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<div>Sudden death syndrome (SDS) of soybean is caused by the fungal pathogen <i>Fusarium virguliforme</i> (Fv) in the United States. Successful management strategies to control SDS have been inconsistent, leading to devastating outbreaks. Few fungicides have shown efficacy against Fv, and genetic resistance through breeding of quantitative trait loci have yielded only partially resistant cultivars. The ability to predict SDS development could provide growers with valuable information for making important SDS management decisions, like using effective fungicides or partially resistant cultivars. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors that may allow accurate predictions about the severity SDS development. In 2014 and 2015, we collected data from soybean fields naturally infested with Fv and soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) to identify potential risk factors, including Fv DNA quantity and and SCN counts at planting and post-harvest, and identify correlations to late season SDS ratings. At-planting soil distributions of Fv DNA quantity had a significant positive correlation to the spatial distribution of late season foliar SDS in both years. Similarly, at-planting soil distributions of SCN had a significant positive correlation to late season foliar SDS in 2015, but not 2014. Interestingly, Fv quantities in seedling roots had inconsistent correlations to late season foliar SDS symptoms, indicating that Fv abundance within roots may not be indicative of SDS severity.</div>