SIOUX FALLS South Dakota State has been picked to finish second in the upcoming 2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference race, according to a poll announced Monday that was conducted among the league’s 10 coaches, sports information directors and select media.
SDSU, which shared the league title with a 7-1 record, tallied 355 points in the poll, finishing behind 2024 co-champion and Football Championship Subdivision champion North Dakota State with 417 points and 39 first-place votes. The third co-champion from a year ago, South Dakota, was third in the 10-team poll with 349 points, including the other three first-place votes.
Winners of three consecutive MVFC titles, the Jackrabbits have placed first or second in the preseason poll in each of the last five seasons and eight times in the last nine years.
In addition, 13 SDSU players were included in the league’s Players to Watch list. Those honorees were:
- Koby Bretz, senior, safety
- Kobe Clayborne, senior, defensive lineman
- Quinten Christensen, junior, offensive lineman
- Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda, graduate, wide receiver
- Sam Hagen, senior, offensive lineman
- Reis Kirschenman, sophomore, defensive end
- Julius Loughridge, senior, running back
- Chase Mason, senior, quarterback
- Lofton, O’Groske, sophomore, wide receiver
- Jayden Oliver, senior, cornerback
- Kaydon Olivia, senior, long snapper
- Joe Ollman, junior, linebacker
- Chase Van Tol, sophomore, linebacker
South Dakota State opens the 2025 season by hosting Sacramento State on Aug. 30.
2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference Preseason Poll
- North Dakota State (39) 417
- South Dakota State 355
- South Dakota (3) 349
- Illinois State 292
- Youngstown State 211
- Southern Illinois 208
- North Dakota 196
- Northern Iowa 130
- Indiana State 105
- Murray State 47
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