The FCS football season is fast approaching, so we’re going inside each conference race. With South Dakota State and North Dakota State – the most-recent national championship programs – leading the way, here’s our 2024 Missouri Valley football preview.
If a team is competing for the Missouri Valley Football Conference title, it’s also competing for the FCS national championship.
Many times, they’re the same team.
South Dakota State has swept through its MVFC schedule in each of the last two seasons on the way to capturing back-to-back national titles under an Eddie Robinson Award-winning coach – first with John Stiegelmeier in 2022 followed by Jimmy Rogers’ first season guiding the Jackrabbits.
Prior to that, North Dakota State captured 10 MVFC titles and nine national championships from 2011-21.
The two FCS powers make it hard for other MVFC teams to keep up, but seven overall begin the 2024 season in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll.
2024 Missouri Valley Football Conference Preview
Predicted Order of Finish
*-FCS Playoff Qualifier
1. *North Dakota State (2023 Record: 11-4, 5-3; No. 2 national preseason ranking) – First-year coach Tim Polasek was a part of four FCS championship teams as a Bison assistant coach. That’s always the goal, of course, and the Bison will chase a 10th title behind an FCS-leading eight preseason All-Americans: first-teamers Eli Mostaert (defensive line), Cole Wisniewski (safety) and Hunter Brozio (long snapper); second-teamers Cam Miller (quarterback), Grey Zabel (offensive line), Dylan Hendricks (defensive end), Logan Kopp (linebacker); and third-teamer Griffin Crosa (place-kicker). Wisniewski, though, has been sidelined in the preseason by a foot injury. Polasek surely will want to do something former coach Matt Entz did: mix in QB Cole Payton off the bench (615 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns last season).
2. *South Dakota State (15-0, 8-0; No. 1 national preseason ranking) – Even with substantial senior losses, the Jackrabbits begin the season as a prohibitive No. 1. They’ll take a 29-game winning streak (third-longest in FCS history) into an Aug. 31 opener at Oklahoma State. Quarterback Mark Gronowski seeks a second consecutive Walter Payton Award, and is still surrounded by the likes of center Gus Miller, offensive guard Evan Beernsten, running backs Amar and Angel Johnson, and wide receiver Griffin Wilde. The ‘Jacks allowed a mere 9.3 points per game last season, and their defense still boasts D-tackle Jarod DePriest, linebackers Adam Bock (344 career tackles) and Graham Spalding, and a loaded secondary with Dalys Beanum, Tucker Large, Cale Reeder and Colby Huerter.
3. *South Dakota (10-3, 7-1; No. 5 national preseason ranking) – The Coyotes were a mere 3-8 in 2022, but enjoyed a huge turnaround with a second-place finish in the MVFC. While they need to improve on a 24-point average, their offense returns nine starters, including QB Aidan Bouman and veteran weapons in RB Travis Theis, WR Carter Bell and tight end JJ Galbreath. The defense will remain physical behind D-tackle Nick Gaes and safety Dennis Shorter. Place-kicker Will Leyland achieved perfection in going 13 on 13 on field goals and 38 of 38 on extra points.
4. *Southern Illinois (8-5, 4-4; No. 10 national preseason ranking) – There’s a different look with the Salukis, who added influential transfers and need to replace QB Nic Braker, presumably with junior Hunter Simmons or former Murray State starter DJ Williams. The new No. 1 will work behind an experienced offensive line and target WR Vinson Davis III. The secondary with Ubady Steed and David Miller is a strength even following the spring transfer of Mark Davis Jr.
5. *Illinois State (6-5, 4-4; No. 19 national preseason ranking) – Given the Redbirds suffered four of their five losses by a combined eight points, they weren’t far off from a higher level. They must work in a new starting quarterback – Kansas State transfer Jake Rubley or three-game starter Tommy Rittenhouse – but have 17 returning starters. It’s a highly talented group as well, featuring LBs Amir Abdullah and Tye Niekamp, RB Mason King (980 yards, 14 TDs), WR Daniel Sobkowicz (68 receptions, 933 yards, 10 TDs) and OL Hunter Zambrano.
6. Youngstown State (8-5, 5-3; No. 25 national preseason ranking) – The Penguins, coming off their first playoff appearance since 2016, figure to be led by their offense even while working in a new quarterback. Tyshon King (187 carries, 1,011 yards, nine TDs) will keep running behind Jaison Williams and a big O-line, and Max Tomczak is the top-returning receiver. The defense, however, lost its top nine tacklers, so a lot of transfers will fill key roles. In a conference of excellent kickers, Andrew Lastovka was 17 of 20 on field goal attempts.
7. Northern Iowa (6-5, 5-3) – That UNI was selected eighth in the MVFC preseason poll was jarring heading into coach Mark Farley’s 24th season. Aidan Dunne backed up quarterback Theo Dunne last year, and the offense may look to run a bit more given the return of rushing leaders Tye Edwards (536 yards, five TDs) and Amauri Pesek-Hickson (441, 5) and 6-foot-6, 338-pound left tackle Jared Penning. Defensive lineman Cannon Butler and LB Tucker Langenberg anchor the defense.
8. North Dakota (7-5, 5-3; No. 24 national preseason ranking) – With playoff appearances in four of the last five seasons, the Fighting Hawks know how to replace departed players. But it won’t be easy without longtime QB Tommy Schuster, although top WR Bo Belquist and all-purpose standout Gaven Ziebarth are good solutions for the new signal caller. Linebacker Wyatt Pedigo led the Fighting Hawks with 72 tackles and tied for the FCS high with four fumble recoveries, but he’s one of only three returning defensive starters.
9. Missouri State (4-7, 3-5) – The Bears are playing their final MVFC season before moving up to the FBS, but they remain at the FCS scholarship level and should be much-improved. Quarterback Jacob Clark passed for 1,018 yards and 10 TDs in the first four games before an injury sidelined him. He reunites with RB Jacardia Wright and WR Jmariyae Robinson. The Bears don’t necessarily want them in action, but punter Grant Burkett and long snapper Caden Bolz are two of the best in the FCS at their positions.
10. Indiana State (1-10, 1-7) – The Sycamores beat only winless Western Illinois last season. Safety Maddix Blackwell corralled 107 tackles and LB Garret Ollendieck nearly reached the century club with 97. Running back Plez Lawrence flashed his ability as a redshirt freshman by rushing for 203 yards and three TDs against Murray State. The home games are much more favorable than the road portion of the schedule.
11. Murray State (2-9, 1-7) – This is the 100th season of Murray State football. The Racers, who only topped Indiana State in their first MVFC schedule last year, are moving forward under first-year coach Jody Wright, who served as South Carolina’s tight ends coach the last two seasons. Leading rusher Jawaun Northington will look to run behind O-lineman Ashton Finn. The defensive leader is safety Kanyon Walker.
How the Conference Predicted the Race
Five Players to Know
Amir Abdullah, LB, Illinois State (Buck Buchanan Award preseason nominee) – In a breakout junior season, Abdullah led the MVFC with 14 TFLs and nine sacks.
Adam Bock, LB, South Dakota State, Sr. (Buck Buchanan Award preseason nominee) – Bock was a 2021 Buchanan finalist while racking up 125 tackles. He seeks that level again after being set back by injury the last two seasons.
Mark Gronowski, QB, South Dakota State (Walter Payton Award preseason nominee) – The 2023 Payton Award recipient’s most impressive statistic – a 37-3 career record as a starter. The FCS quarterback wins record is within reach (former NDSU signal caller Easton Stick was 49-3 as a starter).
Cam Miller, QB, North Dakota State (Walter Payton Award preseason nominee) – The dual-threat has accounted for 8,116 yards of total offense and 84 TDs (48 passing, 36 rushing) across 51 career games.
Jared Penning, OT, Northern Iowa – Penning’s brother Trevor was a first-round NFL Draft pick out of UNI in 2022 (New Orleans Saints). Now the younger Panthers’ O-lineman dominates in the trenches.
Five Must-See Matchups
1. South Dakota State at North Dakota State (Oct. 19) – The Dakota Marker regular-season rivalry is tied 10-10 since its inception in 2004, although the series dates to 1903. Including the postseason, SDSU has won the last five meetings.
2. North Dakota State at Colorado (Aug. 29)
3. South Dakota at South Dakota State (Oct. 26)
4. North Dakota State at South Dakota (Nov. 23)
5. Illinois State at Southern Illinois (Oct. 5)
Fast Fact
The MVFC has had a team play in the FCS championship game in each of the last 13 seasons (North Dakota State 10 times, South Dakota State three, and Illinois State and Youngstown State once each). It far exceeds the second-longest streak, CAA Football’s five straight appearances from 2006-10.
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