| Year: | 2012 |
| Team: | South Dakota State Jackrabbits |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Missouri Valley Football Conference |
| Short Conf: | MVFC |
| Tsnrank: | 19 |
| Fcscoachrank: | 21 |
| Record: | 9–4 |
| Conf Record: | 6–2 |
| Head Coach: | John Stiegelmeier |
| Hc Year: | 16th |
| Off Coach: | Eric Eidsness |
| Oc Year: | 7th |
| Codef Coach1: | Clint Brown |
| Codc1 Year: | 4th |
| Codef Coach2: | Jay Bubak |
| Codc2 Year: | 4th |
The 2012 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2012 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by 16th-year head coach John Stiegelmeier, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 9–4 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, placing second in the MVFC. South Dakota State received an at–large bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where the Jackrabbits defeated Eastern Illinois in the first round before falling to fellow MVFC member and eventual national champion, North Dakota State, in the second round. The team played home games at Coughlin–Alumni Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.