Happy Hour with John Gaskins

Kurtiss Riggs on SDSU, USD, Alabama, NDSU, FCS wins over FBS, opening week NFL, and a little Metro prep

John revels in another thrilling finish and big-name winner at the Sioux Falls PGA Tour Champions stop.
Then, something you should know about the Canaries' other king who may have played the last game of his pro career. Mike Hart delivered clutch moments in all three playoff games against Kansas City to (potentially) go out with a bang... just like "Home Run King" Jabari Henry the week before.

So far, so good for South Dakota's two Division I college football teams in 2026.
 
The Jackrabbits (2-1) and Coyotes both look like FCS national title contenders again, given how they bludgeoned their unranked FCS opponents. 
 
SDSU's average score in beating Stetson and New Haven is 64-10. USD has controlled its three games against Central Connecticut State by an average tally of 47-22.
 
Things get tougher this week for both. The No. 2 Jackrabbits welcome No. 10 Youngstown State and its dizzying offense led by Walter Payton Award winner Beau Brungard on Saturday night. The No. 11 Yotes play their FBS money game of the season at Group of Six powerhouse Boise State, now in the new Pac-12 Conference.
 
Are they sharp enough and appear ready? The Happy Hour host breaks down their three-game starts to offer his assessment. Then, both head coaches join to break down their teams.
 
 
SDSU's Dan Jackson
 
While the Jacks exploded for 33 second quarter points in a 57-14 romp over New Haven, they struggled somewhat to break through in the run game on their first couple drives before airing it out and bombarding the Chargers with deep passes.
 
It seems potentially absurd to ask Jackson how concerned he is about an offense that ran for 256 yards and is averaging over six yards per carry so far, but the host asked.
 
Also, what does Jackson make of quarterback Chase Mason who, while once again completing highlight reel intermediate and deep passes with plenty of mustard, continues to miss receivers on the "easy passes?"
 
How does he assess the Jacks defense through three games, and what must it specifically do to contain Brungard, who is completing 72 percent of his passes for 255 yards per game with 10 touchdowns and one interception while running for 85 yards on 15 carries a game with four rushing scores?
 
And then, there's a topic that touched a nerve with Jackson last week on social media— an article featuring a ranking of the budgets of all the FCS football programs (during the 2025 fiscal year). SDSU is No. 4 in the country and spending over $9 million in a year, ahead of both NDSU and USD. That's good, right? 
 
Well... Jackson felt the need to explain what goes on behind the numbers and how they may not properly reflect the programs' budgets.
 
He also explains his philosophies and fundraising efforts for football and weighs in on where those efforts are headed. Is SDSU trending in a direction where it'd be ready to move up to the FBS financially?
 
 
 
USD's Matt Vitzthum
 
It was another air show in a 43-21 takedown of Eastern Washington for freshman quarterback Austin Modrzewski. There's a lot to like, but what aspects does Vitzthum think the kid needs to work on to be ready for a Boise State defense that will be by far the fastest and most challenging the Coyotes will face all season?
 
Charles Pierre, Jr. rushed for more yards in Saturday's third game (139) than his combined yardage through the first two games (121). He also had 15 carries, which is five more than the total of the first two games combined.
 
Was there a concerted effort to "feed" the 2024 All-American more? Why did it take a beat to get his footing, or, in his words, feel his juice?
 
Vitzthum does a deep dive into both Boise's defense and offense. What has he seen from the film of the Broncos' near-upset at Oregon in week one and 17-point comeback to beat Memphis last weekend?
 
The bigger picture is how Vitzthum as a first time head coach handles the preparation and psychology for his team's "big money" FBS game. There will likely be over 35,000 fans roaring on Saturday night, far more than the Yotes are used to. In Iowa State's 61,000-seat stadium last year, the Cyclones engulfed USD 55-13. 
 
What is different about this year's USD team in its potential ability to handle the hostility, and what will be Vitzthum's message?

So far, so good for South Dakota's two Division I college football teams in 2026.
 
The Jackrabbits (2-1) and Coyotes both look like FCS national title contenders again, given how they bludgeoned their unranked FCS opponents. 
 
SDSU's average score in beating Stetson and New Haven is 64-10. USD has controlled its three games against Central Connecticut State by an average tally of 47-22.
 
Things get tougher this week for both. The No. 2 Jackrabbits welcome No. 10 Youngstown State and its dizzying offense led by Walter Payton Award winner Beau Brungard on Saturday night. The No. 11 Yotes play their FBS money game of the season at Group of Six powerhouse Boise State, now in the new Pac-12 Conference.
 
Are they sharp enough and appear ready? The Happy Hour host breaks down their three-game starts to offer his assessment.

It was another air show in a 43-21 takedown of Eastern Washington for freshman quarterback Austin Modrzewski. There's a lot to like, but what aspects does Vitzthum think the kid needs to work on to be ready for a Boise State defense that will be by far the fastest and most challenging the Coyotes will face all season?
 
Charles Pierre, Jr. rushed for more yards in Saturday's third game (139) than his combined yardage through the first two games (121). He also had 15 carries, which is five more than the total of the first two games combined.
 
Was there a concerted effort to "feed" the 2024 All-American more? Why did it take a beat to get his footing, or, in his words, feel his juice?
 
Vitzthum does a deep dive into both Boise's defense and offense. What has he seen from the film of the Broncos' near-upset at Oregon in week one and 17-point comeback to beat Memphis last weekend?
 
The bigger picture is how Vitzthum as a first time head coach handles the preparation and psychology for his team's "big money" FBS game. There will likely be over 35,000 fans roaring on Saturday night, far more than the Yotes are used to. In Iowa State's 61,000-seat stadium last year, the Cyclones engulfed USD 55-13.