The Drake University football team opens the its road portion of its schedule with a trip to Brookings, S.D. to take on ninth-ranked South Dakota State.

Saturday's contest will be the 10th all-time meeting between Drake and SDSU and the first since 1983. The Bulldogs hold a 7-2 all-time series record.

This is the fifth-straight season Drake has played a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Last season the Bulldogs lost at South Dakota and fell to Western Illinois in 2014, Northern Iowa in 2013 and Indiana State in 2012. Drake's last win over a current member of the MVFC came on Aug. 30 2007 when it defeated Illinois State. That victory was also the program's last win over a ranked opponent.

The Bulldogs have a one-two punch in the backfield with senior running back Conley Wilkins and sophomore Drew Lauer. In his first collegiate game, Lauer rushed for 79 yards on nine carries. Wilkins found the end zone twice and rushed for 62 yards in the season opener against Quincy. Fifth-year senior Eric Saubert has continued where he left off from last season as one of the top tight ends in the nation. Last year, he caught 55 passes to lead the nation's tight ends and ranked in the top-three among tight ends with 506 yards and nine touchdowns. Saubert led the team in their season opener with seven catches for 95 yards and a touchdown.

South Dakota State are ranked ninth in this week's poll and are coming off a 59-41 setback at No. 12 TCU. The Jackrabbits were led by Taryn Christion and Jake Wieneke. Christion threw for a career-high 333 yard on 19-of 30 passing, while Wieneke collected eight receptions for 196 yards. The Jacks were picked third in the MVFC Preseason Poll, finishing behind Northern Iowa and defending national champions North Dakota State.

The Bulldogs return to Drake Stadium on Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. when they host McKendree.