South Dakota St. Jackrabbits vs Illinois St. Redbirds Predictions October 3, 2026
South Dakota State will beat Illinois State, 31-27, with its FCS-leading rushing offense providing the strongest reason to favor the Jackrabbits. Illinois State’s scoring production and South Dakota State’s change at quarterback keep this a low-confidence forecast. Neither the supplied spread prices nor the 54.5 total offers a persuasive betting edge, so the official SportsJaw recommendation is Pass.
South Dakota St. Jackrabbits vs Illinois St. Redbirds prediction and best bet
South Dakota State’s advantage starts with 302.4 rushing yards per game and 6.8 yards per carry through five games. That production gives the Jackrabbits a practical way to support expected starting quarterback Josh Holst, who is preparing for his second start with Chase Mason sidelined. The forecast favors their ability to build enough offense around the running game to win.
Illinois State brings a serious counterweight: 43.0 points per game and a share of the national lead in first downs. Those numbers make a comfortable road victory a demanding expectation. South Dakota State is the winner pick, but neither laying 14.5 points nor paying -1,438 to take Illinois State’s points earns a recommendation. The best bet is Pass.
Odds, game time and how to watch
Game: Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 6 p.m. Central, as confirmed by both teams’ official previews. This is a 2026 college football matchup.
Venue and broadcast: Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois; ESPN+.
Records: South Dakota State is 4-1 overall, 1-0 in the MVFC. Illinois State is 4-1, 0-1.
SportsJaw spread: South Dakota State -14.5 (+194); Illinois State +14.5 (-1,438).