Previous season
The Coyotes finished the 2017 season 8–5, 4–4 in MVFC play to finish in a three-way tie for fifth place. They received an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs, which was the schools first ever FCS Playoff bid, where they defeated Nicholls State in the first round before losing to Sam Houston State in the second round.
Preseason
Preseason MVFC poll
The MVFC released their preseason poll on July 29, 2018, with the Coyotes predicted to finish in sixth place.[2]
Predicted finish |
Team |
Votes (1st place) |
1 | North Dakota State | 390 (39) |
2 | South Dakota State | 270 |
3 | Northern Iowa | 258 |
4 | Youngstown State | 248 |
5 | Illinois State | 248 |
6 | South Dakota | 206 |
7 | Western Illinois | 163 |
8 | Southern Illinois | 139 |
9 | Missouri State | 90 |
10 | Indiana State | 41 |
Preseason All-MVFC Teams
The Coyotes placed seven players on the preseason all-MVFC teams.[3]
Offense
1st team
Shamar Jackson – WR
2nd team
Tyler Ciurej – OL
Nick Jensen – OL
Mason Scheidegger — OL
|
Defense
1st team
Darin Greenfield – DL
Andrew Gray – DB
2nd team
Brady Schutt – P
|
Game summaries
at Kansas State
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Coyotes |
10 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
24 |
Wildcats |
3 |
9 |
0 |
15 |
27 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
0–4 |
2015 |
KSU, 34–0 |
Kansas State's Isaiah Zuber was credited for saving the game with two key plays: an 85-yard punt return with South Dakota leading 24–12. Later in the game caught a touchdown pass from Skylar Thompson with 7:21 left to give K-State its first lead of the second half.
Kansas State scored all but seven of its points on field goals and special teams. Sophomore kicker Blake Lynch scored Kansas State’s first 12 points on field goals of 22, 24, 38 and 44 yards. Kansas State racked up 13 penalties for 129 yards, but maintained more control of the ball with 37:39 of offense compared to South Dakota's 22:21.[4] going over 100 years for the first time since 2016 against Florida Atlantic.[5]
South Dakota quarterback Austin Simmons threw for 257 yards and one touchdown, continually finding receiver Levi Falck (11 catches, 140 yards) open against top K-State cornerback Duke Shelley. The Coyotes led 24–12 at halftime.[6] ESPN reported "... one solid takeaway is how well the Coyotes were in control for much of the game. They did a great job limiting the Kansas State offense for three quarters and had many Kansas State fans, players and coaches frustrated throughout the night."[5]
Northern Colorado
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Bears |
14 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
28 |
No. 23 Coyotes |
14 |
20 |
0 |
9 |
43 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
13–19 |
2010 |
USD, 34–6 |
at Weber State
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
No. 22 Coyotes |
0 |
3 |
0 |
7 |
10 |
No. 11 Wildcats |
11 |
7 |
3 |
6 |
27 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
1–0–1 |
2016 |
USD, 52–49 |
at Southern Illinois
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Coyotes |
7 |
3 |
21 |
0 |
31 |
Salukis |
14 |
3 |
0 |
7 |
24 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
2–2 |
2017 |
USD, 42–0 |
Missouri State
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
No. 24 Bears |
7 |
14 |
7 |
0 |
28 |
Coyotes |
14 |
3 |
10 |
8 |
35 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
2–2 |
2015 |
USD, 40–10 |
Northern Iowa
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Panthers |
|
|
|
|
0 |
No. 24 Coyotes |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
19–28–1 |
2017 |
UNI, 34–29 |
at Youngstown State
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Coyotes |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Wildcats |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
1–5 |
2017 |
USD, 31–28 |
North Dakota State
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Bison |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Coyotes |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
25–52–3 |
2017 |
NDSU, 49–14 |
at Indiana State
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Coyotes |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Sycamores |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
3–1 |
2017 |
USD, 56–6 |
Western Illinois
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Leathernecks |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Coyotes |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
3–5 |
2017 |
USD, 38–33 |
at South Dakota State
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Coyotes |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Jackrabbits |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
51–51–7 |
2017 |
SDSU, 31–28 |
Ranking movements
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.
| Week |
Poll |
Pre |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
Final |
STATS FCS |
RV |
23 |
22 |
RV |
RV |
RV |
24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coaches |
RV |
RV |
24 |
RV |
RV |
RV |
RV |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
References
|
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Venues |
- Darwin Inman Memorial Stadium (1926–1978)
- DakotaDome (1979–present)
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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