Although South Dakota State isn’t playing a ranked opponent for the first time in five games, Saturday’s contest against Western Illinois remains an important one for the Jackrabbit football team.
SDSU, ranked 19th in both major Football Championship Subdivision polls, faces another must-win game Saturday as far as its postseason aspirations are concerned. The Jackrabbits are 6-4 overall and part of a three-way tie for fifth place in the Missouri Valley Football Conference with a 3-3 league record, following a 32-17 win at Indiana State.
Western Illinois, meanwhile, continues the rebuilding process under second-year head coach Bob Nielson and is 4-6 overall and 2-4 in league play. The Fighting Leathernecks own one win over a ranked opponent this season, winning at then-No. 10 Youngstown State on Oct. 18.
Kickoff for Saturday’s Military Appreciation Day game is 2 p.m. at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium.