Abilene Christian football is making moves, locking in a future home-and-home series with FCS powerhouse South Dakota, a squad currently ranked No. 6 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25. This isn’t some small potatoes schedule filler. ACU Vice President of Athletics Zach Lassiter said it himself, and his words are a mission statement: “This series with South Dakota is proof of our continued commitment to raising the standard of Abilene Christian football. We believe one of the ways to elevate ACU to the premier level of the Football Championship Subdivision is to play the best teams in the country. These kinds of games bring excitement to our program and fanbase, and give our student-athletes the opportunity to measure themselves against a top-level opponent.” That’s the mindset, right there.
This Isn’t Just Any Schedule Add-On
When you’re talking South Dakota, you’re talking about a Missouri Valley Conference team, a program consistently at the top of FCS. For Abilene Christian, adding a No. 6 ranked opponent like this to their 2028 and 2029 nonconference slate shows they aren’t afraid to test themselves. It’s a statement. Historically, ACU has a 2-2 all-time record against Missouri Valley Conference teams, but their most recent matchup against an MVC program was a tough one: a 51-31 loss to North Dakota State in the second round of the 2024 FCS Playoffs. That kind of result can sting, but it also lights a fire. You want to measure yourself against the best? You go out and schedule the best.
ACU Is Chasing the Big Leagues
This isn’t just one big game, either. The Wildcats have already been putting themselves out there. Since the start of the 2024 season, ACU has played 16 games against ranked opponents, with six of those being marquee nonconference matchups. Their record in those games? A respectable 9-7. That’s not a fluke, that’s a program that’s actively seeking out top competition and holding its own. The 2028 game against South Dakota, set for Saturday, September 2, 2028, at the DakotaDome, will even be ACU’s first-ever game played in the state of South Dakota. Talk about breaking new ground! And let’s not forget, ACU also has a nonconference game scheduled against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field in College Station for the 2028 season. They are not messing around.
This home-and-home with South Dakota, kicking off in Vermillion in 2028 and then coming to Wildcat Stadium on Saturday, September 1, 2029, is a massive step for Abilene Christian football. It’s a chance to truly see where they stand against one of the country’s perennial powers. Get ready, because ACU is ready to show the FCS world what they’re building.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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