South Dakota Coyotes

The South Dakota Coyotes bring a long, if title-light, football tradition to the Missouri Valley Football Conference, representing the state's flagship university. Red and white Coyotes teams have historically played second fiddle in-state to rival North Dakota State's dynasty years, but a recent surge has produced the program's best FCS run yet. South Dakota's football history stretches back to the 19th century, making it one of the older programs in this group. The Coyotes are on the rise after breaking through for their first Missouri Valley title.

South Dakota first fielded a football team in 1889 and spent 86 years as a charter member of the North Central Conference at the Division II level, reaching the 1986 D-II national championship game (a loss to North Dakota State). The Coyotes moved up to FCS in 2008 and joined the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2012. After years of struggling in the conference, South Dakota won its first Missouri Valley title and reached its first FCS semifinal in 2024 under head coach Bob Nielson.