The South Dakota State University football team will play the University of Minnesota twice in the span of five seasons, officials announced Tuesday.

The two schools had already agreed to play each other in the 2015 season opener, but that game has been moved from a Saturday to Thursday, Sept. 3. SDSU and Minnesota also have agreed to a 2019 season-opening matchup on Thursday, Aug. 29.

Both games are scheduled to be played at TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis.

"Games against schools like the University of Minnesota provide our players with the opportunity to compete at the highest level against a school they may have grown up wanting to play for,” said senior associate athletic director Rob Peterson. "It also provides our fan base with an opportunity to travel a relatively short distance to support their Jackrabbit football team.”

SDSU and Minnesota last met during the 2009 season, with the Golden Gophers pulling out a 16-13 victory on their home field. Minnesota leads the all-time series, which dates back to 1905, by a 7-0 count.

The Jackrabbits now have five games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents scheduled for future years.
Sept. 21, 2013 — at Nebraska
Aug. 30, 2014 — at Missouri
Sept. 3, 2015 — at Minnesota
Sept. 1, 2018 — at Iowa State
Aug. 29, 2019 — at Minnesota