What are South Dakota State and USD football coaches saying ahead of rivalry matchup?

The anticipation surrounding this weekend's in-state rivalry matchup between South Dakota State and South Dakota has been building ever since the Coyotes' huge win over North Dakota State.

Fans spent weeks pushing for ESPN’s College GameDay to make the trip to Vermillion, and although that didn’t come to fruition, the latest meeting between SDSU and USD promises to add a fantastic installment to the rivalry.

It’ll be the 117th meeting in a series that dates all the way back to 1889, and the last time these teams played in Vermillion the Coyotes won on a last-second 57-yard touchdown pass from Carson Camp to Jeremiah Webb. But neither the history of the rivalry nor the recent results in the Dome are of concern to South Dakota State football coach Jimmy Rogers.

He said his team is laser-focused on diving into the film and making sure they’re prepared for this weekend.

“Those things aren’t lingering on this football team,” Rogers said of their recent history in the Dome. “What has happened (in) years past has no bearing on what is going to happen this weekend.“

Although he didn't want to get caught up in the hype around the game, he acknowledged the rivalry and what it means for the players on his team who grew up in the area.

“Does it mean something to a South Dakota kid to represent South Dakota State the right way? I’m sure it does,” Rogers said. “Is there a rivalry there? Yeah. And this is what it’s all about: Being on the highest stage and competing at the highest level for implications of seeding.”

There are a few added wrinkles that’ll make this arguably the biggest game in the history of the rivalry. The first is how both teams have performed so far this season and where both teams are ranked. The Jackrabbits have been the No. 1 team all year, but South Dakota has steadily climbed the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 rankings. They’re ranked at No. 4 entering this weekend’s sold-out matchup in the DakotaDome.

The Coyotes after a disappointing 3-8 season a year ago have won six straight, four of which have come at the Dome.

“Our football teams take a lot of pride in playing at home,” said USD football coach Bob Nielson. “(We’ve) been a team that's played its best football here in the Dome regardless of what year it's been … We’ll have a great crowd and a supportive crowd and that always makes a big difference in games like this.”

With both teams undefeated against FCS opponents, the game will have added playoff implications on top of the impact it'll have on conference seeding, which adds something new to an already highly anticipated game.

“It does add a little bit when you have two teams that have had really good seasons to this point,” Nielson said. “It's a unique rivalry in a lot of ways. Number one because of the duration of it and the fact it’s a true in-state rivalry.”

Another added wrinkle: Former SDSU passing game coordinator/wide receiver coach Josh Davis is now the offensive coordinator for a steadily improving Coyotes offense. Nielson said there will be familiarity on both sides with Davis aware of what the South Dakota State defense wants to do and the Jackrabbits seeing some element of their offense now being used at USD.

On the field, South Dakota has had one of the best defenses and an improving offense. Last week the Coyotes had two running backs rush for 100+ yards in their 17-3 win over Indiana State. USD quarterback Aidan Bouman leads a dynamic passing game with explosive receivers at his disposal. Bouman has only thrown one interception all year.

South Dakota State, meanwhile, has been one of the best in the FCS at stopping the run. Their whole defensive gameplan is predicated on that and making teams one-dimensional. They also boast a top-10 scoring offense, powered by an explosive back duo in Isaiah Davis and Amar Johnson and one of the best quarterbacks in the FCS in Mark Gronowski.

Nielson said what’s stood out most in watching this year’s Jackrabbits team on film is their experience and execution level. Rogers praised the Coyotes' talents at all levels of the defense as well as the number of productive backs they now have, Bouman’s performance this season and the talent in their wide receiver room.

Rogers closed his weekly press conference with a simple message to his team and to the fans hoping for a great game:

“This is a really good football team,” he said of USD. “We need to get ready to play our best football because it will be a challenge.”

Jonathan Fernandez covers high school and college sports for the Argus Leader. Contact him at jfernandez1@argusleader.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JFERN31

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: What SDSU, USD football coaches are saying about Saturday's rivalry game