The South Dakota State Jackrabbits are set to face off against the Murray State Racers this Saturday, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. at Roy Stewart Stadium in Murray, Kentucky. SDSU enters the game boasting an impressive record of 6-0, currently ranked 2nd in the FCS, while Murray State is struggling at 0-6.
The Jackrabbits are riding momentum from their recent victory over Northern Iowa, where they triumphed 31-3. Meanwhile, the Racers fell to Illinois State 46-32 last week, continuing a challenging season. Murray State’s woes extend beyond the current season, as they have lost 15 consecutive games, with a daunting streak of 17 straight losses in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
Historically, SDSU has had the upper hand in this matchup, leading the series 1-0 after a dominant 52-6 victory last year in Brookings. Looking at the players, SDSU’s Chase Mason stands out as a leading passer with 1,350 yards and 11 touchdowns. For Murray State, Jim Ogle follows closely with 1,214 passing yards and 5 touchdowns. The rushing field features Julius Loughridge for the Jackrabbits, who has tallied 626 yards and 6 touchdowns, while the Racers’ Jawaun Northington contributes with 304 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns.
On the receiving end, Alex Bullock leads SDSU with 34 receptions for 411 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Murray State’s Darius Cannon and Luca Desjardins have combined for 72 receptions and over 700 yards. Defensively, Cullen McShane and Joe Ollman lead the Jackrabbits, and Dylan Rowsey stands out for Murray State with an impressive 79 tackles that lead the Valley by a significant margin.
This matchup shines a spotlight on multiple narratives—the resilience of the Jackrabbits as they maintain a stellar season, and the Racers’ quest for a turnaround as they look to snap their losing streak. The return of SDSU receiver Lofton O’Groske from injury may further bolster the Jackrabbits’ offense, which is averaging 34 points per game while holding opponents to a mere 14.7 points.
The stage is set for an exciting contest as the Jackrabbits aim to extend their winning streak while Murray State seeks to overcome their struggles and find new life in their season. The outcome of this game could potentially shift the momentum for both teams as the season progresses.