Summer has just arrived on the calendar, but it's never too early to think about football.

South Dakota State's 2017 schedule has been finalized, complete with kickoff times TV broadcasts.

The Jackrabbits open the season Thursday night, August 31, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, when they host Duquense at 7:00 PM.

Nine days later, SDSU plays another night game, a 7:00 PM Central kickoff at Montana State.

The final non-conference game of the regular season is a September 16 game in Brookings against Drake. Kickoff is 6:00 PM.

After a bye week, the Jackrabbits open Missouri Valley Conference play Saturday, September 23, with a 6:00 PM start at Youngstown State.

October opens with back-to-back league home games - Southern Illinois, October 7 at 6:00 PM, and Northern Iowa, October 14 at 2:00 PM.

SDSU wraps up October with two MVFC road games - at Missouri State, October 21 at 2:00 PM, and at Western Illinois, October 28 at 1:00 PM.

November features the Jackrabbits two biggest rivalry games - the Dakota Marker game with North Dakota State, in Brookings, November 4 at 2:00 PM, and the South Dakota Showdown game with South Dakota, November 18 at 2:00 PM, in Vermillion.

In between, SDSU hosts Illinois State, November 11 at 2:00 PM.

Midco Sports Network will televise five of the Jackrabbits six home games as well as the game at USD.

South Dakota went 9-4 last season and earned a school-first opening round bye in the NCAA FCS Playoffs. The Jacks beat Villanova in the second round before losing in the quarterfinals at North Dakota State.

2017 SDSU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Aug. 31 – DUQUESNE, 7:00 PM [Midco]
Sept. 9 – at Montana State, 7:00 PM
Sept. 16 – DRAKE, 6:00 PM [Midco]
Sept. 30 – at Youngstown State, 6:00 PM [ESPN3]
Oct. 7 – SOUTHERN ILLINOIS, 6:00 PM [MVFC-TV]
Oct. 14 – NORTHERN IOWA, 2:00 PM [Midco]
Oct. 21 – at Missouri State, 2:00 PM [MVFC-TV]
Oct. 28 – at Western Illinois, 1:00 PM [ESPN3]
Nov. 4 – NORTH DAKOTA STATE, 2:00 PM [Midco]
Nov. 11 – ILLINOIS STATE, 2:00 PM [Midco]
Nov. 18 – at South Dakota, 2:00 PM [Midco]

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