Kickoff: 2:00 PM ET (1:00 PM CT local)
Venue: DakotaDome, Vermillion, South Dakota (Capacity: ~9,100, indoor facility)
Broadcast: ESPN+ / Midco Sports Plus / Coyote Sports Network Radio
Weather Forecast (Vermillion, SD)
Temperature outside: ~74°F (23°C) at kickoff, cooling into the upper 60s by evening
Conditions: Partly sunny, light winds (5–8 mph)
Impact: Game is indoors at the DakotaDome, so weather will not affect play.
Injury Report
Drake Bulldogs (Pioneer Football League):
QB Chase Spellman – Healthy, efficient start (14-of-16, 233 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT).
RB Jaden Meizinger – Healthy, 80 yards on 22 carries.
WR Hank Foley – Healthy, team’s top target (181 yards, 3 TDs).
South Dakota Coyotes (Missouri Valley Football Conference):
QB Aidan Bouman – Healthy, 333 yards, 3 TDs, 4 INTs through 3 games.
RB L.J. Phillips Jr. – Healthy, breakout star (374 yards, 7.1 YPC, 2 TDs; 301 yards in one game vs. Northern Colorado).
WR Jack Martens – Healthy, 78 yards, 1 TD.
LB Matt Walsh – Defensive leader (25 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF).
Key Player Matchups
QB Chase Spellman (Drake) vs. USD Secondary
Spellman’s accuracy (87.5% completions) will be tested by a Coyotes defense that forced multiple red-zone stops last week.
RB L.J. Phillips Jr. (USD) vs. Drake Front Seven
Phillips is coming off a national Offensive Player of the Week performance; Drake must contain him to stay competitive.
WR Hank Foley (Drake) vs. USD Corners
Foley is averaging 90.5 yards per game and is Spellman’s go-to deep threat.
QB Aidan Bouman (USD) vs. Drake Pass Rush
Bouman has struggled with turnovers (4 INTs); Drake’s defense will look to capitalize.
Team Records & Recent Form
Drake Bulldogs (1–1, Pioneer Football League)
8/28: W 41–7 vs. Upper Iowa
9/6: L 37–21 @ South Dakota State (#2 FCS)
Trend: Offense averaging 31 PPG; defense allowing 22 PPG.
South Dakota Coyotes (1–2, Missouri Valley Football Conference)
8/30: L 55–7 @ Iowa State (FBS)
9/6: L 20–13 @ Lamar
9/13: W 24–17 (OT) vs. Northern Colorado
Trend: Offense averaging 15 PPG; defense allowing 30.7 PPG. Nine-game home winning streak dating back to 2024.
Series History
All-time: Drake leads 11–9.
First meeting: 1919.
Last meeting: 2024 – South Dakota won 42–3 at the DakotaDome.
Betting Trends
Drake:
3–2 ATS in last 5 games.
Overs hit in 3 of last 5.
1–4 SU in last 5 vs. MVFC opponents.
South Dakota:
2–3 ATS in last 5 games.
3 of last 5 games went under.
9-game home winning streak.
Head-to-Head: South Dakota has won 2 straight, including a 39-point win in 2024.
Historical Betting Results
Drake: Struggles ATS against scholarship FCS teams; often competitive early but fades late.
South Dakota: Profitable ATS at home in non-conference games; unders common when defense controls tempo.
MVFC vs. PFL Trends: MVFC teams cover ~65% of the time in September non-conference matchups.
Game Odds
Drake Bulldogs 50.5
South Dakota Coyotes – 13.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 19, 2025
