Sioux Falls — For the first time since 2011, the NSIC football team is playing a non-conference game.
The conference went to a full 11-game roster when USF and Minot State became the league’s 15th and 16th teams in 2012, and when Minnesota Crookston and St. Cloud State waived them in 2019. They have maintained this status when they plan to rank the league in 14th place team. But with Upper Iowa leaving NSIC for the Great Lakes Valley Conference, the conference will return to odd teams, which will finally give teams in NSIC the opportunity to schedule non-conference games, and they’re swooping.
Augustana announced Monday a home series with Nebraska school Chadron State in the Rockies Athletic Conference, while USF signed on to play in Pittsburgh State (Kansas) this fall for the Gorillas’ homecoming in October. game 28.
That will be a big challenge for the Cougars, who enter their first season under new coach Jon Anderson.
Pitt State went 12-1 last year to win the mighty MIAA conference and was undefeated until a playoff loss to eventual national champion Ferris State.
This will be the first meeting between the teams. USF went 8-3 last year and only missed the second-tier playoffs. It was the Cougars’ 28th consecutive winning season.
“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to play against another well-respected DII opponent,” said USF athletic director Pam Gohl. “Their return should be a dynamic environment and a great opportunity for our two programs to see competition outside of their respective meetings.”
The Vikings will visit Chadron State on September 9, Week 2 of the season. The Eagles will then return and visit Augustana on Sept. 7, 2024. Chadron State went 3-8 last year. They have never played against the Vikings, who went 7-4 last year and won for the fourth straight season.
“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to fill out our opening date with an opponent like Chadron State from RMAC,” Viking coach Jerry Olszewski said. “Coach Long continues the tradition of successful programs and will challenge our team in the ways we need to grow on our journey into 2023.”
Both the Vikings and Cougars are expected to announce their full 2023 schedules soon.
