Welcome to college football head coaching, Dan Jackson! Or, perhaps we should say, "Welcome to Dan Jackson, college football!"

The No. 2-ranked Jackrabbits' new field boss is 2-0 after a thrilling, "gritty" gut check double overtime win at No. 3 Montana State on Saturday night, a game he says he and SDSU players will remember the rest of their lives.

In a 20-minute conversation with Happy Hour host John Gaskins, Jackson takes us to the sideline for the fourth-and-1 stop near the goal line and the chain measurement that determined SDSU had won the game. What did Jackson see and experience in the on-field, locker room, and even airplane ride home celebrations?

What did he see from quarterback Chase Mason, not only his two clutch overtime touchdown passes, but his first two games, in general? Why is the Jacks defense making all the winning plays, and which Jackrabbit does Jackson call "one of the best linebackers I've seen play here?"

While there were so many clutch moments, the special teams was a mixed bag, including two horrific fourth quarter gaffes — a straight-on 36-yard field goal miss (did Jackson think it was actually made?) and a fumbled punt snap that led to an easy Bobcat touchdown to tie the game.

The former SDSU player and assistant who now calls the shots weighs in on all that, plus what to expect out of Drake this Saturday.

While it was a thrilling, inspiring win for SDSU, how does an objective observer of the FCS view the Jackrabbits' journey to Bozeman?

Veteran FCS reporter, writer and podcaster Sam Herder of HERO Sports made the trip and describes the atmosphere, how both teams played, and what the victory means going forward for SDSU and the entire subdivision.

How close to SDSU's national championship outfitsdoes this mostly-new cast of characters appear? Why is North Dakota State still worthy of a No. 1 ranking even though the Jacks opened with much stiffer competition?

And, what about USD? Are the Coyotes no longer on that perch of good semifinal bets after their loss at Lamar? If not, who is the newest FCS team that looks to be a threat to the "big 3" of MSU, SDSU, and NDSU.

Also, quietly, the NCAA football subcommittee last week voted to support a single transfer portal in January, meaning no more spring transfer portal. What does this mean for our FCS squads in the Dakotas?

BUT FIRST...

Why does John call the Jacks' win in Bozeman one of the greatest in SDSU history, and consider Chase Mason already a "star?" What boxes did the Jacks check to be considered a national title contender again?

What do we make of two struggling quarterbacks of local interest — USD's Aidan Bouman and Iowa's Mark Gronowski — after they and their offensive teammates sputtered in Week 2 road losses?

Finally, in case you missed it — like the Jackrabbits, the Canaries scored one of their biggest wins in team history on the same night SDSU was waging battle in Bozeman.