The Missouri State Bears football program is the college football team that represents Missouri State University located in Springfield, Missouri, United States. Missouri State competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and is a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The program is in the two-year transition up to the FBS subdivision; it will join Conference USA in 2025 and become a full FBS member in 2026.
The 2021 Missouri State Bears football team represented Missouri State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) for the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by second-year head coach Bobby Petrino, and played their home games at Robert W. Plaster Stadium in Springfield, Missouri. This was the Bears 115th season overall and their 36th season as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Bears came off a historic 2020 season which saw them return to the playoffs after a 30-year drought where they last made the playoffs in 1990. Entering the season the team was predicted to finish 6th in the conference. The Bears finished the regular season with an 8–3 record which was good enough for second place in the Valley and their best finish to a season since 1990. The 2021 team set and matched numerous school records. QB Jason Shelley broke several school records in total offense and passing yards. He broke the single season passing record, total offense in a game, total offense in a season, games with more than 200 passing yards and matched the record for passes completed in a game. WR Ty Scott set school records in receiving yards in a season, matched touchdown receptions in a season, and 100 yard receiving games in a season. Scott was also the first receiver in school history to eclipse a thousand receiving yards in a season. P Grant Burkett set school records in punting average in a game and punting average in a season. The Bears qualified for the playoffs for the second straight year and hosted UT- Martin in the first round. This was the first home playoff game in Springfield since 1990 when Missouri State hosted Idaho.
The 2021 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represented the University of Northern Iowa in the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Panthers competed as members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference and were led by 21st-year head coach Mark Farley. They played their home games at UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The 2024 Indiana State Sycamores football team represented Indiana State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by seventh-year head coach Curt Mallory. Indiana State played home games at Memorial Stadium located in Terre Haute, Indiana.
The 2024 Youngstown State Penguins football team represented Youngstown State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Penguins led by fifth-year head coach Doug Phillips, played their games at Stambaugh Stadium located in Youngstown, Ohio.
The 2024 Missouri State Bears football team represented Missouri State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bears were led by second-year head coach Ryan Beard and played home games at Robert W. Plaster Stadium located in Springfield, Missouri. Because they were set join the Conference USA of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision in the following season, they were not eligible for the NCAA Division I playoffs nor the MVFC title this season.
The 2024 Lindenwood Lions football team represented Lindenwood University as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association in the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Jed Stugart, the Lions compiled an overall record of 5–7 with a mark of 4–4 in conference play, placing fifth in the Big South–OVC. Lindenwood played home games at Harlen C. Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Missouri.
The 2024 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team represented Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by 11th-year head coach Tom Matukewicz, the Redhawks played their home games at Houck Stadium in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
The 2025 UT Martin Skyhawks football team represents the University of Tennessee at Martin as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Expected to be led by 20th-year head coach Jason Simpson, the Skyhawks play their home games at Graham Stadium in Martin, Tennessee.
The 2025 Kennesaw State Owls football team will represent Kennesaw State University in Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Owls are expected to be led by Jerry Mack in his first year as the head coach. The Owls play their home games at Fifth Third Stadium, located in Kennesaw, Georgia.
The 2025 Lindenwood Lions football team will represent Lindenwood University as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association in the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Lions are expected to be led by eight-year head coach Jed Stugart and play their home games at Harlen C. Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Missouri.
The 2025 Charleston Southern Buccaneers football team will represent Charleston Southern University as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They are expected to be led by Gabe Giardina in his third season as head coach. The Buccaneers play their home games at Buccaneer Field in Charleston, South Carolina.
The 2025 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team will represent Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They are expected to be led by 12th-year head coach Tom Matukewicz. The Redhawks play their home games at Houck Stadium in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
The 2025 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team will represent Gardner–Webb University as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The team are expected to be led by second-year head coach Cris Reisert and play their home games at the Ernest W. Spangler Stadium located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.
The 2025 Tennessee State Tigers football team will represent Tennessee State University as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Tigers are expected to be led by fifth-year head coach Eddie George, and play their home games at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
The 2025 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles football team will represent Tennessee Technological University as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They are expected to be led by second-year head coach Bobby Wilder, the Golden Eagles play home games at Tucker Stadium in Cookeville, Tennessee.
The 2025 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team will represent Western Illinois University as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They are expected to be led by second-year head coach Joe Davis. The Leathernecks play their home games at Hanson Field in Macomb, Illinois.
The 2025 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team will represent Eastern Illinois University as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Panthers were led by fourth-year head coach Chris Wilkerson and play their home games at O'Brien Field located in Charleston, Illinois.
The 2025 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team will represent the University of Delaware as a member of the Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They are expected to be led by fourth-year head coach Ryan Carty and play their home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.
The 2025 UMass Minutemen football team represents the University of Massachusetts Amherst during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They will play their home games at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium located in Hadley, Massachusetts and compete as a member of the Mid-American Conference.
