BROOKINGS, S.D. — South Dakota State will open the 2014 football season with a matchup against the Missouri Tigers, athletics officials announced Monday.

The game is scheduled to be played Aug. 30, 2014, at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia. It will mark the first meeting between SDSU and Missouri on the gridiron and continues a trend of the Jackrabbits playing Big 12 Conference opponents every other year. The Jackrabbits played at Iowa State in 2008, traveled to Nebraska in 2010 and are scheduled to open the 2012 season at Kansas.

“Competing against the University of Missouri presents another opportunity for us to showcase our program against a quality Big 12 program with a history of success,” said SDSU Senior Associate Athletic Director Rob Peterson. “It also fits with our model of playing Football Bowl Subdivision programs within our region and allows our fans to travel so they can experience football at its highest level.”

Missouri has made six consecutive bowl appearances, compiling a 40-14 record over the last four seasons.

“We are very excited to open the 2014 season against Missouri,” SDSU head coach John Stiegelmeier said. “Many college football teams have studied Coach (Gary) Pinkel’s program, which is accomplishing great things. We look forward to the challenge.”

SDSU also has commitments to play Big Ten opponents Illinois in 2011 and Minnesota in 2015.

South Dakota State competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision and is a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

–Courtesy of SDSU Athletics and gojacks.com