| Year: | 1972 |
| Team: | South Dakota Coyotes |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | North Central Conference |
| Short Conf: | NCC |
| Record: | 9–1 |
| Conf Record: | 6–1 |
| Head Coach: | Joe Salem |
| Hc Year: | 7th |
| Stadium: | Inman Field |
| Champion: | NCC co-champion |
The 1972 South Dakota Coyotes football team was an American football team that represented the University of South Dakota in the North Central Conference (NCC) during the 1972 NCAA College Division football season. In its seventh season under head coach Joe Salem, the team compiled a 9–1 record (6–1 against NCC opponents), tied for the NCC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 296 to 144.[1] The team played its home games at Inman Field in Vermillion, South Dakota.