The South Dakota State University football team kicks off the 2014 season Saturday afternoon by traveling to Missouri for the Jackrabbits’ lone game against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent this year.
Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. at Farout Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri. The game is scheduled to be televised nationally on ESPNU.
Radio coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. along the Jackrabbit Sports Network, including flagship station WNAX 570 AM.
Both teams are ranked in their respective preseason national polls. The Jacrkabbits have been tabbed 10th in both the Sports Network media poll and Football Championship Subdivison Coaches Poll.
South Dakota State is coming off a 2013 season in which it made its second straight appearance in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs and third in five years. SDSU tied a school record for wins in a season en route to a 9-5 overall record and tied for a second-place finish in the Missouri Valley Football Conference with a 5-3 mark.
Missouri, meanwhile, is ranked 24th in the preseason Associated Press poll. The Tigers are the top team receiving votes in the USA Today coaches’ poll. Missouri compiled a 12-2 overall record during the 2013 season, including a 7-1 mark in the Southeastern Conference’s East Division to advance to the SEC Championship Game. The Tigers ended their season with a 41-31 victory over Oklahoma State in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic.