South Dakota State defeats Illinois State 31-14

The South Dakota State Jackrabbits secured a 31-14 road victory against the Illinois State Redbirds on Saturday. After leading 10-7 at halftime, the Jackrabbits dominated the second half, scoring 21 unanswered points.

South Dakota State's defense was instrumental in the win, forcing multiple turnovers including a punt, a fumble, and an interception. The defensive surge prevented Illinois State from sustaining drives, with none exceeding 30 yards during the second-half run. Following this win, South Dakota State is positioned to take the No. 1 ranking in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) polls.

Illinois State, the reigning FCS national runner-up, managed a late touchdown to bring the final score to 31-7 before the game concluded. South Dakota State head coach Dan Jackson attributed the second-half surge to the team's ability to wear down their opponents.