| Year: | 2021 |
| Team: | South Dakota State Jackrabbits |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Missouri Valley Football Conference |
| Short Conf: | MVFC |
| Record: | 11–4 |
| Conf Record: | 5–3 |
| Statsrank: | 4 |
| Fcscoachrank: | 5 |
| Head Coach: | John Stiegelmeier |
| Hc Year: | 25th |
| Off Coach: | Jason Eck |
| Oc Year: | 3rd |
| Codef Coach1: | Brian Bergstrom |
| Codc1 Year: | 3rd |
| Codef Coach2: | Jimmy Rogers |
| Codc2 Year: | 3rd |
| Mvp: | Pierre Strong Jr. |
| Stadium: | Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium |
| Bowl: | NCAA Division Semifinal |
| Bowl Result: | L 17–31 at Montana State |
The 2021 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by 25th-year head coach John Stiegelmeier, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 11–4 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for third in the MVFC. South Dakota State received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where the Jackrabbits defeated UC Davis in the first round, Sacramento State in the second round, and Villanova in the quarterfinals before losing to Montana State in the semifinals. The team played home games on campus at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.
After the season, offensive coordinator Jason Eck was hired as the head football coach at the University of Idaho.
See main article: 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football rankings.
See also: 2022 NFL draft.
| 4 | 127 | RB | New England Patriots | ||
| 7 | 241 | QB | Pittsburgh Steelers |