Aberdeen, SD (NSUWolves.com) – 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,” noted Director of Athletics Nate Davis. “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 September 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 October 5 contest against the Beavers will be the annual Gypsy Days game.
The Wolves then hit the road, traveling to Minnesota Duluth on October 12. They close out the month of October at home against Southwest Minnesota State (Oct. 19) and on the road at Concordia-St. Paul (Oct. 26).
November slates Northern with their final regular season home game, hosting Minnesota State on the second. They then close out the regular season at Wayne State College on November 9. The full 2024 schedule is outlined below.
2024 Football Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location |
| 8/29 | @ South Dakota | Vermillion, S.D. |
| 9/7 | Sioux Falls | Aberdeen, S.D. |
| 9/14 | @ Minot State | Minot, N.D. |
| 9/21 | @ Augustana | Sioux Falls, S.D. |
| 9/28 | Winona State | Aberdeen, S.D. |
| 10/5 | Bemidji State | Aberdeen, S.D. |
| 10/12 | @ Minnesota Duluth | Duluth, Minn. |
| 10/19 | Southwest Minnesota State | Aberdeen, S.D. |
| 10/26 | @ Concordia-St. Paul | St. Paul, Minn. |
| 11/2 | Minnesota State | Aberdeen, S.D. |
| 11/9 | @ Wayne State | Wayne, Neb. |
The Northern State University football team will announce their 2024 high school signing class next Wednesday, February 7. As a part of the national signing day festivities, NSU Athletics will host the annual signing day part from Lager’s Inn that evening. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and is open to the public with food provided.