Dakota Marker rivalry returns with battle of top ranked teams

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — SDSU and NDSU have played each other in football 115 times, dating back to 1903.

In 2004, the two universities met in a field on the South Dakota and North Dakota border, to begin the Dakota Marker rivalry. That matchup is now even at 10 wins a piece with SDSU coming away with the most recent success.

SDSU has won five straight games, since falling at Oklahoma State to open the season. The Jackrabbits have outscored their opponents 214-43 during the win streak.

Much of that success stems from their rushing attack, which averages nearly 250 yards per game, sixth best in the FCS.

“Right now, you’d better stop the run. That doesn’t mean we’re nine guys in the box, but we have to be conscious of what’s led to some of the success the last three weeks,” NDSU head coach Tim Polasek said. “I think it’s a hard long day if they can cultivate balance and do what they want to do, when they want to do it.”

NDSU opened the year with a loss to FBS foe Colorado. They’ve won six straight since then, leaning on the efficiency of senior quarterback, Cam Miller.

“We’ve got to get pressure on the quarterback. We’ve got to create it off a four man rush and we’ve got to mix up our looks and make sure there’s some indecision of what he thinks the coverage is,” SDSU head coach Jimmy Rogers said. “He has elite processing skills and he’ll get the ball out of his hands quickly.”

The Jackrabbits five game win streak against NDSU has been fueled by turnovers. SDSU has won that battle 10-0 in those five games.

“It’s pivotal in every close game and this will be a sixty-minute game. It’s something that we preach constantly, taking it away and not turning it over,” Rogers said.

This year’s battle for the Dakota Marker may have an even heightened sense of intrigue. SDSU and NDSU are the two top ranked teams in the country and the rivalry will be featured on National TV.

“NDSU is really sound and they’ve got the athletes to match our athletes, they’ve got the physicality to match our physicality. This is going to be a really close game,” Rogers said.

“This is a rivalry game and they’ve had the Dakota Marker too long. What you do, is that you’ve got to embrace the competition,” Polasek said. “This is two evenly matched teams and somebody will lose. I want to be the team that runs over and grabs the damn rock.”

SDSU and NDSU will cross paths for the Dakota Marker on Saturday. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN 2. KELOLAND Sports will have coverage following the game in Fargo.

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