1954 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team

The 1954 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team was an American football team that represented South Dakota State University in the North Central Conference (NCC) during the 1954 college football season. In its eighth season under head coach Ralph Ginn, the team compiled a 7–2 record, tied for the conference championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 338 to 151.^[1]

1954 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football
NCC co-champion
Conference	North Central Conference
Record	7–2 (5–1 NCC)
Head coach	Ralph Ginn (8th season)
Captains	Jerry Welch Jack Nitz
Home stadium	State Field
Seasons ← 1953 1955 →

1954 North Central Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
South Dakota State +	5	–	1	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
Morningside +	5	–	1	–	0			5	–	3	–	0
South Dakota	3	–	3	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
North Dakota	3	–	3	–	0			4	–	5	–	0
Iowa State Teachers	3	–	3	–	0			3	–	5	–	0
North Dakota State	1	–	4	–	1			1	–	7	–	1
Augustana (SD)	0	–	5	–	1			1	–	7	–	1
+ – Conference co-champions

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Jerry Welch with 625 rushing yards and 478 passing yards.^[2] Other key players included center Herb Backlund, tackle Jack Nitz, guard Roger Kerns, and back Roger Denker.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 18	at Iowa State*	Clyde Williams Field Ames, IA	L 6–34
September 25	at St. Thomas (MN)*	O'Shaughnessy Stadium St. Paul, MN	W 19–6		[3]
October 1	Mankato State*	State Field Brookings, SD	W 66–0		[4]
October 9	Augustana (SD)	State Field Brookings, SD	W 68–0		[5]
October 16	at North Dakota State	Dacotah Field Fargo, ND (rivalry)	W 50–13	4,500	[6]
October 23	North Dakota	State Field Brookings, SD	W 34–20	10,000	[7]
October 30	at South Dakota	Inman Field Vermillion, SD (rivalry)	W 20–19	8,000	[8]
November 5	Morningside	State Field Brookings, SD	L 34–39		[9]
November 13	at Iowa State Teachers	Cedar Falls, IA	W 41–20		[10]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

^[11]