The University of South Dakota football team has a new head coach and now the Coyotes have a new opening day opponent.

USD will open the 2016 football season in Albuquerque, compete against the University of New Mexico, September 3. The time of the game will be announced at a later date.

The Lobos replace California on the South Dakota schedule. The Bears cancelled their date with USD to play a game against Hawaii, in Australia.

The Coyotes and New Mexico have never met on the gridiron. The Lobos finished 7-6 this past season, 5-3 in the Mountain West Conference and had wins against Utah State, Air Force and Boise State. UNM averaged 252 yards rushing in 2015, ninth-best average in the nation.

New Mexico averaged 23,500 fans a game at University Stadium last season.

The game will be the first for the Coyotes under new head coach Bob Nielson, who took over in December following Joe Glenn's retirement after four seasons. Nielson had been the head coach at another Missouri Valley Conference school - Western Illinois -  the last three seasons.

South Dakota's 2016 Football Schedule:

Sept. 3       at New Mexico
Sept. 10      Weber State
Sept. 17      at North Dakota
Oct. 1         at Youngstown State
Oct. 8         UNI
Oct. 15       at Indiana State
Oct. 22       Illinois State
Oct. 29       Western Illinois
Nov. 5        at Southern Illinois
Nov. 12       at South Dakota State
Nov. 19       North Dakota State

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