the Jackrabbits from winning the Briar Cliﬀ meet earlier this month, found themselves receiving a taste of their own medicine, as they were in second with 59 points.

All of SDSU’s scorers were in the top 10 fastest times at the meet. They were led by freshman Sully Anez, who placed second, with a 32-second personal record time, and 1:17 faster than he ran at the meet last year, with his time of 24:54. Behind him in third was Dale Johnson, who ran 24:57. Next was Jared Lutmer in fourth with a season’s best time of 25:09, four seconds ahead of his previous season’s best. The Jackrabbit’s streak was broken as three runners were between Lutmer and the Jackrabbit’s number four runner, Caleb Morris, who ran a 27-second PR for a time of 25:21 in eighth place. He was followed by Luke Johnson, who rounded out the scoring ﬁve in ninth place, with a time of 25:29. The women’s team also beat Creighton by just one point, scoring 108 points. However, this only earned them second place, as Rogers State completed a near-perfect sweep, grabbing the ﬁrst, second, third, fourth and

sixth place for their top five, scoring 16 points. SDSU also beat Summit League teams UNO and NDSU at the meet. South Dakota State was led by Ellie Robinson, who ran 22:57 in 15th place, outlasting UW-River Falls’s Laina Viere by half a second. Second for the Jackrabbits was Annika Larson in 17th, with a time of 22:59. Emery Larson was third for the Rabbits, 21st overall, with her time of 23:16. Next was Lindsey Rotz, whose time of 23:22 both earned her 23rd place and an eight-second SB time. SDSU’s scoring five concluded in 23:46 with Anna Sheriff in 37th place. About the meets, Coach Rod DeHaven said, “Both teams in Nebraska performed well. There were plenty of positives for our groups at Indiana State, but I think both squads know there is more in the tank and hope to improve on their performances in two weeks. All things considered, pre-nationals went well for the Jackrabbit men. Only 32 teams compete at the NCAA D1 Championships. Obviously, to even compete is the goal for SDSU. SDSU is currently ranked anywhere from 50th to 70th, depending on your ranking site of choice. SDSU’s 26th place is nothing to be ashamed of, and they were competitive with a lot of teams. But without a few true standout performers who can be ahead of the main pack, a top 32 ranking is a long way off. A freshman on the men’s top seven and leading the women is an exciting prospect for the future. The Rumble gives excitement for things to come. While a much less competitive meet, having teams getting first and second is a testament to the depth that SDSU has displayed this season. As runners continue to develop, the team will only be stronger as runners transition from the bottom 10 runners to the top seven. SDSU continues as the premier Summit League team.

Up Next

SDSU has one meet upcoming on Oct. 22: The Mount Marty Invitational in Yankton.

A14

SPORTS

SDSUCollegian.com

BLOCK-TOBER

October 21, 2026

Jacks defence comes through, team wins two in North Dakota NATHAN THOMPSON Assistant Sports Director The SDSU volleyball team found themselves in North Dakota over the weekend, as they played NDSU in Fargo before going to Grand Forks to compete with UND.

NDSU

Both NDSU and SDSU entered this matchup with just one loss in conference play. NDSU was 3-1, and SDSU 4-1, with both of their losses being to Omaha. In set one, SDSU jumped out to an early 5-1 lead. NDSU responded with a run of their own to tie the score at 5-5. With the score tied 7-7, NDSU put up a three-point run to reach double digits first. NDSU never lost the lead after this, despite a Jackrabbit three-point run putting the score at 17-16; this was the closest the set got after the 7-7 tie, as the Bison took set one 25-22. Whatever adjustments the Jackrabbits made for set two worked wonders. With the score tied 3-3, SDSU mounted nine points with the help of three Hannah Klein kills and a Sylvie Zgonc ace, while NDSU put up only two points. With the score now 12-5, the two teams traded points before an SDSU three-point rally, followed by a NDSU point, had the two teams at 16-8. SDSU responded to NDSU’s point back with seven unanswered points of their own, including five Zgonc kills. The Bison were able to snap the streak, but it was evidently far too little, far too late, as the 23-9, 14-point deficit grew to 16 as Zgonc picked up her ninth kill and second ace of the set on back-to-back plays. In the third set, NDSU opened with a 2-0 lead before SDSU tied it up. Neither team was able to pull away, as the score remained mostly tied up until 13-13. NDSU looked like they might be able to hang on to a two-point lead, as they constantly thwarted SDSU’s

SUSANNA SCHAEFER / COLLEGIAN MEDIA Sylvie Zgonc and Claire Logeais go up for a block in SDSU’s Oct.8 match against Kansas City. The Jackrabbits would win the match 3-1.

attempts to tie, but SDSU mounted a two-point rally of their own shortly after to tie it 18-18. With the score again tied at 20, SDSU put up a block, kill, block rally to pull ahead, with a lead they never surrendered in their 25-22 win of set three. Needing a win to extend the match, NDSU went to work. After falling 4-1 early, the Bison capitalized on a Larsen serving error to score four straight, making it 5-4. SDSU managed to tie it at 8-8, but NDSU put up three kills and a block in another four-point run to again pull ahead, this time 12-8. SDSU scored another point, but NDSU capitalized on three Jackrabbit errors in what proved to be a devastating six-point run. With the score 18-9 the Bison cruised to a 25-13 win.

In the fifth and final set, the score was tied at 6-6 when the Jackrabbits took advantage of a Bison error to allow for a Claire Logeais kill. From there on, two more errors and a Klein kill a bit later put the Jackrabbits just four points away from victory, with the score being 11-7. NDSU scored four more points, but the Jackrabbits won the set 15-11, and the match 3-2. Zgonc added 24 kills to her already impressive season total, while her seven digs also pushed her over the 1,000dig mark, making her just the seventh player in SDSU history to have 1,000+ kills and 1,000+ digs during their tenure. Rylee Martin had a career-high assist total of 51, and Joslyn Richardson had her seventh match with 15+ digs this season.

UND

When SDSU entered Grand Forks, UND was coming off a two-match losing streak; on top of that, they were only 1-5 in both conference matches and home matches. Meanwhile, the Jackrabbits entered on a four-match winning streak with Zgonc having the fourth most kills in NCAA D1 athletics this year. In the first set, the Hawks got off to a strong start, leading 3-0 right away. SDSU tied it shortly after at 4-4. From there on, the two teams kept in stride with each other, never letting the other get more than two points ahead, in a set that saw 14 more ties and seven lead changes. SDSU had a chance to end it as the score was 24-21, but UND scored three in a row in order to extend

October 21, 2026

SDSUCollegian.com

the match with a 24-24 tie. However, a Marisa Michaelis kill put the Jackrabbits one point away from the win, which they would find in the form of a block on the very next rally, as they won set one 26-24. In set two, the two teams stayed neck and neck early, with 6-6 being the fifth time the score was tied. UND’s sixth point was part of a four-point rally that would put them up 9-6, but SDSU not only tied the score yet again but took the lead as they went on a 5-0 scoring run, featuring a kill by Michaelis and three by Zgonc, as they led 13-10. Not to be outdone, UND mounted their own 5-0 run a few points later, as they pulled ahead 16-15. 18-18 was the set’s 10th and final tie, as SDSU scored four straight, before three straight Hawks errors put the set away at 25-21 a few minutes later. The Hawks had been keeping it close the first two sets, but they weren’t looking to get swept, as they opened the third set 4-0, with two Reagan McIntosh aces. After trading points for a bit, SDSU scored four straight off three Hawk errors and a Klein kill to take their first lead of the match, 8-7. The two teams traded points again, with neither able to score more than two in a row, before UND scored two straight to take a 14-12 lead. The lead wavered, but in the end UND got a 2520 set three win. Set four only saw one tie, and it was 1-1. The set wasn’t close the whole time, with the Jackrabbits leading by eight late in the match with the score 20-12. However, the Hawks looked like they might come back as the Jacks only scored in one-point segments from here on out, separated by two-point and three-point runs by the Hawks, as they tried to keep themselves from losing the match. However, the eight points proved to be just a bit too much to overcome, as a kill by Klein ended the match at 25-22. The Hawks had four more kills than the Jacks over the four sets, but they had nine more errors, which ended up making all the difference. After the match, Zgonc sits at 1651 kills in her SDSU career. Just eight from displacing Crystal Burke for the third most in school history, and 114 away from the all-time school record. If

SPORTS

A15

SDSU Records KILLS:

1. Kristina Martin (1,765) 2. Rose Ebnet (1,724) 3. Crystal Burk (1,658) 4. Sylvie Zgonc (1,651) 5. Wendy Windschitl (1,581)

Points:

1. Kristina Martin (2,040.5) 2. Rose Ebnet (1,910.5) 3. Crystal Burk (1,871) 4. Sylvie Zgonc (1825.5) 5. Kellie Fiegen (1,729.5)

SUSANNA SCHAEFER / COLLEGIAN MEDIA Hannah Klein sends the ball over the net towards Kansas City’s Natalie Ptacek and Stella Smith.

SDSU were to win the Summit League tournament this year, she only needs to average 12 kills per match to take the number one spot. 17 per match if she wants to get it before the tournament even starts. She is also fourth in school history for points scored, 45 behind Burke. Rylee Martin also became number seven on the all-time assist list, with 2,629 over her career.

Up Next

SDSU exits the weekend 10-8 overall, and 6-1 in the conference. The Jackrabbits’ next three matches will be at home, where they will play USD on Friday, Oct. 23. The Coyotes are 13-5 overall, and 6-1 in the conference, with their only loss being to the Jackrabbits earlier this year. The team is led in kills by junior Lauren Medeck, who has 235 this year. Medeck only put up seven in the two teams’ last meeting. The team is led in blocks by the six-foot-two Amanda Loschen. USD averages 16.89 points per set across their 65 sets played this year, while allowing only 15.05. USD is 0-3 against SDSU in their last three matchups, and 30-26 in the

series all time. Not only did SDSU sweep the Coyotes, but two of their players put up double-doubles, with Rylee Martin’s first 40-assist match of the year also coming with 10 digs, and Sylvie Zgonc with 19 kills and 13 digs. The Jackrabbits average 15.41 points per set but have allowed an average of 16.28 per set. SDSU won the first 19 matchups against the Coyotes. The two teams started playing each other in 1994, with the Jackrabbits’ first loss coming in 2003.

Assists:

1. Angie Rime (5,905) 2. Julie Nihart (4,644) 3. Kristie Klusaw (4,138) 4. Gail Ahlquist (3,774) 5. Jenni Dold (3,409) 6. Tasha Kryger (2,908) 7. Rylee Martin (2, 629)

Kills Per Set:

1. Sylvie Zgonc (4.19) 2. Rose Ebnet (3.79) 3. Shauna Sturm (3.74) 4. Kristina Martin (3.67) 5. Crystal Burk (3.35)

A16

SDSUCollegian.com

SPORTS

October 21, 2026

Jacks to battle for the top Second place Jacks will face first place Coyotes

CORDELL VITENSE Sports Director The SDSU soccer team split, going 1-1 in the last week after a loss against St. Thomas and a win against Omaha. The Jacks now sit at 3-2-2 in conference play, good enough for second in Pod A standings and third in overall standings.

ST. THOMAS

Against the Tommies, SDSU took a 1-0 loss on Thursday, Oct. 15. The only goal of the game came from Tommies sophomore Becca Smith just five minutes into the second half. While the Jacks didn’t score during the game, it wasn’t for lack of trying, as SDSU had twice as many shots on goal as the Tommies, putting four on goal while the Tommies only did so twice. The main contributor to the Jackrabbit offensive attack was junior Adrianne Agbayani, as she shot the ball three times, all of which were on goal. Jackrabbit goalkeeper Mallorie Benhart saved one of the two shots on goal, while St. Thomas goalie Sophia Alvarez saved all four of the shots on goal.

OMAHA

After the tough loss on the road to St. Thomas, the Jackrabbits traveled to Omaha and rebounded with a 2-0 win on Sunday, Oct. 18. SDSU got the scoring started fast against the Mavericks, jumping out to a 1-0 lead less than seven minutes into the game with a goal from Ellie Gusman. After a delay in the scoring, the Jacks put another point on the board with a MaKynlie Cade goal with just under five minutes remaining in the first half. The game didn’t see any more scoring, giving the Jacks their third win in conference play.

DAVE EGGEN / INERTIA SPORTS MEDIA

SDSU freshman defender Stella Braddock dribbles the ball against Omaha on Oct. 18 during a 2-0 SDSU win that propeelled them to 3-2-2 in conference play.

For the Jacks, Mia Bosch, Hannah Langstaff and Agbayani all finished with one assist. Omaha put two shots on goal during the game, both of which were saved by Benhart. On the other side, Mavs goalkeeper Cadence Fagan allowed two goals and saved three shots.

USD

The Jacks will now look ahead to Thursday, Oct. 22, when they return home to host rival USD. The Yotes currently sit atop the Summit League Pod A standings with a

record of 3-1-3 in conference play. This will be the second meeting between the two teams this year, as the Jacks opened conference play in Vermillion when the game ended in a 0-0 tie. In the first matchup of the season, SDSU outshot USD, getting 17 total shots up to USD’s 14 and putting six of those 17 on goal while USD put only three shots on goal. On the season for USD, Klarissa Vega leads the team in points with 11, coming on four goals and three assists. Her four goals are tied for the most on the team and her three assists lead the

way. In conference play, there is a threeway tie for the points leader, which includes Vega, Kinsley Pesicka and Brooklynn Pollmiller. All three have five points in conference play on two goals and one assist.

UP NEXT

After USD, there are just two more games before the Summit League Tournament begins on Nov. 6. First, the Jaks will travel to Grand Forks to play UND on Oct. 29 and then they will return home to host NDSU on Nov. 1.

October 21, 2026

SDSUCollegian.com

SPORTS

A17

THE STABLE

JOSIAH JOHNSON

JAMES BASINGER

COREY BLAIR JR.

RAMON MCKINNEY JR.

COLLEGIAN PHOTOS

A look at SDSU’s dominant running game ANTHONY REZAC Multimedia Reporter South Dakota State’s running back room this season is a place crowded with talent. In fact, it has its own name: The Stable. That’s because the Jackrabbits have several high-quality running backs, any one of whom could probably be a starter. They all have a mixture of everything. In the last five weeks, they’ve all showcased speed, power, and the ability to make guys miss in space,” South Dakota State running back coach Deontae Cooper said. SDSU is currently 5-2 on the year and ranked No. 5. One of the reasons why the team is playing so well is the playmakers. Specifically, the running backs. The “Stable” features several key players. SDSU has a “running back by committee” type of approach this season, and it has been very efficient. The room is led by sophomore Josiah Johnson. Although there are three or four backs that consistently get carries, Johnson is the true workhorse of the

room. Along with him is another sophomore, Corey Blair Jr. Rounding out the majority of the carries are another sophomore, James Basinger, and transfer player Ramon McKinney Jr. McKinney is dealing with a knee injury currently but is expected to return to play soon. On the year, Johnson has totted the rock 120 times for 734 yards and seven touchdowns. Basinger has 42 carries for 502 yards and seven touchdowns. Blair has 275 yards on 35 carries while ﬁnding the end zone three times and McKinney Jr. has 104 yards and two scores on 11 carries. In totality, the stable has combined for 1,615 yards and 19 rushing touchdowns on 208 carries for an average of over 7.7 yards per carry. Cooper says opportunities in the crowded room are earned throughout the week. “Everything in our room starts with practice,” Cooper said. “The detail in executing your assignment, playmaking ability and consistency to do your job at a high level…Competition in the room ensures everyone keeps an edge and their urgency to keep chasing

improvement…Iron sharpens iron.” That mindset has shown on the field. The Jacks offense is averaging the most rushing yards per game in the FCS with more than 270 rushing yards per game, helping lead the No. 4 total offense in the FCS with 478.3 yards per game. Having several capable running backs also means fresh legs are almost always available. “There’s always a fresh pair of legs ready to go, so I believe game planning for that has to be tough,” Basinger said. “Especially because each of us has a different style and can bring more to the table than if you were just game planning for one.” However, Basinger said one of the challenges is never knowing exactly how many opportunities each player will receive. Some games may feature three to four backs, while others may feature only two. His mindset is simple: Always stay ready. Blair brings another element to the offense with his speed and ability to create explosive plays. Despite competing for carries, he said that competition has not hurt the rela-

tionships within the room. “We are like brothers, and we spend most of our time with each other,” Blair said. “I feel like that’s why this room is so good, because we thrive oﬀ each other and get better day by day.” Johnson shares that mindset. After undergoing meniscus surgery in the spring, he worked his way back and has become a major part of the Jacks’ rushing attack. He credits his oﬀseason work and Cooper for helping him return ready to play. Johnson also sees the amount of talent around him as a positive rather than a threat to his playing time. “It’s a blessing to be driven by that much talent in one room,” Johnson said.“It’s kind of rare for that to happen, so I don’t take it for granted at all.” That attitude might be what separates the Stable from most. Johnson said the backs don’t complain about reps or root against the next player. “We attack everything as a unit and celebrate everything as a unit,” Johnson said.

“There’s always a fresh pair of legs ready to go, so I believe game planning for that has to be tough.” James Basinger, SDSU Running Back

A18

SPORTS

SDSUCollegian.com

JACKS DROP THE BALL

OWEN BOYD / COLLEGIAN MEDIA Lofton O’Groske attempts to catch a pass from Chase Mason over a UND defender on Saturday, Oct. 17. The Jacks went on to lose 21-10 to take their ﬁrst loss in conference play of the season.

SDSU takes first conference loss to UND in 21-10 defeat ERIC HEGGESETH Multimedia Sports Reporter The 11th-ranked University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks football team came out firing on family weekend in front of a sold-out Alerus Center crowd as the Fighting Hawks raced to a 21-3 halftime lead, knocking off top-ranked South Dakota State 21-10. After the loss the Jacks now move to No. 5 in the rankings. After injuring his ankle in a 24-7 loss at Northern Iowa last Saturday, North Dakota senior Quarterback Jerry Kaminski was able to make the start against South Dakota State despite be-

ing classified as week-to-week. SDSU quarterback Chase Mason was also able to return from Injury. Kaminski found Cameron Weir for a 35-yard touchdown to put North Dakota up 7-0 with just over a minute to go in the first quarter. Kaminski finished the game 11 of 17 passing for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Matt Lawson led the way on the ground for North Dakota, taking 24 handoffs for 99 yards. Jeremiah Johnson took a second-down handoff and ran for eight yards to move the chains and end the quarter. The Fighting Hawks defense held the Jacks to just 42 yards of of-

fense in the opening quarter. Chuck Lagama ran one in from 51 yards out, putting UND up 14-0. Before a costly late hit penalty on their following drive helped capitalize on an eight-play touchdown drive. That included a phenomenal one-handed catch by tight end Haydn Stay followed up by Kaminski’s 12-yard completion to Deng Deng, giving UND a 21-0 lead over the visiting number one team in the country. SDSU got a breath of life nearing the end of the half as Lagama fumbled a ﬁrst down carry and Reis Kirchsman jumped on the ball at the Fighting Hawks’ 34-yard line. SDSU faced

October 21, 2026

When: Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. Where: Brookings, South Dakota TV: ESPN+/ Midco Sports Two Radio: Jackrabbit Sports Network Records: Murray State 1-6, SDSU 5-2 Last meeting: Oct. 18, 2025 at MSU Series: 2-0 SDSU Last week: MSU 48-20 L; SDSU 21-10 L MSU on offense: The Racers average 280.7 yards per game while scoring 15.57 points per game. The Racers have a trio of receivers all with yards ranging from 229-240. The leading receiver is Dimitri Howard with 240 yards and two scores. Right behind him is Trey Firestone with 236 and a pair of touchdowns. The third man in the trio is Jaxon Potter with 229 and he aslo has two touchdown receptions. Jacks on offense: SDSU averages 478.3 yards per game and score 36.43 points per game. The Jacks are headlined by a running game that averages 272.6 yards per game. Josiah Johsnon leads the team with 739 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. James Basinger is second on the team with 502 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging a team high 12 yards per carry. MSU on defense: 432.6 yards allowed per game while allwoing 41.71 points per game. MSU give up an average of 221.1 rushing yards per game and 211.42 yards pass per game. Jacks on defense: 301.9 yards allowed per game; 16.71 points allowed per game. Jes Krcil leads the Jacks with 48 tackles and is third with 3.5 tackles for loss this season. Quick facts: Last week UND became the first FCS team this season to score against the Jacks in the first quarter. The only other team to do so was Northwestern. The Murray State loss last weekend has made their record 1-25 in their last 26 conference games with the lone winning coming in the final game last season.

October 21, 2026 SDSUCollegian.com fourth down twice on the ensuing drive. Joshiah Johnson converted a fourth-and-two with a five-yard run, which set up an eventual Tristan Alvano 30-yard field goal that got the Jacks on the board and cut the UND lead to 18, which they took into the locker room. The Fighting Hawk defense was the story of the first half as they held the Jackrabbit offense to just 114 yards total, coming pretty evenly. Chase Mason completed five of 13 passes for 50 yards and Josiah Johnson led the rushing attack, taking 14 handoffs for 50 yards. SDSU totaled 56 yards rushing in the half. James Besigner was the one who hit the home run, as he was able to eclipse the team’s first-half rushing total by himself as he took a handoff 63 yards for a touchdown on the opening possession of the second half, which would be the only score in the third as SDSU held the ball for eight minutes. Facing a third-and-twelve with seven minutes left in the game, Mason attempted to find Jack Smith but was unsuccessful, forcing Max Pelham to

punt for the sixth time. The Jackrabbits were not done there, forcing UND to punt to follow. A second-down pass interference penalty, which was unpopular with North Dakota fans, set up SDSU at midfield. Mason completed an 18-yard pass to Jack Smith, but SDSU was unable to cut the game to one possession as Alvano sailed a 46-yard field goal to the right, keeping the score 21-10 just before the two-minute warning. Matt Lawson moved the chains with a sixyard carry, sealing the upset for UND and allowing the students to rush the field as fireworks went off above them. Chase Mason completed 14 of 33 passes for 169 yards while James Basinger took 11 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown. Josiah Johnson took the most attempts rushing with 17, finishing with 54 yards. South Dakota State drops to 5-2 on the year while North Dakota improves to 6-2. South Dakota State is back at home on Saturday as they host the one-win Murray State on Hobo Day. Kickoff is

SPORTS at 2 p.m.

A19

far.

MURRAY STATE

This Saturday, Oct. 24, Murray State comes into Brookings with a 1-6 record, with their lone victory coming over Valparaiso. The Racers have struggled since joining the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2023, having won just two games to date, those being both over Indiana State, the ﬁrst of which came in their Inaugural MVFC game, 30-28 in Murray and the second coming last season in Terre Haute, 31-17. The Jackrabbits and Racers have met just two times, with their last meeting coming last season, in which the Jacks were victorious 35-14 in Murray, but lost quarterback Chase Mason due to a foot injury early in the game before missing ﬁve games. Murray State is led by third-year Head Coach Jody Wright, who, before taking the Racers job in 2024, spent time as an assistant for multiple SEC schools and also the New York Giants. Murray State is 3-28 under Wright so

Quarterback Collin Shannon has completed 61% of his passes for 555 yards and three touchdowns this season with two interceptions. At running back, the Racers have split carries mainly between two juniors. Tyrell Campbell has taken 55 handoﬀs for 298 yards and two touchdowns, while Mykel Allen has taken 59 handoﬀs for 242 yards and three touchdowns. The Murray State defense gives up around 42 points a contest. Sophomore linebacker Rett Hemphill is tied at 54 tackles to lead tacklers with senior safety Dylan Rowsey. Conference opponents are outscoring the Racers 149-54.

UP NEXT

Following Murray State the Jacks will get to stay at home when they host USD on Halloween for what looks like could be a top 10 matchup. The game time has been set for 3 p.m.