January 22, 2026

MADISON, S.D. – The Frontier Conference announced Thursday the 2026 football schedules, including Dakota State (S.D.).  The Trojan highlighted 11 games on their 2026 schedule, with three games of the first four games being held at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field.

The 2026 football schedule features the flip-flops of home-away Frontier crossover games and divisional games from the 2025 season.  Dakota State has scheduled 11 football games – six home games and five road contests – this coming fall.  Game times will be announced later.

Josh Anderson, who will be entering his eighteenth season as the head coach this coming fall, takes his team in a scrimmage at Mount Marty (S.D.) on Thursday, Aug. 20, in Yankton.  The Trojans inherited their 8-2 overall record from last season and 5-1 record in the first-year Frontier Conference East Division.  DSU was ranked No. 25 in the 2025 NAIA Football Coaches' Postseason poll, producing their fourth winning season in the past five years.  It was the most wins since the 2017 season (8-3 overall record).

The NAIA football season gets underway on Thursday, Aug. 27.  The Trojans will host long-time rival Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday, Aug. 29 in the 80^th all-time series meeting.

Dakota State plays their first road contest at NCAA Division II Black Hills State (S.D.) on Sept. 5 in Spearfish.  Both schools were former members of the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC) and the Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC).  The last time both teams met was on Oct. 2, 2010, when the Trojans fell short by the score of 14-9.

DSU returns home on Sept 12 for the 11^th annual Ag Bowl contest versus NCAA Division III Nebraska Wesleyan.

The Frontier Conference crossover contests (East vs. West – counted as non-conference game) will begin their two-week span, starting on Sept. 19 when the Trojans host Arizona Chrisitan.  DSU is scheduled to travel to Southern Oregon on Sept. 26.

The Frontier Conference East Division schedule starts with a six-game slate on Oct. 3.  The Trojans begin their divisional schedule with back-to-back home games with Montana Tech on Oct. 3 and Dickinson State (N.D.) on Oct. 10 in the Trojan Day Homecoming / Senior Day event.

Dakota State travels to Valley City State (N.D.) on Oct. 17 before taking a bye week on Oct. 24.  DSU plays their final home game on Halloween (Oct. 31) versus Mayville State (N.D.).

The Trojans close their 2026 regular season with back-to-back road contests, traveling to Rocky Mountain (Mont.) on Nov. 7 and MSU-Northern on Nov. 14.

The NAIA Football Championship Series begins on Nov. 21 with the first round, followed by the second-round play on Nov. 28.  The quarterfinals are set for Dec. 5, semifinals on Dec. 12, and the national championship game on Dec. 19.

Below is the complete schedule of the 2026 Dakota State University Trojan football schedule:
  

2026 Dakota State University (S.D.) Trojan Football Schedule
Day	Date	Opponent	Time (CST)	Location
Thursday	Aug. 20	Mount Marty (S.D.) #	TBA	Yankton, S.D.
Saturday	Aug. 29	Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.)	TBA	Madison, S.D.
Saturday	Sept. 5	Black Hills State (S.D.)	TBA	Spearfish, S.D.
Saturday	Sept. 12	Nebraska Wesleyan $	TBA	Madison. S.D.
Saturday	Sept. 19	Arizona Christian	TBA	Madison, S.D.
Saturday	Sept. 26	Southern Oregon	TBA	Ashland, Ore.
Saturday	Oct. 3	Montana Tech*	TBA	Madison, S.D.
Saturday	Oct. 10	Dickinson State (N.D.)*+	TBA	Madison, S.D.
Saturday	Oct. 17	Valley City State (N.D.)*	TBA	Valley City, N.D.
Saturday	Oct. 31	Mayville State (N.D.)*	TBA	Madison, N.D.
Saturday	Nov. 7	Rocky Mountain (Mont.)*	TBA	Billings, Mont.
Saturday	Nov. 14	Montana State University-Northern*	TBA	Havre, Mont.
Saturday	Nov. 21	NAIA Football National Playoffs	TBA	Campus Sites
BOLD – home contests at Brian Kern Family Stadium on Blankley Field # - Scrimmage * - Frontier Conference – East Division game $ - Ag Bowl Game + - Trojan Day Homecoming game/Senior Day