WACO, Texas (KELO.com) —A win over nationally-ranked North Dakota Saturday has propelled South Dakota into the national rankings for the first time since this past March.
The Coyotes (4-2, 2-1 MVFC) enter at No. 21 in the AFCA Coaches Poll with a date with No. 17 Northern Iowa (3-2, 1-1) set for 4 p.m. Saturday in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Saturday’s game is one of four top-25 matchups on the FCS docket. Others include No. 1 Sam Houston State at No. 22 Jacksonville State, No. 4 Southern Illinois at No. 24 North Dakota, and No. 9 Montana State at No. 18 Weber State.
Seven Missouri Valley Football teams are ranked in the top 25, which ties the conference’s record which was set twice this past spring season. The Valley had eight ranked teams during one week in 2014, but not in the same poll.
South Dakota has beaten a ranked team every year for nine consecutive seasons dating back to 2013. Saturday will be the first time USD and UNI will compete against one another in a top-25 matchup.