Preview: USD football hosts Drake in first round of FCS playoffs
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Nov. 25—VERMILLION, S.D. — Winners in six of their final seven regular-season games, the No. 11-seeded University of South Dakota football team opens the FCS playoffs with a home rematch against Drake on Saturday.
How to watch South Dakota vs. Drake and what to know about both programs:
FCS First Round: No. 11 South Dakota Coyotes (8-4) vs. Drake Bulldogs (8-3)
When: Noon, Saturday, Nov. 29
Where: DakotaDome, Vermillion, S.D.
TV/Streaming: ESPN+ (Jason Ross Jr. — PxP, Tyoka Jackson — Analyst)
Radio: Coyote Sports Network (John Thayer, Gary Culver, Jerry Palleschi) [KVHT 106.3 FM]
Records last year: USD 11-3, Drake 8-3
Series: Drake leads the all-time series, 11-10, dating back to the first meeting in 1919
Last time: South Dakota won 42-21 in 2025 at the DakotaDome
Rankings: USD is ranked No. 11 in the FCS
Last week: South Dakota had a bye week, Drake beat Morehead State 17-10 at home
Coaches: South Dakota — Travis Johansen (first year, 8-4); Drake — Joe Woodley (first season, 8-3)
Regular-season stat leaders
Leading passers: USD — Aidan Bouman (171-of-284, 2,143 yards, 18 TDs, 6 INTs); Drake — Logan Inagawa (110-of-159, 1,244 yards, 8 TDs, 4 INTs)
Leading rushers: USD — L.J. Phillips Jr. (1,556 yards, 250 carries, 15 TDs); Drake — Nick Herman (960 yards, 131 carries, 6 TDs)
Leading receivers: USD — Larenzo Fenner (768 yards, 34 receptions, 11 TDs); Drake — Jackson Voth (514 yards, 41 receptions, 4 TDs)
Top defenders: USD — Nate Ewell (78 total tackles, 35 solo, 3 PBUs, 1 FR, 1 TFL, 1 QBH); Drake — Sean Allison (120 total tackles, 59 solo, 8 TFLs, 3 PBUs, 2 sacks, 2 INTs)
Quick game hits: Saturday marks the first Division I FCS playoff meeting between the two programs. … USD is making its fifth appearance in the FCS playoffs (2017, 2021, 2023-25) and third-straight trip. … It's the first appearance for USD head coach Travis Johansen, though he's been a part of four total trips now as defensive coordinator and head coach. … Five of the eight total postseason games for South Dakota have been played in the DakotaDome. The Coyotes are 3-2 all-time in FCS home playoff games … Aidan Bouman is one of two USD quarterbacks to play in multiple FCS playoff games, joining Chris Streveler. He's the only USD quarterback to throw for 1,000-plus yards in the playoffs. … This season, USD is 6-2 when scoring first, 5-0 when leading at halftime, 5-1 when not committing a turnover. … USD has not committed a turnover in six-straight games and did not commit a turnover in six of the eight Missouri Valley Football Conference games this season. … Drake entered 1-2 into league play before winning seven of its last eight games under first-year head coach Joe Woodley. … The Bulldogs boast a top-20 rushing attack in the FCS this season, averaging 198.8 rushing yards per game (18th). Running back Nick Herman leads the Bulldogs in rushing with 960 yards. … A win on Saturday for USD would put Johansen to a tie for first place in program history for wins as a first-year head coach. … The winner of Saturday's game plays at No. 6-seeded Mercer in the second round at 11 a.m. on Dec. 6.
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