2016 South Dakota Coyotes football team

2016 South Dakota Coyotes football
Conference	Missouri Valley Football Conference
Record	4–7 (3–5 MVFC)
Head coach	Bob Nielson (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Ted Schlafke (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Pro-style
Co-defensive coordinator	Atiba Bradley (1st season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Tyler Yelk (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	DakotaDome

2016 Missouri Valley Football Conference standings

	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 3 North Dakota State +^		7	–	1					12	–	2
No. 6 South Dakota State +^		7	–	1					9	–	4
No. 2 Youngstown State ^		6	–	2					12	–	4
Illinois State ^		4	–	4					6	–	6
Northern Iowa		4	–	4					5	–	6
Western Illinois		3	–	5					6	–	5
South Dakota		3	–	5					4	–	7
Indiana State		2	–	6					4	–	7
Missouri State		2	–	6					4	–	7
Southern Illinois		2	–	6					4	–	7
+ – Conference co-champions ^ – FCS playoff participant Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2016 South Dakota Coyotes football team represented the University of South Dakota in the 2016 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by first-year head coach Bob Nielson and played their home games in the DakotaDome. They were a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. They finished the season 4–7, 3–5 in MVFC play to finish in a tie for sixth place.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	7:00 pm	at New Mexico*	University Stadium Albuquerque, NM	RTRM	L 21–48	20,221
September 10	2:00 pm	Weber State*	DakotaDome Vermillion, SD	Midco SN	W 52–49 2OT	8,114
September 17	4:00 pm	at North Dakota*	Alerus Center Grand Forks, ND (Potato Bowl, Sitting Bull Trophy)	Midco SN	L 44–47 2OT	11,477
October 1	3:00 pm	at No. 20 Youngstown State	Stambaugh Stadium Youngstown, OH	ESPN3	L 20–30	15,151
October 8	2:00 pm	No. 11 Northern Iowa	DakotaDome Vermillion, SD	Midco SN	W 28–25	10,221
October 15	2:00 pm	at Indiana State	Memorial Stadium Terre Haute, IN	ESPN3	W 33–30 2OT	3,297
October 22	2:00 pm	Illinois State	DakotaDome Vermillion, SD	ESPN3 MVC TV	W 27–24	7,416
October 29	2:00 pm	No. 13 Western Illinois	DakotaDome Vermillion, SD	Midco SN	L 34–35	8,412
November 5	2:00 pm	at Southern Illinois	Saluki Stadium Carbondale, IL	ESPN3 MVC TV	L 28–35	5,689
November 12	2:00 pm	at No. 11 South Dakota State	Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium Brookings, SD (rivalry)	Midco SN	L 21–28	15,345
November 19	2:00 pm	No. 4 North Dakota State	DakotaDome Vermillion, SD	Midco SN	L 21–28	10,011
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS FCS at time of game Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

• Source: Schedule

Game summaries

At New Mexico

	1	2	3	4	Total
Coyotes	14	0	7	0	21
Lobos	14	21	6	7	48

See also: 2016 New Mexico Lobos football team

Weber State

	1	2	3	4	OT	2OT	Total
Wildcats	28	0	14	0	7	0	49
Coyotes	14	7	0	21	7	3	52

See also: 2016 Weber State Wildcats football team

At North Dakota

	1	2	3	4	OT	2OT	Total
Coyotes	3	24	7	0	7	3	44
Fighting Hawks	7	7	3	17	7	6	47

See also: 2016 North Dakota Fighting Hawks football team and Sitting Bull Trophy

At Youngstown State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Coyotes	3	0	3	14	20
#20 Penguins	10	10	0	10	30

See also: 2016 Youngstown State Penguins football team

Northern Iowa

	1	2	3	4	Total
#11 Panthers	14	3	0	8	25
Coyotes	14	7	7	0	28

See also: 2016 Northern Iowa Panthers football team

At Indiana State

	1	2	3	4	OT	2OT	Total
Coyotes	17	0	10	0	3	3	33
Sycamores	10	0	7	10	3	0	30

See also: 2016 Indiana State Sycamores football team

Illinois State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Redbirds	7	10	0	7	24
Coyotes	17	7	3	0	27

See also: 2016 Illinois State Redbirds football team

Western Illinois

	1	2	3	4	Total
#13 Leathernecks	14	0	14	7	35
Coyotes	17	14	0	3	34

See also: 2016 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team

At Southern Illinois

	1	2	3	4	Total
Coyotes	0	7	7	14	28
Salukis	7	14	7	7	35

See also: 2016 Southern Illinois Salukis football team

At South Dakota State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Coyotes	0	7	7	7	21
#11 Jackrabbits	7	0	14	7	28

See also: 2016 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team and South Dakota–South Dakota State football rivalry

North Dakota State

	1	2	3	4	Total
#4 Bison	7	14	7	0	28
Coyotes	7	7	0	7	21

See also: 2016 North Dakota State Bison football team

Ranking movements

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Final
STATS FCS	RV	RV	RV	—	—	—	RV	RV	RV	RV	—	—	—
Coaches	RV	—	RV	—	—	RV	RV	RV	25	RV	—	—	—