VERMILLION — Back in early August, expectations were sky-high for the University of South Dakota football team fresh off their record-breaking 2024 season.
The Coyotes made their first-ever appearance in the FCS semifinals and ended the year with an 11-3 record with a share of the Missouri Valley Football Conference title. Coming into 2025 picked No. 4 in the top-25 preseason media poll, USD entered the season contending among FCS’ premier programs.
But as the regular season nears its close with only three games remaining on the schedule in conference play, South Dakota finds itself still searching for the consistency needed to match those lofty expectations.
With the postseason picture tightening, there’s still time left to put it all together but South Dakota needs it to happen fast as there is only one path moving forward: win out.
Marcus Traxler / Mitchell Republic
Currently sitting at 5-4 overall, the Coyotes’ hopes now hang on a razor’s edge and have no margin for error if they hope to extend their season into the FCS playoffs at the end of November. No. 8-ranked North Dakota comes to the DakotaDome on Saturday, Nov. 1 in Vermillion.
Head coach Travis Johansen senses the desperation, but said it takes the entire unit from the coaching staff to the players in order to turn the season around to close Valley play on a high note.
“It only matters how we execute through one week at a time and this is no different,” Johansen said. “I think our guys have the right mindset. They are a tough, resilient group, and have been for the better part of the last calendar year. I am looking forward to watching them answer the bell.”
Trey Houchin / Mitchell Republic
As South Dakota looks ahead, the schedule does not get any easier as the regular season winds down, with No. 8 North Dakota up next and the No. 4 South Dakota State Jackrabbits to close out the three-game homestand.
Then, the Coyotes will travel to No. 16 Southern Illinois to close Valley play, rounding out three top-20 FCS opponents remaining on the schedule.
That makes it a brutal way to close the regular season in a position to still make the FCS playoffs, but Johansen said the team needs to focus on what they can control and it starts with North Dakota on Saturday.
“Is the reality that the margin for error is much smaller now than it was a week ago, two weeks ago, or even four weeks ago? Yeah,” Johansen said. “There’s no doubt our margin for error has become smaller, but any focus outside of what’s happening is wasted movement right now.”
Marcus Traxler / Mitchell Republic
Johansen added that he knew what the end of the season could have looked like with three tough conference opponents coming into this year’s schedule, but hoped the team would not be in such a critical spot with a chance to extend the season.
“That’s playing football in late October and November, as it’s always kind of the crux of your season,” Johansen said. “We are playing to get in (to the playoffs) and our (team) understands that. We’re going to keep our focus right in front of our face to accomplish that.”
Trey Houchin is a sports reporter for the Mitchell Republic. Trey graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in sports media and covers a wide variety of topics. A Missouri native, Houchin can be reached at [email protected].
