No. 5 South Dakota State Dominates Northern Iowa 41-15

South Dakota State Dismantles Northern Iowa 41-15 behind Ground Attack

Josiah Johnson rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns while James Basinger added 102 yards and a score as South Dakota State dismantled Northern Iowa 41-15 on Saturday, KCRG reported. The decisive victory allowed the Jackrabbits to pull away after holding a 17-7 lead at halftime.

The win pushes South Dakota State to an 8-2 overall record and a 5-1 mark in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The team entered the matchup ranked No. 5 in the Stats Perform FCS Poll, asserting its dominance on the ground by churning out 259 rushing yards and totaling 467 yards of offense.

Football Highlights at Northern Iowa (11.07.2026)

Johnson and Basinger Surge Past Defenders with Touchdowns

Johnson crossed a major individual threshold during the contest, surpassing 1,000 rushing yards for the season. He found the end zone on runs of 1 and 3 yards. Meanwhile, Basinger sealed the game’s upper hand on the very first play of the fourth quarter, breaking off a 63-yard touchdown run that stretched the lead to 38-7.

Quarterback Chase Mason contributed through the air for the Jackrabbits. Mason completed 10 of 18 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns, opening the scoring with a 22-yard strike to Jack Smith in the first quarter. Later in the third quarter, Mason connected with Brayden Delahoyde for an 8-yard touchdown pass. Kicker Tristan Alvano chipped in with long-distance special teams play, converting field goals from 42 and 50 yards out.

South Dakota State football rips past Northern Iowa https://t.co/jdRETRdSZN

— https://x.com/ArgusSports/status/2119198224195957038

Northern Iowa Struggles to Find Offense

For Northern Iowa, which dropped to 4-5 overall and 3-3 in conference play, the offense struggled to find traction against the Jackrabbits’ front. Quarterback Jaxon Dailey threw for 177 yards and a touchdown, and Xavier Terrell contributed a 5-yard rushing touchdown. However, the Panthers were held to just 74 rushing yards and 260 total yards of offense.

Both teams face conference road tests next Saturday. Northern Iowa will travel to face South Dakota, while South Dakota State heads on the road to play Southern Illinois.