SIOUX FALLS, SD (GoJacks.com) – 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
1. North Dakota State (39) – 417
2. South Dakota State – 355
3. South Dakota (3) – 349
4. Illinois State – 292
5. Youngstown State – 211
6. Southern Illinois – 208
7. North Dakota – 196
8. Northern Iowa – 130
9. Indiana State – 105
10. Murray State – 47
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ST. LOUIS, MO (GoYotes.com) —The Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) announced the 2025 MVFC preseason poll ahead of the Media Day in Sioux Falls Monday morning. The University of South Dakota football team was picked to finish third after earning a share of the MVFC title and a trip to the FCS semifinals last season.
The three co-champions and teams to reach the FCS semifinals from 2024 were picked to finish top-three again this upcoming season (USD, NDSU, SDSU). The full preseason poll can be found linked above.
The Coyotes were one of two teams (NDSU) to pick up first-place votes this season, grabbing three first-place votes. USD grabbed 349 total points in the final counting, picking up a third-place selected finish by the league’s coaches and media.
For the Yotes, the third-place prediction matches the highest-predicted finish since joining the MVFC in 2012.
Defending national champion North Dakota State picked up 39 first-place votes and was picked to win the league with 417 points. South Dakota State grabbed 355 votes for a second-place prediction after a run to the FCS semifinals last season.
In addition to announcing the league’s preseason poll, the MVFC also announced the 2025 player to watch list. The following Yotes were selected to watch in 2025:
- Aidan Bouman (QB)
- Charles Pierre Jr. (RB)
- Dallas Homes (TE)
- Adrian Hawkins (OL)
- Caden Crawford (DL)
- Nate Ewell (LB)
- Tim White (DB)
- Will Leyland (K)
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