THE BASICS
The Drake University football team is on the road again for the first round of FCS playoff action. The Bulldogs are set for a rematch in Vermillion against the Coyotes of South Dakota with kickoff slated for noon in The DakotaDome.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Drake secured its third straight outright Pioneer Football League title with a come-from-behind 17-10 win over Morehead State last week. The Bulldogs leaned on their PFL-leading rushing attack to overpower the Eagles in the second half on their way to a win.
 
BACK IN THE BRACKET
This Saturday will mark the third FCS Playoff game in Drake football history. The Bulldogs have qualified for postseason play in each of the last two seasons. Drake's first FCS Playoff berth sent them to North Dakota State in 2023 before matching up with Tarleton State in 2024.
 
NATIONAL AWARD FINALISTS
Two Bulldogs have been included among the nation's best as finalists for a pair of FCS awards. Rookie running back Nick Herman has been named as a contender for the Jerry Rice Award, given to the best freshman player. Star linebacker Sean Allison is also a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the best defensive player in the country.
 
HERMAN'S HEROICS
Nick Herman also received the final installment of the Pioneer Football League's Offensive Player of the Week honor after the win over Morehead State. Herman totaled 253 yards, the most by a Bulldog back since 2003, and ripped off a 77-yard touchdown scurry to provide the final tally.
 
DANGEROUS DEFENSE
Drake has boasted the PFL's best scoring defense, which also ranks fifth in the entire FCS. The Bulldog D has allowed an average of just 15.8 points per game this season. Drake is also tied atop the PFL stat sheet in redzone defense with teams scoring at just a 66.7% clip.
 
FRUITFUL HOME FINALE
While Drake's football team was busy clinching another conference championship last weekend, Bulldog fans showed up as more than just spectators. Last Saturday's game featured a food drive that exchanged free entry for any non-perishable food item. In total, Drake Nation donated over 500 pounds of food to help those in need during the holiday season.
 
DRAKE STAT LEADERS                                                                                                                                     
SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA
South Dakota enters postseason play with an overall record of 8-4. The Coyotes finished the regular season with a 6-2 mark in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and ended the year on a 3-game winning streak.
 
USD has blanked Drake in the two teams' all-time series, 5-0. The Bulldogs and Coyotes first faced off in 2009 and battled at The DakotaDome earlier this season to a 42-21 South Dakota win.
 
Travis Johansen is in his first year leading the South Dakota Coyote football program. He has logged a record of 8-4 in his debut season in Vermillion.
 
Up Next
An upset win in Vermillion would advance the Bulldogs into the second round of the FCS Playoffs for the first time in program history and set up a date at No. 6 Mercer.