​Aug. 26—VERMILLION, S.D. — The South Dakota Coyotes will kick off their 2026 football season under first-year head coach Matt Vitzthum on Saturday, welcoming Central Connecticut State to the DakotaDome for a Week 0 clash and the first-ever meeting between the two programs.This matchup also marks just the fifth time that USD has opened with an FCS opponent, being 2-2 in those contests.How to watch the Coyotes’ season debut and what to know about both programs:Week 0: No. 12 South Dakota Coyotes vs. Central Connecticut State Blue DevilsWhen: Saturday, Aug. 29, at 1 p.m.Where: DakotaDome in VermillionTV: ESPN+ / Midco Sports — David Brown (Play-by-Play), Andre Fields (Analyst)Radio: Coyote Sports Network (John Thayer, Gary Culver, Jerry Palleshi) [KVHT 106.3 FM]Streaming: ESPN+ / Midco SportsRecords last year: USD 10-5, CCSU 8-5Series: First meeting all-time.Rankings: USD is ranked No. 12 in FCSCoaches: USD — Matt Vitzthum (first year); CCSU — Adam Lechtenberg (fourth year, 18-19)Leading passers (returning): USD — Nevan Cremascoli (3 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs in 2025); CCSU — Brett Griffis (17 passing yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs in 2025)Leading rushers (returning): USD — Carson Fletcher (478 yards, 1 TD in 2025); CCSU — Davon Smith Jr. (43 yards, 1 TD in 2025)Leading receivers (returning): USD — Tysen Boze (19 receptions, 298 yards, 2 TDs in 2025); CCSU — Michael Trovarelli (44 receptions, 493 yards, 6 TDs in 2025)Top defenders (returning): USD — Gabriel Hardman (90 total tackles, 5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 2 PBUs, 1 FF in 2025); CCSU — Eric Jackson (72 total tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 PBUs, 1 FF in 2025)Quick game hits: Saturday’s clash will be the first all-time meeting between USD and Central Connecticut State. … The Coyotes are 79-49-1 (.610) in season openers dating back to 1889. … USD enters the 2026 campaign on the heels of three consecutive 10-plus win seasons for the first time in program history. … With a win over CCSU, Vitzthum would be the first head coach in the Division I era to win their opener for the Coyotes. Vitzthum is also just the fourth USD coach in the Division I era, but only the second to open their tenure as head coach with an FCS opponent (Joe Glenn, 2012). … The Coyotes are 29-11 in the DakotaDome as a ranked team and 18-5 when ranked inside the top 15 in the FCS era. … For the first time in 3 1/2 seasons, USD will have a new man under center: Austyn Modrzewski. … CCSU has won back-to-back Northeast Conference titles and are picked to win the league again this season. … The Blue Devils have made consecutive appearances in the FCS playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history in 2024 and 2025. … CCSU’s Chris Jean was named to the Stats Perform FCS preseason All-American first team at defensive back after tallying 13 pass breakups and four interceptions last year. … A total of seven true or redshirt freshmen for the Coyotes are slated to make their first starts against the Blue D