The South Dakota Coyotes football team will travel to Boise, Idaho, this Saturday for their final non-conference matchup of the 2026 season. The game against the Boise State Broncos is scheduled for a 9 p.m. Central Time kickoff at Albertsons Stadium and will be televised by CBS Sports Network.
Coyotes Enter Game Undefeated
South Dakota arrives in the Treasure Valley with a perfect 3-0 record. First-year head coach Matt Vitzthum’s squad has secured victories over Central Connecticut State, Northern Colorado, and Eastern Washington. The win against Eastern Washington came on Sept. 12, setting up this late-season test against an FBS opponent.
This matchup marks the latest date in the calendar year that South Dakota has played an FBS team since facing Northwestern University on Sept. 22, 2012. The Coyotes also faced Wisconsin in their fourth game of the 2011 season. After this contest, South Dakota will turn its attention to Missouri Valley Football Conference play, opening with a trip to No. 9-ranked Youngstown State on Sept. 26.
Boise State Bounces Back from Oregon Loss
The Broncos enter the game with a 1-1 record and received 57 votes in the latest Associated Press Top-25 poll. Boise State began the season with a seven-point loss to then-No. 2 Oregon but responded with a dominant 38-20 victory over Memphis last Saturday.
The comeback against Memphis was defined by a second-half surge. After trailing 17-3 at halftime, Boise State scored 35 of its final 38 points to secure the win. The offensive turnaround was led by running back Dylan Riley, who recorded a career-high 206 rushing yards on just 19 carries.
Riley Leads Broncos’ Offensive Surge
Riley’s performance against Memphis included a 71-yard run and an average of 10.8 yards per carry. He accumulated 134 first-half rushing yards and gained 125 yards after contact, forcing nine missed tackles in the process. His efforts earned him Pac-12 offensive player of the week and Doak Walker national running back of the week honors.
Riley shares the backfield with Sire Gaines, while third-year starting quarterback Maddux Madsen directs the offense. Special teams also contributed significantly to the Memphis victory, with Cam Bates returning a punt 72 yards for a touchdown. Bates was named Pac-12 special teams player of the week for his efforts.
The Coyotes are looking to extend their undefeated streak and prove they can compete at the FBS level before conference play begins. Last season, South Dakota struggled against an FBS opponent, losing 55-7 to Iowa State in their opener. This Saturday’s game will serve as a critical benchmark for Vitzthum’s program.
For local residents interested in other community events, the Hemingway Center Reading Series is scheduled for October 8. Additionally, the Idaho Community Foundation has moved its downtown Boise office, reflecting ongoing shifts in local organizational footprints.