If you were watching the scoreboard on December 21, 2024, you saw a dynasty hit a wall. It was cold. It was loud. It was exactly the kind of heartbreak that makes college football both beautiful and miserable. The South Dakota State football score ended in a 28-21 loss to North Dakota State, and just like that, the Jackrabbits' reign as back-to-back national champions was over.
Honestly, the game felt like a heavyweight fight where neither side wanted to blink. Mark Gronowski, the guy who has been the heartbeat of Brookings for years, threw for 204 yards and two touchdowns. He was gritty. He was focused. But the Bison had an answer for every punch the Jacks threw. North Dakota State’s Bryce Lance was a problem all afternoon, hauling in three touchdowns. When the clock hit zero in Fargo, the Jackrabbits were left looking at a 12-3 season record—a great year for most, but a disappointment when you've spent two years at the very top of the mountain.
The Breakdown of the 2024 Semifinal
A lot of people expected SDSU to walk back into the championship game. Why wouldn't they? They had crushed Incarnate Word 55-14 the week before. They looked invincible. But then they ran into the Bison in the semifinals.
The stats tell a story of "almosts."
- Total Yards: SDSU 333, NDSU 329
- Turnovers: SDSU 1, NDSU 0
- Third Down Efficiency: Both teams struggled to find a rhythm.
That single turnover was a killer. In a game decided by seven points, every mistake is magnified. Amar Johnson was a bright spot, racking up over 100 total yards and a touchdown, but the ground game didn't have that late-game "oomph" we're used to seeing from a Jimmy Rogers-coached squad. It was the first time in a long time the Jacks didn't look like the more physical team in the fourth quarter.
Why the South Dakota State Football Score Looked Different in 2025
You'd think they would come back for revenge in 2025, right? Well, it was a weird year. The 2025 season was a rollercoaster that ended in Missoula, Montana. On December 6, 2025, the Jackrabbits went out west for a playoff rematch against the Montana Grizzlies.
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It was a blowout. No other way to put it.
The final South Dakota State football score was Montana 50, SDSU 29. Giving up 50 points is basically unheard of for this program. Usually, their defense is like a steel trap. But the Grizzlies moved the ball at will. This loss followed a regular season that was... shaky. They lost to North Dakota State (38-7) earlier in the year and even dropped a close one to their rivals, the South Dakota Coyotes (24-17).
People in Brookings started whispering. Was the window closing?
A Season of Transition
Coach Jimmy Rogers is in his second year as the head man, and following John Stiegelmeier is a massive task. It’s like trying to sing lead for Queen after Freddie Mercury left. You can be great, but everyone is still comparing you to the legend.
In 2025, they dealt with injuries and a lack of that "killer instinct" in close games. They had a wild overtime win against North Dakota (34-31) in November that showed they still have heart. But then they turned around and lost to Illinois State 35-21. It was a season where you never quite knew which Jackrabbits team was going to show up at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
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The Numbers That Matter
Let's look at the 2024 season as a whole, because it was still a masterclass in FCS dominance until the very end.
Mark Gronowski finished 2024 with 2,719 passing yards and 23 touchdowns against only 7 interceptions. Those are "guy who's going to play on Sundays" numbers. The defense only gave up about 14 points per game. That’s elite.
The problem? The Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) has become a gauntlet. It's not just SDSU and NDSU anymore. South Dakota is legitimately good. Illinois State is dangerous. There are no "off" weeks. When you play a schedule like that, you eventually get bruised up. By the time the playoffs rolled around in late 2024, the Jacks looked tired.
What Fans Get Wrong About the Scoreboards
Everyone looks at the final score and thinks they know the game. They don't.
If you look at the Dakota Marker game in October 2024, the score was 13-9 in favor of NDSU. Most people saw that and thought, "Oh, a defensive struggle." In reality, it was a game of missed opportunities. SDSU had the ball late. They had a chance. Chase Mason had a massive 66-yard touchdown run in that game that nearly blew the roof off the Fargodome.
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One play. That’s the difference between a win and a loss in this rivalry.
Actionable Insights for the Offseason
So, where does SDSU go from here? If you're a fan or a bettor following the Jacks, keep an eye on these specific areas:
- Quarterback Transition: With the Gronowski era winding down, the keys likely go to Chase Mason. He’s a different kind of athlete—more of a runner. The offense is going to look different.
- Defensive Identity: Giving up 50 to Montana in the 2025 playoffs was a wake-up call. Expect a massive recruiting focus on the secondary and linebacker speed.
- The Portal: SDSU has usually built from within, but the "new" college football means they might have to hunt for an immediate impact receiver in the transfer portal to help the new QB.
The Jackrabbits aren't going anywhere. They might not be the undisputed kings right now, but they're still the team everyone else in the FCS circles on their calendar. Missing the championship game in 2024 was a shock to the system, and the 2025 slide was even more surprising. But in Brookings, they don't rebuild. They reload.
Check the spring game rosters and see who is taking the first-team reps at left tackle. That's usually the best indicator of how the next season's scoreboard is going to look.