SDSU Reflects On Loss: Despite falling by 24 points, 44-20, the Jackrabbits were only outgained by six yards

STILLWATER, OKLA. (KELO) — SDSU’s impressive 29-game winning streak ended with a season-opening defeat against Oklahoma State.

The last loss for SDSU occurred at the start of the 2022 season, before the program had claimed any national championships, while John Stiegelmeier was still the head coach. Their streak ranks as the third longest in FCS history.

“I’m not overly worried about this loss,” SDSU head coach Jimmy Rogers said. “We still have an entire season ahead of us, and we won’t let this affect our vision for the team.”

Although they lost 44-20, the Jackrabbits were only outgained by six yards against the No. 17 ranked team in the nation.

“We’re not going to dwell on this,” Rogers noted. “That’s a formidable team with the potential to win the Big 12, showcasing their skill and depth. You could see their maturity, which highlighted our youth at times.”

Mark Gronowski threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns, while Griffin Wilde had seven receptions for 150 yards.

“We moved the ball well,” Rogers commented. “We had success with our runs and took advantage of open throws. However, we shot ourselves in the foot at times. We’ll learn from this.”

The Jacks were within a touchdown and a field goal midway through the third quarter before the Cowboys scored 17 consecutive points to extend their lead.

“It’s tough to find positives after a loss like this,” Rogers admitted. “I told the team that there were many good moments, but we need to combine them consistently. We lost our energy, and that’s what I’m most disappointed in because we had been very competitive during fall camp, and then it slipped away from us.”

The Jackrabbits will host Incarnate Word for their home opener on Saturday at 6 p.m.