2026 South Dakota Coyotes football team
American college football season
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The 2026 South Dakota Coyotes football team will represent the University of South Dakota as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Coyotes will be led by first-year head coach Matt Vitzthum, who takes over for former coach Travis Johansen who left the program to become the defensive coordinator at Rutgers.[1][2] Vitzthum was promoted from being the Coyotes co-offensive coordinator last season, and will be assisted by second year offensive coordinator Tim Morrison and second year defensive coordinator Billy Kirch. The Coyotes play home games at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, South Dakota.
- Matt Vitzthum (1st season)
| 2026 South Dakota Coyotes football | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conference | Missouri Valley Football Conference |
| Record | 0–0 (0–0 MVFC) |
| Head coach |
|
| Offensive coordinator | Tim Morrison (2nd season) |
| Defensive coordinator | Billy Kirch (2nd season) |
| Home stadium | DakotaDome |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois State | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana State | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Murray State | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North Dakota | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern Iowa | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Dakota | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Dakota State | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southern Illinois | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youngstown State | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As of June 11, 2026 Rankings from STATS Poll | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 29 | 1:00 p.m. | Central Connecticut State* | Midco Sports/ESPN+ | ||
| September 5 | TBA | at Northern Colorado* | ESPN+ | ||
| September 12 | 1:00 p.m. | Eastern Washington* |
| ESPN+ | |
| September 19 | 9:00 p.m. | at Boise State* | CBSSN | ||
| September 26 | TBA | at Youngstown State | ESPN+ | ||
| October 3 | 2:00 p.m. | Indiana State |
| Midco Sports/ESPN+ | |
| October 10 | 1:00 p.m. | Southern Illinois |
| Midco Sports/ESPN+ | |
| October 17 | TBA | at Murray State | ESPN+ | ||
| October 24 | 1:00 p.m. | North Dakota |
| Midco Sports/ESPN+ | |
| October 31 | TBD | at South Dakota State | ESPN Network | ||
| November 14 | 1:00 p.m. | Northern Iowa |
| Midco Sports/ESPN+ | |
| November 21 | 12:00 p.m. | at Illinois State | ESPN+ | ||
| |||||
Rankings
| Week | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Final |
| STATS | |||||||||||||||
| Coaches | |||||||||||||||
Game summaries
Central Connecticut State
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Devlis | 0 | ||
| Coyotes | 0 |
- Date: August 29, 2026
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
- TV: ESPN+
Northern Colorado
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coyotes | 0 | ||
| Bears | 0 |
at Nottingham Field, Greeley, CO
- Date: September 5, 2026
- Game time: TBA
- Game weather: TBA
- TV: ESPN+
Eastern Washington
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eagles | 0 | ||
| Coyotes | 0 |
at DakotaDome, Vermillion, SD
- Date: September 12, 2026
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
- TV: ESPN+
Boise State
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coyotes | 0 | ||
| Broncos | 0 |
at Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
- Date: September 19, 2026
- Game time: 9:00 p.m.
- Game weather: TBD
- TV: CBS Sports Network
Youngstown State
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coyotes | 0 | ||
| Penguins | 0 |
at Stambaugh Stadium, Youngstown, OH
- Date: September 26, 2026
- Game time: TBA
- Game weather: TBD
- TV: ESPN+
Indiana State
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sycamores | 0 | ||
| Coyotes | 0 |
at DakotaDome, Vermillion, SD
- Date: October 3, 2026
- Game time: 2:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
- TV: ESPN+
Southern Illinois
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salukis | 0 | ||
| Coyotes | 0 |
at DakotaDome, Vermillion, SD
- Date: October 10, 2026
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
- TV: ESPN+
Murray State
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coyotes | 0 | ||
| Racers | 0 |
at Roy Stewart Stadium, Murray, KY
- Date: October 17, 2026
- Game time: TBA
- Game weather: TBD
- TV: ESPN+
North Dakota
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fighting Hawks | 0 | ||
| Coyotes | 0 |
at DakotaDome, Vermillion, SD
- Date: October 24, 2026
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
- TV: ESPN+
South Dakota State
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coyotes | 0 | ||
| Jackrabbits | 0 |
at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, Brookings, SD
- Date: October 31, 2026
- Game time: TBD
- Game weather: TBD
- TV: ESPN Network
Northern Iowa
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panthers | 0 | ||
| Coyotes | 0 |
at DakotaDome, Vermillion, SD
- Date: November 14, 2026
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
- TV: ESPN+
Illinois State
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coyotes | 0 | ||
| Redbirds | 0 |
at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL
- Date: November 21, 2026
- Game time: 12:00 p.m.
- Game weather: TBD
- TV: ESPN+