Wolves announce 2024 schedule, which opens with a visit to the DakotaDome

ABERDEEN — Northern State University football will officially open the 2024 season at the University of South Dakota on Thursday, Aug. 29.

It will be the first meeting between the two programs since 1997 and the Coyotes’ move to NCAA Division I. The teams met seven times from 1990-97, with South Dakota holding an 8-0 advantage in the series. Northern’s last victory against USD game in the fall of 1973 by a score of 61-12.

“We are excited to announce our 2024 football schedule and are looking forward to opening the season against the University of South Dakota,” NSU Director of Athletics Nate Davis said. “With the new NCAA legislation that passed last month, we wanted to capitalize on the opportunity to fill out our 11-game schedule and provide a meaningful experience for our student-athletes. This is an important moment for our football program that we feel will create positive momentum.”

The unique match-up comes during a calendar year in which FCS teams are permitted to play a 12-game schedule. In addition, Division II passed the “week 0” initiative at the 2024 NCAA Convention, allowing its members to play their first permissible contest one week earlier than the prior legislative date.

Following the contest at South Dakota, the Wolves will kick-off their NSIC schedule at home versus the University of Sioux Falls on Sept. 7. Northern will then play a pair of back-to-back away and home games, heading to Minot State and Augustana, and hosting Winona State and Bemidji State. The Oct. 5 contest against the Beavers will be the annual Gypsy Days game.

The Wolves then hit the road, traveling to Minnesota Duluth before closing out the month with a home game against Southwest Minnesota State and road trip to Concordia-St. Paul.

November slates Northern with their final regular season home game, hosting Minnesota State followed by their final regular-season game at Wayne State (Neb.)

2024 Northern State Football Schedule

Aug. 29 at South Dakota

Sept. 7 host Sioux Falls

Sept. 14 at Minot State

Sept. 21 at Augustana

Sept. 28 host Winona State

Oct. 5 host Bemidji State

Oct. 12 at Minnesota Duluth

Oct. 19 host Southwest Minnesota State

Oct. 26 at Concordia-St. Paul

Nov. 2 host Minnesota State (Mankato)

Nov. 9 at Wayne State (Neb.)

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: The 2024 Northern State University football schedule is released