BROOKINGS South Dakota States run at winning back-to-back national championships will begin on Saturday as the No.1 seeded Jackrabbits will host Mercer in the second round of the FCS Playoffs.
SDSU, who went 11-0 in the regular season, has won 25-straight games entering Saturdays contest. The Jacks were the No.1 seed in last years playoffs and ran their way through the competition en route to the programs first ever national title. SDSU head coach Jimmy Rogers said his team is hungry entering this years playoffs and are excited to see the support they get come Saturday.
I think theyre excited to compete for something that theyve worked all year long for. Our team was recruited and developed here and a lot of our guys were not offered Division I scholarships. This is what theyve signed up for and its come to fruition over the last two years and our players deserve a fan base that is bought in and wants to be a part of it as much as they do, Rogers said.
SDSU has played in 30 playoff games in its history and has a record of 18-12 in those games. Meanwhile, the Bears (9-3) are just 1-0 in the playoffs at any level as Mercer made its first postseason appearance in program history last week and beat Gardner-Webb 17-7. Rogers said he believes in playoff experience, but doesnt think it will make too much of a difference on Saturday.
I do [think that playoff experience matters]. To an extent. I think anybody can win any game. You have to come out with the right energy and the right enthusiasm and give it your best. I think theres a chip on your shoulder when everyone counts you out and well be on edge because we know that Mercer is going to come in with a chip on their shoulder and give it their best shot, Rogers said.
GOING TO THE GAME?
What: FCS Playoffs 2nd Round
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where:Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings
The series (first meeting): The Jackrabbits and Bears have never met on the football field.
2023records: SDSU 11-0; Mercer9-3
TV: ESPN+
Radio: AM 910 KJJQ
Game notes: SDSU will play in its 31st playoff game on Saturday. The Jacks are 18-12 in the postseason.
Mercer will be playing in its second postseason game ever on Saturday.
The Jacks are looking to win their 26th-straight game on Saturday, which would be tied for the third longest in FCS history.
The Bears have leaned on their defense this season as they rank 29th nationally in total defense, giving up 326.1 yards per game and 31st in scoring defense (22.50). The defense is led by senior safety Lance Wise Jr. who has 77 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, five interceptions and two defensive touchdowns so far this season.
Rogers said his offense, which ranks in the top 10 nationally in both yards (446.8) and points (37.6) per game this season will have to be ready going up against the Mercer defense. He specifically mentioned third down and the Jacks lead the country in third down conversion rate as they convert on 55.4% of third downs. The Bears allow just a 33.7% conversion rate on third downs this season.
Defensively, I think theyre really good. They have skill at every level. Their safety is up for the [FCS Defensive Player of the Year award] and one of their defensive ends is good. Were going to need to make sure that were focused on how we can be at our best and battle these guys because on third down theyre really special and if they get you to third down theyve been really successful this season, Rogers said.
The Mercer offense ranks 52nd nationally in scoring (26.4) and 78th in total offense (337.5). Carter Peevy is Mercers quarterback and he has thrown for 2,209 yards, 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Ty James is the leading receiver and he has 61 catches for 1,102 yards and seven touchdowns. Al Wooten II leads the rushing attack with 702 yards and six touchdowns. Peevy has 12 rushing touchdowns.
I think they have a couple of really dynamic wide receivers, Rogers said. When they get those guys going it opens up their run game and I think their quarterback has done a good job of taking care of the football, Rogers said.
Saturdays forecast has a high of 38-degrees. Thats not bad weather for South Dakota in early December, but for the Bears it might be a little chilly. The high in Macon, Georgia, on Saturday, where Mercer is located, is 68-degrees. Rogers said he thinks theres an advantage for SDSU as the Jacks practice in the cold during the playoffs, but he thinks it wont bother Mercer as much as people think.
We practice in it, so the more you have an opportunity to be in it, the more you have familiarity with it, Rogers said. At the end of the day its cold and if you were to go to [Georgia] in the summer, its hot. I dont know if thats going to be the biggest [thing] or if its a huge distraction or not.
Theres a lot of guys on this team that chose to play at South Dakota State and in a frigid place during the winter that are not from here, myself included. So, to say weather is going to be the difference in this game, I think its a mindset, and if youre not willing to compete in any conditions youre not really a competitor and I think this team will be plenty ready for the weather.
The winner of SDSU and Mercer will play either No. 8 Villanova or Youngstown State. The Jacks will have home field advantage throughout the playoffs, which is something that has worked in their favor before as they made it to the National Championship the only other two times they were the No. 1 seed. SDSU has only lost one home game in the FCS Playoffs despite never having a playoff crowd of over 10,000 people. Rogers said the people that have shown up in the playoffs have made a difference, but hed like to see a lot more in the crowd this season.
I think the home field advantage stems from the familiarity of where you lay your head down at night and your comfort level of being in your own backyard and at home. I think the fans that have come out, the die-hard fans, have been difference makers in our crowds regardless of the size and the weather. I know if we want to get this place as big as we expect it to be and want to have the success that we want to have and our players desire to have, they want to play in front of a fan base that is bought in regardless of the elements and they deserve that.
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