South Dakota State Locks In Two 2026 Non-Conference Games, Visits Northwestern

South Dakota State has locked in two nonconference opponents for 2026, announcing a Big Ten road date with Northwestern and a home game against New Haven. The pair gives the Jackrabbits both a marquee FBS challenge and a midweek regional opponent, but a mismatch in school schedules has left the exact calendar unsettled.

SDSU’s athletics office posted a release titled "TWO NONCONFERENCE GAMES SET FOR SDSU FOOTBALL" on Jan. 30 listing the Northwestern trip and a Sept. 12 home date with New Haven. The Jackrabbits enter the matchup on the heels of a 9-5 2025 season that ended with a 50-29 loss to Montana in the FCS Second Round. Northwestern closed 2025 at 6-6 and capped the year with a 34-7 win over Central Michigan in the GameAbove Sports Bowl.

Complicating matters, Northwestern’s schedule revision moved its nonconference slate back a week. Northwestern’s announcement stated, "The Wildcats’ lone FCS opponent, South Dakota State, has been moved to September 12." At the same time news releases have noted that "the game with Northwestern does not yet have a location, as the Wildcats' newly-renovated Ryan Field is expected to open at some point in the fall of 2026." Game times have not been announced for either game. A schedule refresher warned, "All future dates are tentative and subject to change, as are the games themselves, as schools often work out trades or buyouts to make adjustments."

The matchup carries storyline value beyond the scoreboard. Wide receiver Griffin Wilde, who transferred from South Dakota State to Northwestern, will have a chance to face his former program. Head coach David Braun brings additional intrigue; he spent three years as defensive coordinator at North Dakota State, South Dakota State’s primary rival, and his familiarity with FCS environs adds a strategic wrinkle to preparation and headlines.

For South Dakota State the business and cultural implications are clear. A game against a Big Ten opponent boosts national exposure, helps recruiting against Power Five targets, and drives ticket sales and local economic activity whether the game is in Evanston or at another site tied to Ryan Field’s renovation timeline. New Haven enters the FCS era after a 5-5 2025 season in the Northeast Conference, with wins over Saginaw Valley State, Pace and Western Connecticut State, and represents a winnable, nearby home test that will matter for early-season rhythm.

With the conflicting dates still unresolved, fans should watch both schools’ official schedules for the final confirmation of site and kickoff. Once the date is settled, the series will be a measuring stick for the Jackrabbits’ national standing, a recruiting showcase, and another example of the complex scheduling chess FCS programs play when arranging games against major-conference opponents.