South Dakota State vs Stetson

The game was effectively over before the first quarter finished. SDSU's third touchdown — Johnson's 20-yard run — came with 28 seconds left in Q1 and gave the Jackrabbits a 21-0 lead after they had run only 12 offensive plays. Stetson's defence had no answer for SDSU's pace or physicality, and the Hatters managed just 95 total yards on 38 plays in the first half.

James Basinger — Led all rushers with 110 yards on eight carries, averaging 13.8 yards per attempt. His explosiveness on early downs kept Stetson's defence from stacking the box.

Corey Blair Jr. — Eight carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns, including the 52-yard burst to open the second half. His blend of power and acceleration punished the Hatters on the perimeter.

Josiah Johnson — Added 63 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, serving as the change-of-pace back who kept SDSU's drive chains moving.

Chase Mason — Completed 5 of 10 passes for a touchdown, with the 73-yard strike to Jack Smith setting the early tone. Josh Holst came off the bench and connected on a 78-yard touchdown to Landon Dulaney on his only attempt.

Player of the match: Corey Blair Jr. — two rushing touchdowns, 107 yards at 13.4 per carry, and the tone-setting run to open the second half.

SDSU averaged 11.2 yards per play (628 yards on 52 plays) while running 41 times for 393 yards — a 9.6-yard average — and throwing only 11 passes. The run-pass imbalance reflects both game script and dominance: the Jackrabbits led 42-0 at halftime and never needed to open the playbook. Stetson held the ball for longer stretches but managed only 164 total yards at 3.0 yards per play, and Tom von Grote's 17 completions produced just 95 passing yards (5.6 per attempt).

SDSU's nine scores in 10 first-half drives (eight touchdowns, one punt) against an FCS opponent that went 3-9 in 2025 underlines the gap between the No. 3 team in the country and a Pioneer League programme still rebuilding.

South Dakota State (1-0) has won 16 straight home openers and extended its unbeaten record against Pioneer League opponents to 9-0. The Jackrabbits travel to Northwestern next Saturday — a significant step up in competition that will test whether this offensive line and running-back rotation can produce against a Power 4 defence.

Stetson (0-1) hosts Webber International next Saturday in a game the Hatters will need to win to build momentum after a brutal start to the season.

This was a mismatch from the opening snap — the scoreline was fair, not flattering. SDSU's ground game is clearly its identity in 2026, and the Jackrabbits have multiple backs who can break a game open. The test comes next week against Northwestern, where the rushing attack will face a far sterner examination than anything Stetson could offer.