SDSU and USD will battle for Corn Cup

There’s more on the line this weekend than SDSU’s pride and the season’s record as the Jacks face off against the University of South Dakota Coyotes at the DakotaDome. A trophy is on the line—specifically, the Corn Cup.

 The Corn Cup is part of the three-year-old Showdown Series between South Dakota State and USD. South Dakota Corn Council and Feeding South Dakota sponsor the showdown.

 Points are racked up for each win the institutions gain at sporting events they face off in. The schools will compete in 20 different events in 17 sports.

 Although most sports count as one point, football counts for two points with a win. What weighs more heavily than football are the academic points gained for each school based to student athletes’ GPA, which counts for 3 points for each school.

 “It’s great to have the competition on the field of play, but we also realize student athletes are here and their main priority is to get an education and to recognize that is pretty cool,” said Justin Sell, director of athletics.

 The Showdown Series began in 2012 after USD joined Division I play. The Corn Cup currently rests in Vermillion, but Sell said he is confident SDSU athletes will “play [their] hearts out for it.”

 “We take that approach with every game and contest we play and every sport that we play,” Sell said.

 The point standings are currently 3-2 in the Jacks’ favor. This weekend’s game will be a deciding factor if SDSU continues to outplay the Coyotes or if USD will tip the scale and lead the showdown on the way to the cup.