South Dakota college football empire map · after Week 3 · Sep 17–19, 2026

Who owned South Dakota? North Dakota State.

North Dakota State controls 51.2% of South Dakota's land: 35 of its 66 counties. BYU is next with 28.9% (11 counties, home to 226K people). 5 schools split the state at kickoff; 5 remain now.

South Dakota counties by owner after Week 3.

South Dakota, by empire

EmpireLandCountiesPeople
North Dakota State51.2%35259K
BYU28.9%11226K
Nebraska18.1%18225K
Iowa1.1%1209K
Mississippi State0.7%17K

Owners of South Dakota land, by week

5555

Largest South Dakota counties