Ariy-El Boynton

Next football season will be full of challenges for SDSU in its second year in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Below is the schedule along with the possibility of a win for SDSU (strong, likely and hard) according to The Collegian.

GAME ONE

Who: Georgia Southern

Where: Coughlin-Alumni Stadium on Sept. 12.

Possibility of the Jacks winning: Likely.

The skinny: GSU went 6-5 this year and beat SDSU 41-38 in 2007. The Eagles pounded on the locker room after the win, which SDSU could hear loud and clear. That memory will gave SDSU motivation for the non-conference match-up. In the last three years, SDSU has only lost two home games.

GAME TWO

Who: Indiana State (Beef Bowl)

Where: Coughlin-Alumni Stadium on Sept. 19.

Possibility of the Jacks winning: Strong.

The skinny: ISU is terrible: the Sycamores have only won one game in the last five years.

GAME THREE

Who: Illinois State

Where: Normal on Sept. 26.

Possibility of the Jacks winning: Likely.

The skinny: Illinois State will be without Denver Johnson after going 3-8 in his ninth season with the Birds. This year, the Jacks threw for seven touchdowns in the frigid cold.

GAME FOUR

Who: Cal Poly

Where: San Luis Obispo, Calif., on Oct. 3.

Possibility of the Jacks winning: Hard.

The skinny: This year, the Mustangs were the only team that outplayed SDSU in all three phases (offense, defense and special teams). SDSU’s 2006 miracle comeback, led by quarterback Andy Kardoes, at Cal Poly may give extra motivation for the Mustang seniors. In 2008, the ‘Stangs made the playoffs.

GAME FIVE

Who: Missouri State

Where: Springfield on Oct. 10.

Possibility of the Jacks winning: Strong.

The skinny: The Bears will have a junior quarterback, Cody Kirby, who has played the last two years. However, Kirby will have an inexperienced line in front of him and will lack weapons to compete.

GAME SIX

Who: North Dakota State

Where: Coughlin-Alumni Stadium on Oct. 17.

Possibility of the Jacks winning: Hard.

The skinny: Traditionally, the battle for the Dakota Marker comes at the end of the season, but next year, this game lies before Hobo Day. SDSU has not lost to NDSU since the jump to D-I. The Bison had a lot of talent graduating from this year’s squad.

GAME SEVEN

Who: Northern Iowa

Where: Coughlin-Alumni Stadium on Oct. 24 (Hobo Day).

Possibility of the Jacks winning: Hard.

The skinny: The conference champion has beaten SDSU three years straight. The Panthers are always dangerous, with quarterback Pat Grace coming back for his senior season.

GAME EIGHT

Who: Youngstown State

Where: Youngstown, Ohio, on Oct. 31.

Possibility of the Jacks winning: Likely.

The skinny: The Penguins were extreme underachievers this year, losing five games in a row in the middle of the season. YSU was outscored by 81 points this season.

GAME NINE

Who: Southern Illinois

Where: Coughlin-Alumni Stadium on Nov. 7.

Possibility of the Jacks winning: Hard.

The skinny: SIU won the conference this year and carried the automatic bid due to winning the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Salukis carry short, speedy running backs and NFL-sized wide receivers.

GAME 10

Who: Minnesota

Where: Minneapolis on Nov. 14.

Possibility of the Jacks winning: Hard.

The skinny: The Jacks will be the seventh opponent to take on the Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium. This past year, SDSU lost to Iowa State (44-17) to kick off the 2008 season in a 50,000 plus outdoor seat stadium. UM has been ranked high in recruiting reports in the last few years.

GAME 11

Who: Western Illinois

Where: at Macomb on Nov. 21.

Possibility of the Jacks winning: Hard.

The skinny: Leathernecks’ quarterback Matt Barr has been impressive so far in his career. This game could decide whether either team will make the playoffs in 2009. The Jacks will not have to deal with graduating senior conference offensive MVP Herb Donaldson, who may play on Sundays next year.