| Year: | 2016 |
| Team: | South Dakota State Jackrabbits |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Missouri Valley Football Conference |
| Short Conf: | MVFC |
| Statsrank: | 6 |
| Fcscoachrank: | 7 |
| Record: | 9–4 |
| Conf Record: | 7–1 |
| Head Coach: | John Stiegelmeier |
| Hc Year: | 20th |
| Off Coach: | Eric Eidsness |
| Oc Year: | 11th |
| Def Coach: | Clint Brown |
| Dc Year: | 8th |
| Stadium: | Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium |
| Champion: | MVFC co-champion |
| Bowl: | FCS Playoffs Quarterfinals |
| Bowl Result: | L 10–36 vs. North Dakota State |
The 2016 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2016 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by 20th-year head coach John Stiegelmeier, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 9–4 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, sharing the MVFC with North Dakota State. Due to their head-to-head victory over North Dakota State during the regular season, South Dakota State received the MVFC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where, after a first-round bye, the Jackrabbits defeated Villanova in the second round, before losing in the quarterfinals in a re-match with North Dakota State. The team played home games on campus at the newly-opened Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.
See also: 2016 TCU Horned Frogs football team.
See also: 2016 Drake Bulldogs football team.
See also: 2016 Cal Poly Mustangs football team.
See also: 2016 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team.
See also: 2016 Southern Illinois Salukis football team.
See also: 2016 North Dakota State Bison football team and Dakota Marker.
See also: 2016 Youngstown State Penguins football team.
See also: 2016 Illinois State Redbirds football team.
See also: 2016 Missouri State Bears football team.
See also: 2016 South Dakota Coyotes football team and South Dakota–South Dakota State football rivalry.
See also: 2016 Northern Iowa Panthers football team.
See also: 2016 Villanova Wildcats football team.