Venue & Game Details
Kickoff Time: 2:00 PM CT (3:00 PM ET, 12:00 PM PT)
Venue: Blakeslee Stadium, Mankato, Minnesota (Capacity ~7,500, natural grass)
Broadcast: NSIC Network / ESPN+
Special Note: This is Minnesota State’s Homecoming Game.
Weather Forecast (Mankato, MN)
Temperature: ~71°F (22°C) at kickoff
Conditions: Mostly sunny, light winds (5–8 mph)
Precipitation:
Impact: Ideal fall football weather; no disruptions expected
Injury Report (Projected)
(Note: D-II programs rarely release official injury reports; this is based on recent availability trends)
Sioux Falls Cougars:
QB Camden Dean – healthy, accounted for 5 TDs in last year’s upset of MSU.
WR Hank Brown Jr. – probable (hamstring).
Secondary missing one starter (questionable).
Minnesota State Mavericks:
QB healthy, averaging 200+ YPG passing.
RB committee intact, led by a 100-yard rusher in 2 of 4 games.
DL depth thin after Week 2 injury.
Key Player Matchups
Camden Dean (USF QB) vs. MSU Secondary
Dean threw for 304 yards and 4 TDs in last year’s 40–36 upset. MSU’s DBs must contain him to avoid another shootout.
MSU Ground Game vs. USF Front Seven
The Mavericks average over 200 rushing yards per game. USF’s linebackers must limit chunk plays.
Special Teams: Adonis Hutchinson (USF)
Hutchinson already has a kickoff return TD this season. Field position could swing momentum.
Recent Team Form
Sioux Falls (3–1, 2–1 NSIC):
W vs Black Hills State (27–21)
W vs Northern State (42–28)
W vs Bemidji State (56–23)
L @ Minnesota Duluth (34–17)
Strength: Balanced offense (446.3 YPG, 3rd in NSIC), elite time of possession (35:32 per game, 2nd in D-II).
Weakness: Secondary vulnerable against top-tier passing attacks.
Minnesota State (3–1, 2–1 NSIC):
W vs Northwest Missouri State (38–14)
W vs Minot State (34–16)
W vs Jamestown (36–7)
L @ Minnesota Duluth (17–13)
Strength: Physical rushing attack, stout defense (allowing just 12.5 PPG in wins).
Weakness: Passing game inconsistent in close contests.
Conference vs. Conference
Both teams are NSIC rivals.
Minnesota State: A perennial national contender, ranked #14 nationally.
Sioux Falls: Receiving votes in the AFCA poll, looking to prove they belong in the playoff conversation.
Series History
All-time series: Minnesota State leads, but Sioux Falls has pulled off notable upsets.
Recent meetings:
2024: Sioux Falls 40, Minnesota State 36 (at Blakeslee Stadium, spoiled MSU’s Homecoming)
2023: Minnesota State 27, Sioux Falls 14
Trend: USF has won 4 times in the series, all on the road.
Betting Trends:
Sioux Falls is 3–1 ATS this season (modeled).
Minnesota State is 2–2 ATS this season.
USF games have gone Over in 3 of 4 due to offensive firepower.
MSU games have gone Under in 2 of 4 due to defensive strength.
Historical Betting Results (Modeled)
2024: Sioux Falls +7.5 (covered, won 40–36)
2023: Minnesota State -6.5 (covered, won 27–14)
2022: Minnesota State -4.5 (covered, won 31–21)
2021: Minnesota State -3.5 (covered, won 28–20)
Game Odds
Sioux Falls Cougars 55
Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks – 7
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 26, 2025
