# 2023 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team

The 2023 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented the South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by first-year head coach Jimmy Rogers, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 15–0 with a mark of 8–0 in conference play, winning the MVFC title for the second straight season. South Dakota State received the MVFC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where after a first-round bye, the Jackrabbits defeated Mercer in the second round, Villanova in the quarterfinals, Albany in the semifinals, and Montana in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game to win program's second consecutive national title. South Dakota State outscored opponents 146-15 in the four playoff games, completed a wire-to-wire season as the No. 1 ranked team in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), and extended the team's winning streak to 29 games. The team played home games on campus at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 7:00 p.m. | Western Oregon* | No. 1 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD | ESPN+ | W 45–7 | 16,258 |
| September 9 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 3 Montana State* | No. 1 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD | ESPN+ | W 20–16 | 19,332 |
| September 16 | 2:30 p.m. | vs. Drake* | No. 1 | Target FieldMinneapolis, MN | ESPN+ | W 70–7 | 18,174 |
| September 30 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 12 North Dakota | No. 1 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD | ESPN+ | W 42–21 | 19,231 |
| October 7 | 6:00 p.m. | at Illinois State | No. 1 | Hancock StadiumNormal, IL | ESPN+ | W 40–21 | 8,272 |
| October 14 | 2:00 p.m. | Northern Iowa | No. 1 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD | ESPN+ | W 41–6 | 19,357 |
| October 21 | 2:00 p.m. | at No. 12 Southern Illinois | No. 1 | Saluki StadiumCarbondale, IL | ESPN+ | W 17–10 | 11,927 |
| October 28 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 4 South Dakota | No. 1 | DakotaDomeVermillion, SD (South Dakota Showdown) | ESPN+ | W 37–3 | 9,458 |
| November 4 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 11 North Dakota State | No. 1 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD (Dakota Marker) | ESPN+ | W 33–16 | 19,431 |
| November 11 | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 22 Youngstown State | No. 1 | Stambaugh StadiumYoungstown, OH | ESPN+ | W 34–0 | 9,303 |
| November 18 | 2:00 p.m. | Missouri State | No. 1 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD | ESPN+ | W 35–17 | 15,637 |
| December 2 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 17 Mercer* | No. 1 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD (NCAA Division I Second Round) | ESPN+ | W 41–0 | 10,171 |
| December 9 | 11:00 a.m. | No. 6 Villanova* | No. 1 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD (NCAA Division I Quarterfinal) | ESPN | W 23–12 | 10,216 |
| December 15 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 5 Albany* | No. 1 | Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD (NCAA Division I Semifinal) | ESPN2 | W 59–0 | 12,265 |
| January 7, 2024 | 1:00 p.m. | vs. No. 2 Montana* | No. 1 | Toyota StadiumFrisco, TX (NCAA Division I Championship Game) | ABC | W 23–3 | 19,512 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time ||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ( ) = First-place votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
| STATS FCS | 1 (56) | 1 (55) | 1 (52) | 1 (52) | 1 (54) | 1 (56) | 1 (56) | 1 (56) | 1 (56) | 1 (56) | 1 (56) | 1 (56) | 1 (56) | |
| Coaches | 1 (24) | 1 (25) | 1 (26) | 1 (26) | 1 (26) | 1 (26) | 1 (26) | 1 (26) | 1 (26) | 1 (25) | 1 (26) | 1 (26) | 1 (24) | |

## Game summaries
### Western Oregon

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wolves | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 21 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 45 |
| Statistics | WOU | SDSU |
| First downs | 13 | 21 |
| Total yards | 209 | 403 |
| Rushing yards | 102 | 209 |
| Passing yards | 107 | 194 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:05 | 29:55 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western Oregon | Passing | Gannon Winker | 12/23, 67 yards, 3 INT |
| Western Oregon | Rushing | Jordan McCarty | 8 carries, 37 yards, TD |
| Western Oregon | Receiving | Damon Hickok | 3 receptions, 40 yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 8/10, 121 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Amar Johnson | 8 carries, 70 yards |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Griffin Wilde | 4 receptions, 79 yards, TD |

### No. 3 Montana State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 3 Bobcats | 7 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 20 |
| Statistics | MSU | SDSU |
| First downs | 17 | 20 |
| Total yards | 298 | 341 |
| Rushing yards | 211 | 157 |
| Passing yards | 87 | 184 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 35:23 | 24:37 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Montana State | Passing | Sean Chambers | 3/9, 53 yards, INT |
| Montana State | Rushing | Sean Chambers | 20 carries, 90 yards, TD |
| Montana State | Receiving | Derryk Snell | 3 receptions, 38 yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 13/22, 184 yards, 2 TD |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 12 carries, 66 yards |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Griffin Wilde | 2 receptions, 49 yards, TD |

### vs. Drake

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 14 | 21 | 21 | 14 | 70 |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Statistics | SDSU | Drake |
| First downs | 28 | 10 |
| Total yards | 618 | 267 |
| Rushing yards | 359 | 47 |
| Passing yards | 259 | 220 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 27:49 | 32:11 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 18/25, 226 yards, 5 TD, INT |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Angel Johnson | 4 carries, 90 yards, 2 TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jaxon Janke | 7 receptions, 85 yards, TD |
| Drake | Passing | Luke Bailey | 16/29, 201 yards, TD |
| Drake | Rushing | Luke Bailey | 3 carries, 25 yards |
| Drake | Receiving | Colin Howard | 3 receptions, 103 yards, TD |

### No. 12 North Dakota

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 12 Fighting Hawks | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 14 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
| Statistics | UND | SDSU |
| First downs | 17 | 26 |
| Total yards | 234 | 433 |
| Rushing yards | 68 | 266 |
| Passing yards | 166 | 167 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:39 | 30:21 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Dakota | Passing | Tommy Schuster | 19/24, 118 yards, TD |
| North Dakota | Rushing | Gaven Ziebarth | 5 carries, 22 yards |
| North Dakota | Receiving | Red Wilson | 5 receptions, 45 yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 13/22, 167 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 16 carries, 132 yards, 3 TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jaxon Janke | 3 receptions, 51 yards, TD |

### at Illinois State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 20 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 40 |
| Redbirds | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Statistics | SDSU | ISU |
| First downs | 25 | 18 |
| Total yards | 547 | 293 |
| Rushing yards | 374 | 122 |
| Passing yards | 173 | 171 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 35:45 | 24:15 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 11/17, 171 yards, 3 TD |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 20 carries, 197 yards, 2 TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jaxon Janke | 5 receptions, 88 yards, TD |
| Illinois State | Passing | Zack Annexstad | 26/33, 162 yards, TD |
| Illinois State | Rushing | Mason Blakemore | 6 carries, 57 yards, TD |
| Illinois State | Receiving | Daniel Sobkowicz | 7 receptions, 70 yards, TD |

### Northern Iowa

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 14 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 41 |
| Statistics | UNI | SDSU |
| First downs | 14 | 21 |
| Total yards | 264 | 460 |
| Rushing yards | 40 | 169 |
| Passing yards | 224 | 291 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 24:37 | 35:23 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northern Iowa | Passing | Theo Day | 16/24, 210 yards, 2 INT |
| Northern Iowa | Rushing | Zach Brand | 6 carries, 30 yards |
| Northern Iowa | Receiving | Sam Schnee | 4 receptions, 104 yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 21/26, 291 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 16 carries, 103 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Zach Heins | 4 receptions, 69 yards, 2 TD |

### at No. 12 Southern Illinois

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
| No. 12 Salukis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| Statistics | SDSU | SIU |
| First downs | 15 | 20 |
| Total yards | 308 | 308 |
| Rushing yards | 147 | 83 |
| Passing yards | 161 | 225 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:50 | 28:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 15/21, 161 yards, TD, INT |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 15 carries, 91 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Griffin Wilde | 2 receptions, 61 yards, TD |
| Southern Illinois | Passing | Nic Baker | 20/24, 225 yards, TD, INT |
| Southern Illinois | Rushing | Nic Baker | 15 carries, 31 yards |
| Southern Illinois | Receiving | D'Ante' Cox | 7 receptions, 88 yards, TD |

### at No. 4 South Dakota

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 0 | 17 | 6 | 14 | 37 |
| No. 4 Coyotes | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Statistics | SDSU | USD |
| First downs | 25 | 13 |
| Total yards | 473 | 183 |
| Rushing yards | 266 | 50 |
| Passing yards | 207 | 133 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 35:59 | 24:01 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 13/19, 207 yards, INT |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 17 carries, 69 yards |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jaxon Janke | 3 receptions, 93 yards |
| South Dakota | Passing | Aidan Bouman | 17/31, 133 yards, 2 INT |
| South Dakota | Rushing | Travis Theis | 9 carries, 29 yards |
| South Dakota | Receiving | JJ Galbreath | 8 receptions, 65 yards |

### No. 11 North Dakota State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 11 Bison | 6 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 16 |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 7 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 33 |
| Statistics | NDSU | SDSU |
| First downs | 19 | 17 |
| Total yards | 325 | 365 |
| Rushing yards | 158 | 152 |
| Passing yards | 167 | 213 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:18 | 29:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Dakota State | Passing | Cam Miller | 18/29, 167 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| North Dakota State | Rushing | Cam Miller | 17 carries, 93 yards |
| North Dakota State | Receiving | Eli Green | 4 receptions, 47 yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 12/19, 213 yards, 2 TD |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 17 carries, 106 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jadon Janke | 5 receptions, 89 yards, 2 TD |

### at No. 22 Youngstown State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 3 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
| No. 22 Penguins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Statistics | SDSU | YSU |
| First downs | 22 | 16 |
| Total yards | 490 | 207 |
| Rushing yards | 166 | 47 |
| Passing yards | 324 | 160 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 33:31 | 26:29 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 19/28, 295 yards, 3 TD |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 19 carries, 130 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jadon Janke | 7 receptions, 166 yards, 2 TD |
| Youngstown State | Passing | Mitch Davidson | 18/30, 160 yards, INT |
| Youngstown State | Rushing | Tyshon King | 7 carries, 20 yards |
| Youngstown State | Receiving | Max Tomczak | 5 receptions, 57 yards |

### Missouri State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bears | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 14 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| Statistics | MSU | SDSU |
| First downs | 15 | 29 |
| Total yards | 343 | 477 |
| Rushing yards | 82 | 154 |
| Passing yards | 261 | 323 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 26:05 | 33:55 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Missouri State | Passing | Jordan Pachot | 23/35, 261 yards, 2 TD |
| Missouri State | Rushing | Celdon Manning | 3 carries, 41 yards |
| Missouri State | Receiving | Raylen Sharpe | 8 receptions, 86 yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 16/23, 323 yards, 2 TD |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 17 carries, 85 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jadon Janke | 10 receptions, 187 yards, TD |

### No. 17 Mercer—NCAA Division I Second Round

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 17 Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 3 | 21 | 7 | 10 | 41 |
| Statistics | MER | SDSU |
| First downs | 6 | 24 |
| Total yards | 151 | 571 |
| Rushing yards | 76 | 346 |
| Passing yards | 75 | 225 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 24:34 | 35:26 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Mercer | Passing | Carter Peevy | 14/22, 75 yards, 2 INT |
| Mercer | Rushing | Chris Hill | 1 carry, 24 yards |
| Mercer | Receiving | Ty James | 2 receptions, 28 yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 11/16, 158 yards, TD, INT |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 16 carries, 117 yards, 3 TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jaxon Janke | 7 receptions, 106 yards, TD |

### No. 6 Villanova—NCAA Division I Quarterfinal

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 6 Wildcats | 0 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 12 |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 3 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 23 |
| Statistics | VIL | SDSU |
| First downs | 10 | 16 |
| Total yards | 219 | 343 |
| Rushing yards | 145 | 242 |
| Passing yards | 74 | 101 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 28:33 | 31:27 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Villanova | Passing | Connor Watkins | 6/18, 74 yards, INT |
| Villanova | Rushing | Jalen Jackson | 9 carry, 67 yards, TD |
| Villanova | Receiving | Rayjuon | 2 receptions, 29 yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 11/19, 101 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 27 carries, 192 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Zach Heins | 1 receptions, 26 yards |

### No. 5 Albany—NCAA Division I Semifinal

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 5 Great Danes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 14 | 21 | 7 | 17 | 59 |
| Statistics | ALB | SDSU |
| First downs | 19 | 22 |
| Total yards | 298 | 556 |
| Rushing yards | 66 | 220 |
| Passing yards | 232 | 336 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 32:12 | 27:48 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Albany | Passing | Reese Poffenbarger | 30/44, 232 yards, 3 INT |
| Albany | Rushing | Reese Poffenbarger | 9 carries, 29 yards |
| Albany | Receiving | Julian Hicks | 7 receptions, 76 yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 15/19, 265 yards, 3 TD |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 15 carries, 107 yards, 2 TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jadon Janke | 6 receptions, 151 yards, TD |

### vs. No. 2 Montana—NCAA Division I Championship Game

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 2 Grizzlies | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| • No. 1 Jackrabbits | 7 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 23 |
| Statistics | MONT | SDSU |
| First downs | 17 | 17 |
| Total yards | 259 | 363 |
| Rushing yards | 47 | 188 |
| Passing yards | 212 | 175 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 29:55 | 30:05 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Montana | Passing | Clifton McDowell | 22/39, 165 yards, INT |
| Montana | Rushing | Nick Ostmo | 6 carries, 18 yards |
| Montana | Receiving | Aaron Fontes | 7 receptions, 76 yards |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Mark Gronowski | 13/21, 175 yards, TD, INT |
| South Dakota State | Rushing | Isaiah Davis | 16 carries, 87 yards, TD |
| South Dakota State | Receiving | Jaxon Janke | 4 receptions, 66 yards |