TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State is back on the road this weekend as the Sycamores travel to Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium to take on No. 1/1 South Dakota State. Kickoff between the Sycamores and the Jackrabbits is set for 3 p.m. ET and will be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
Weekly Notes
At a Glance
Saturday's contest features the 12th all-time matchup between Indiana State and South Dakota State and the first contest in Brookings since the 2018 season. In their last game in Brookings, the Sycamores and Jackrabbits went into triple overtime before SDSU outlasted ISU, 54-51.
The Sycamores contest against South Dakota State features the second time in the 2022 season that ISU will face the No. 1/1 team in FCS. Indiana State previously fell to then No. 1 North Dakota State back on Oct. 15, 31-26.
Dante Hendrix enters the Saturday contest sitting just 55 yards away from tying the Indiana State career receiving yards mark. Hendrix (2,330) sits behind Sam Logan (2,385 yards - 2003-06) in the all-time annals. Justin Dinka continues to sit among the MVFC leaders in multiple rushing categories on the year including second in yards per carry (6.8) and third in yards per game (91.0). Geoffrey Brown has posted four double-digit tackling efforts in the 2022 season including a 12-tackle game this past weekend against Illinois State. He leads ISU with 63 total tackles on the year.
About South Dakota State
South Dakota State was selected as one of the top teams in the FCS this season and started the preseason in the top three in all major FCS preseason polls. The Jackrabbits were selected second in the MVFC Preseason Poll as voted on by the league's head coaches, media, and SIDs.
South Dakota State is currently ranked No. 1/1 in both of the major FCS polls heading into the week. The Jackrabbits took over the top spot following their 23-21 win over North Dakota State on October 15. Six SDSU players were honored on preseason All-American First Team lists including wide receiver Jaxon Janke, tight end Tucker Kraft, running back Isaiah Davis, and linebacker Adam Bock.
The Jackrabbits also boast one of the top offensive players in the MVFC with quarterback Mark Gronowski coming off his second Valley Offensive Player of the Week recognition. SDSU's lone loss in 2022 came on the road at Iowa back on September 3.
On This Date
Indiana State has played 10 games all-time on October 29 in program history. Eight of the 10 games have come on the road with Indiana State last hosting on the date back in 1960.
The Sycamores have won three games on October 29 with the last coming in 1988 at Northern Iowa. Indiana State and South Dakota State have never lined up on the date in their respective program histories.
- 1949 – at Eastern Illinois – L, 33-0
- 1955 – Evansville - L, 33-19
- 1960 - Valparaiso - W, 14-13
- 1966 – at Ball State - L, 31-20
- 1977 – at West Texas A&M - L, 31-20
- 1983 – at Eastern Illinois - W, 17-13
- 1988 – at Northern Iowa - W, 24-6
- 1994 – at Eastern Illinois - L, 30-21
- 2005 – at Missouri State - L, 31-27
- 2016 – at Youngstown State – L, 13-10
Sycamores Against No. 1
Indiana State has struggled throughout program history against teams ranked in the FCS Top 25. The Sycamores entered the 2022 season 17-104 all-time against the FCS Top-25.
Indiana State fell in both of their games so far this year against a ranked opponent (Montana - 49-14, North Dakota State - 31-26).
The Sycamores have taken on the No. 1 team in the country11 times over program history with the first coming back in 1992 against Northern Iowa
Sycamores All-Time against No. 1
- Oct. 31, 1992 vs. Northern Iowa L, 34-13
- Nov. 6, 1993 vs. Youngstown State L, 17-10
- Nov. 19, 1994 vs. Youngstown State L, 14-3
- Sept. 19, 1998 vs. Youngstown State L, 20-14
- Nov. 13, 2004 vs. Southern Illinois L, 59-10
- Nov. 10, 2007 vs. Northern Iowa L, 68-14
- Nov. 5, 2011 vs. North Dakota State L, 27-16
- Oct. 13, 2012 vs. North Dakota State W, 17-14
- Oct. 26, 2013 vs. North Dakota State L, 56-10
- Oct. 18, 2014 vs. North Dakota State L, 34-17
- Oct. 8, 2021 vs. North Dakota State L, 31-26
Indiana State's lone win against the No. 1 team in the country came back on Oct. 13, 2012, when the Sycamores won in Fargo, 17-14. Johnny Towalid returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the Sycamores' win over the Bison.
Hendrix Moves Up
Redshirt senior wide receiver Dante Hendrix continues to move up the Indiana State record books as the Florence, Ky. sits second all-time in the ISU annals in both career receptions (172) and receiving yards (2,330).
Hendrix became the fourth ISU player to eclipse 2,000 career receiving yards joining Sam Logan (2,385), Terry Bell (2,048), and Robert Tonyan Jr. (2,047) to achieve the mark in his career.
Hendrix currently trails just Logan in the ISU all-time record book in both receptions (196) and yards (2,385) sitting 24 receptions and 55 yards away from Logan in each respective category.
Hendrix is currently climbing the MVFC all-time record book in career receptions.
Climbing the MVFC Record Book
176 - Dedric Ward, Northern Iowa - 1993-96
175 - Jason Schneider, South Dakota State - 2011-14
175 - Spencer Schnell, Illinois State - 2016-18
172 - Dante Hendrix, Indiana State - 2018 - pres.
Follow the Sycamores
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