SDSU football looks to maintain winning mentality

BROOKINGS, S.D. (KELO) — SDSU is the back-to-back national champions and they sit atop the conference preseason poll starting the new season with a 29-game win streak. The Jacks are look to continue their reign with a mix of youth and experience.

29 incoming freshmen will be featured on the 2024 SDSU roster along with 45 upperclassmen and 40 underclassmen. Having lost 18 players from the previous season, the new group of leaders are passing along what they’ve learned to the younger crew.

“The first thing was kind of their leadership, just how I attached to them and all the questions I asked them and how they were there for me. I kind of want to be like that for the for the freshmen that just came in,” SDSU wide receiver Griffin Wilde said.

The Jacks last loss dates back to September of the 2022 season. Coach Jimmy Rogers says that physicality, player development, and instilling a winning mentality are the main factors that will sustain their success.

“Doing the little things right, a lot of the game is mental, but so much of it is technical as well. So if we can eliminate the mental part of it and just react and continue to improve our technique, I think we’ll be really strong on both sides of the ball,” SDSU head coach Jimmy Rogers said.

The third longest winning streak in FCS history will be put to the test when SDSU opens up the season against nationally ranked Oklahoma State.

“It’s a great challenge. They got a ton of guys returning, they’re kind of similar to what we were last year as far as the returners and the amount of starters that are coming back and the production that’s on that as well as arguably one of the best running backs in all of college football,” Rogers said.

“I’m really excited. I always love playing the big opponents. It was really fun when we got a chance to play Iowa, but didn’t really show up the way we wanted to. But this year we’re going to prepare a little bit differently knowing what went into that game. Changing our approach to this game is going to be a big effort for us and knowing that we just got to play our style of football and we’re going to come out on top,” SDSU quarterback Mark Gronowski said.

SDSU will open the season at Oklahoma State on August 31st.

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