RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The Hardrocker football team heads into the season with high hopes after completing the 2022 season with seven wins. It was the most wins in a year for the Hardrockers in over a decade.
 
That wasn't the only milestone the team set as they completed their first back-to-back winning seasons since the 1984-85 seasons, in addition to numerous individual and team milestones, including taking home the Eagle Rock Trophy for the first time.
 
The schedule eases up a little over 2022, but the Hardrocker opponents still combined to finish 2022 with a winning record of 61-53, including two teams who earned trips to the NCAA Playoffs, one as a national runner-up, and another team who played and won in a bowl game.
 
Starting off the season is a rare Friday night game for the Hardrockers as they host Valley City State University on Sept. 1 at O'Harra Stadium.
 
Following the home opener, South Dakota Mines will return a trip to Kirksville, Missouri to take on 9-game winner in 2022, Truman State. The following weekend is homecoming for the Hardrockers as they take on Colorado Mesa on the 16th of September. The month closes with a pair of road games as visits to New Mexico Highlands and the 138th meeting of the Black Hills Brawl are on tap after that on the 23rd and 30th.
 
To begin the month of October, Western Colorado visits O'Harra Stadium before a trip to Golden, Colorado for the engineer bowl with national runner-up, Colorado School of Mines on Oct. 14. The month closes with another home game against Fort Lewis and then a visit to Adams State.   
 
A small November slate includes CSU Pueblo at home followed by a season-ending trip to Chadron for the Eagle-Rock trophy.