2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference season | |
---|---|
League | NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision |
Sport | Football |
Duration | August 28, 2025 through January 5, 2026 |
Number of teams | 10 |
TV partner(s) | ESPN College Football, ESPN+, Local TV partners |
2026 NFL draft | |
Regular season |
Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indiana State | 0 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 1 North Dakota State | 0 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 2 South Dakota State | 0 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Youngstown State | 0 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 7 Illinois State | 0 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 20 North Dakota | 0 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northern Iowa | 0 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 14 Southern Illinois | 0 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Murray State | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 4 South Dakota | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As of September 7, 2025 Rankings from STATS Poll |
The 2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference season is the 40th season of college football play for the Missouri Valley Football Conference and part of the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. This is the MVFC's first season dropping to 10 teams since the 2019 season.
After the conclusion of the 2024 college football season, Missouri State left the conference to reclassify to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and move to Conference USA after 39 years in the league as a charter member. This move matches the Bears' departure from MVFC's sister conference, the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), which they also left after the 2024–25 collegiate season. [1]
Later, on May 5, 2025, the conference announced a new governance structure to begin on July 1, 2025 that placed MVC commissioner Jeff Jackson as the next MVFC commissioner following Patty Viverito's retirement on June 30. It also placed Summit League commissioner Josh Fenton as an executive advisor to the conference. The new structure formalized the decades-long unofficial ties between the MVC and MVFC, and also established a formal relationship between the MVFC and Summit. [2]
On December 8, 2024, Eric Schmidt was named the next head coach at North Dakota. [3] Schmidt takes over for Bubba Schweigert, who stepped down after the 2024 season. [4]
On December 3, 2024, Todd Stepsis was named the new head coach at Northern Iowa. [5] Stepsis takes over for longtime coach Mark Farley, who retired after the 2024 season. [6]
On January 16, 2025, Travis Johansen was named the next head coach at South Dakota. [7] Johansen steps in for Bob Nielson, who retired after the 2024 season. [8]
On December 31, 2024, Dan Jackson was named the next head coach at South Dakota State. [9] Jackson was hired after Jimmy Rogers left the program to become the next head coach at Washington State. [10]
The annual preseason poll; voted on by conference coaches, athletic directors, and media members. [11]
Predicted finish | Team | Points (1st place votes) |
---|---|---|
1 | North Dakota State | 417 (39) |
2 | South Dakota State | 355 |
3 | South Dakota | 349 (3) |
4 | Illinois State | 292 |
5 | Youngstown State | 211 |
6 | Southern Illinois | 208 |
7 | North Dakota | 196 |
8 | Northern Iowa | 130 |
9 | Indiana State | 105 |
10 | Murray State | 47 |
In a departure from seasons past, the MVFC released a player "watch-list" that was voted on by the league's athletic directors, coaches, and media members.
|
Improvement in ranking | ||
Drop in ranking | ||
Not ranked previous week | ||
No change in ranking from previous week | ||
RV | Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll | |
т | Tied with team above or below also with this symbol | |
Pre | Wk 1 | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Wk 11 | Wk 12 | Wk 13 | Final | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Illinois State | STATS | 6 | 7 | |||||||||||||
Coaches | 6 | 7 | ||||||||||||||
Indiana State | STATS | |||||||||||||||
Coaches | ||||||||||||||||
Murray State | STATS | |||||||||||||||
Coaches | ||||||||||||||||
North Dakota | STATS | RV | 20 | |||||||||||||
Coaches | RV | 22 | ||||||||||||||
North Dakota State | STATS | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||
Coaches | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
Northern Iowa | STATS | |||||||||||||||
Coaches | RV | RV | ||||||||||||||
South Dakota | STATS | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||||
Coaches | 5 | 6 | ||||||||||||||
South Dakota State | STATS | 3 | 2 | |||||||||||||
Coaches | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
Southern Illinois | STATS | 20 | 14 | |||||||||||||
Coaches | 20 | 15 | ||||||||||||||
Youngstown State | STATS | RV | RV | |||||||||||||
Coaches | RV | RV | ||||||||||||||
Index to colors and formatting |
---|
MVFC member won |
MVFC member lost |
MVFC teams in bold |
All times Central time.
† denotes Homecoming game
^ denotes AP Poll ranking for FBS teams
Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 20 | 12:00 PM | North Alabama | Illinois State | Hancock Stadium • Normal, IL | ESPN+ | |||
September 20 | 1:00 PM | Drake | South Dakota | DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD | ESPN+ | |||
September 20 | 2:00 PM | Indiana State | Montana | Washington–Grizzly Stadium • Missoula, MT | ESPN+ | |||
September 20 | 3:00 PM | Valparaiso | North Dakota † | Alerus Center • Grand Forks, ND | ESPN+ | |||
September 20 | 5:00 PM | Youngstown State | Towson | Johnny Unitas Stadium • Towson, MD | FloSports | |||
September 20 | 6:00 PM | Murray State | Jacksonville State | AmFirst Stadium • Jacksonville, AL | ESPN+ | |||
September 20 | 6:00 PM | Southern Illinois | Southeast Missouri State | Houck Stadium • Cape Girardeau, MO (War for the Wheel) | ESPN+ | |||
September 20 | 7:00 PM | Northern Iowa | Utah Tech | Greater Zion Stadium • St. George, UT | ESPN+ | |||
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time. |
Date | Bye Week | |
---|---|---|
September 20 | North Dakota State | South Dakota State |
Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 27 | 1:00 PM | South Dakota | North Dakota State † | Fargodome • Fargo, ND | ESPN+ | |||
September 27 | 2:00 PM | Mercyhurst | South Dakota State | Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium • Brookings, SD | ESPN+ | |||
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time. |
Date | Bye Week | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 27 | Illinois State | Indiana State | Murray State | North Dakota | Northern Iowa | Southern Illinois | Youngstown State |
Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 4 | 2:00 PM | Murray State | South Dakota | DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD | ESPN+ | |||
October 4 | 4:00 PM | North Dakota | Northern Iowa | UNI-Dome • Cedar Falls, IA | ESPN+ | |||
October 4 | 5:00 PM | South Dakota State | Youngstown State | Stambaugh Stadium • Youngstown, OH | ESPN+ | |||
October 4 | 6:00 PM | North Dakota State | Illinois State | Hancock Stadium • Normal, IL | ESPN+ | |||
October 4 | 6:00 PM | Indiana State | Southern Illinois | Saluki Stadium • Carbondale, IL | ESPN+ | |||
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time. |
Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 11 | 12:00 PM | South Dakota | Indiana State | Memorial Stadium • Terre Haute, IN | ESPN+ | |||
October 11 | 2:00 PM | Northern Iowa | South Dakota State | Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium • Brookings, SD | ESPN+ | |||
October 11 | 2:30 PM | Southern Illinois | North Dakota State | Fargodome • Fargo, ND | ESPN+ | |||
October 11 | 3:00 PM | Youngstown State | North Dakota | Alerus Center • Grand Forks, ND | ESPN+ | |||
October 11 | 6:00 PM | Illinois State | Murray State | Roy Stewart Stadium • Murray, KY | ESPN+ | |||
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time. |
Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 18 | 12:00 PM | North Dakota State | Indiana State | Memorial Stadium • Terre Haute, IN | ESPN+ | |||
October 18 | 1:00 PM | South Dakota | Northern Iowa | UNI-Dome • Cedar Falls, IA | ESPN+ | |||
October 18 | 2:00 PM | Youngstown State | Illinois State † | Hancock Stadium • Normal, IL | ESPN+ | |||
October 18 | 2:00 PM | North Dakota | Southern Illinois | Saluki Stadium • Carbondale, IL | ESPN+ | |||
October 18 | 6:00 PM | South Dakota State | Murray State | Roy Stewart Stadium • Murray, KY | ESPN+ | |||
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time. |
Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 25 | 1:00 PM | Illinois State | South Dakota | DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD | ESPN+ | |||
October 25 | 1:00 PM | Murray State | Youngstown State | Stambaugh Stadium • Youngstown, OH | ESPN+ | |||
October 25 | 2:00 PM | Northern Iowa | Southern Illinois † | Saluki Stadium • Carbondale, IL | ESPN+ | |||
October 25 | 3:00 PM | Indiana State | North Dakota | Alerus Center • Grand Forks, ND | ESPN+ | |||
October 25 | TBA | North Dakota State | South Dakota State | Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium • Brookings, SD (Dakota Marker) | ESPN Network | |||
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time. |
Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
November 1 | 1:00 PM | North Dakota | South Dakota | DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD (Sitting Bull Trophy) | ESPN+ | |||
November 1 | 2:00 PM | Northern Iowa | Illinois State | Hancock Stadium • Normal, IL | ESPN+ | |||
November 1 | 2:00 PM | Indiana State | South Dakota State | Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium • Brookings, SD | ESPN+ | |||
November 1 | 2:30 PM | Youngstown State | North Dakota State | Fargodome • Fargo, ND | ESPN+ | |||
November 1 | 4:00 PM | Southern Illinois | Murray State † | Roy Stewart Stadium • Murray, KY | ESPN+ | |||
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time. |
Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
November 8 | 12:00 PM | Illinois State | Indiana State | Memorial Stadium • Terre Haute, IN | ESPN+ | |||
November 8 | 1:00 PM | North Dakota State | North Dakota | Alerus Center • Grand Forks, ND (Nickel Trophy) | ESPN+ | |||
November 8 | 1:00 PM | Murray State | Northern Iowa | UNI-Dome • Cedar Falls, IA | ESPN+ | |||
November 8 | 1:00 PM | Southern Illinois | Youngstown State | Stambaugh Stadium • Youngstown, OH | ESPN+ | |||
November 8 | TBD | South Dakota State | South Dakota | DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD (rivalry) | ESPN Network | |||
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time. |
Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
November 15 | 11:00 AM | Indiana State | Youngstown State | Stambaugh Stadium • Youngstown, OH | ESPN+ | |||
November 15 | 11:00 AM | North Dakota | Murray State | Roy Stewart Stadium • Murray, KY | ESPN+ | |||
November 15 | 12:00 PM | South Dakota | Southern Illinois | Saluki Stadium • Carbondale, IL | ESPN+ | |||
November 15 | 2:00 PM | Illinois State | South Dakota State | Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium • Brookings, SD | ESPN+ | |||
November 15 | 2:30 PM | Northern Iowa | North Dakota State | Fargodome • Fargo, ND | ESPN+ | |||
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time. |
Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
November 22 | 12:00 PM | Southern Illinois | Illinois State | Hancock Stadium • Normal, IL | ESPN+ | |||
November 22 | 12:00 PM | Murray State | Indiana State | Memorial Stadium • Terre Haute, IN | ESPN+ | |||
November 22 | 1:00 PM | South Dakota State | North Dakota | Alerus Center • Grand Forks, ND | ESPN+ | |||
November 22 | 1:00 PM | Youngstown State | Northern Iowa | UNI-Dome • Cedar Falls, IA | ESPN+ | |||
November 22 | 2:30 PM | St. Thomas | North Dakota State | Fargodome • Fargo, ND | ESPN+ | |||
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time. |
Date | Bye Week |
---|---|
November 22 | South Dakota |
2025–26 records against non-conference foes:
| Postseason
|
Week | Offensive | Defensive | Special teams | Newcomer | Offensive line | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Position | Team | Player | Position | Team | Player | Position | Team | Player | Position | Team | Player | Position | Team | |
Week 1 (Sept. 1) [32] | Plez Lawrence | RB | INST | Dathan Hickey | DB | YSU | Sebastian Lopez | PK | INST | Julius Loughridge | RB | SDSU | Seth Anderson | OL | UND |
Team | Stadium | Capacity | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 | Game 6 | Game 7 | Game 8 | Game 9 | Total | Average | % of capacity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Illinois State | Hancock Stadium | 13,391 | % | |||||||||||
Indiana State | Memorial Stadium | 12,764 | 3,206 | 5,281† | 8,487 | 4,243 | 33.2% | |||||||
Murray State | Roy Stewart Stadium | 16,800 | 15,027 | 15,027 | 15,027 | 89.4% | ||||||||
North Dakota | Alerus Center | 12,283 | 11,469 | 11,469 | 11,469 | 93.4% | ||||||||
North Dakota State | Fargodome | 18,700 | % | |||||||||||
Northern Iowa | UNI-Dome | 16,324 | 9,079 | 9,079 | 9,079 | 55.6% | ||||||||
South Dakota | DakotaDome | 9,100 | % | |||||||||||
South Dakota State | Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium | 19,340 | 19,163 | 19,163 | 19,163 | 99.1% | ||||||||
Southern Illinois | Saluki Stadium | 15,000 | 6,585 | 6,585 | 6,585 | 44.0% | ||||||||
Youngstown State | Stambaugh Stadium | 20,630 | 7,040 | 12,042† | 19,082 | 9,541 | 46.2% | |||||||
Bold - Exceed or met capacity
†Season High
‡FCS Playoff Game
The following list includes all MVFC players who were drafted in the 2026 NFL draft.
Player | Position | School | Draft round | Round pick | Overall pick | Team |
---|
Through September 6, 2025
All stats include 2025 season
Team | Head coach | Years at school | Overall record | Record at school | MVFC record | MVFC titles | FCS playoff appearances | FCS playoff record | National titles |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Illinois State | Brock Spack | 17 | 112–75 (.599) | 112–75 (.599) | 71–54 (.568) | 2 | 6 | 8–6 (.571) | 0 |
Indiana State | Curt Mallory | 8 [a] | 26–55 (.321) | 26–55 (.321) | 16–40 (.286) | 0 | 0 | 0–0 (–) | 0 |
Murray State | Jody Wright | 2 | 1–13 (.071) | 1–13 (.071) | 0–8 (.000) | 0 | 0 | 0–0 (–) | 0 |
North Dakota | Eric Schmidt | 1 | 1–1 (.500) | 1–1 (.500) | 0–0 (–) | 0 | 0 | 0–0 (–) | 0 |
North Dakota State | Tim Polasek | 2 | 16–2 (.889) | 16–2 (.889) | 7–1 (.875) | 1 | 1 | 4–0 (1.000) | 1 |
Northern Iowa | Todd Stepsis | 1 | 1–1 (.500) | 1–1 (.500) | 0–0 (–) | 0 | 0 | 0–0 (–) | 0 |
South Dakota | Travis Johansen | 1 | 0–2 (.000) | 0–2 (.000) | 0–0 (–) | 0 | 0 | 0–0 (–) | 0 |
South Dakota State | Dan Jackson | 1 | 2–0 (1.000) | 2–0 (1.000) | 0–0 (–) | 0 | 0 | 0–0 (–) | 0 |
Southern Illinois | Nick Hill | 10 | 49–57 (.462) | 49–57 (.462) | 28–42 (.400) | 0 | 3 | 3–3 (.500) | 0 |
Youngstown State | Doug Phillips | 6 | 23–31 (.426) | 23–31 (.426) | 15–23 (.395) | 0 | 1 | 1–1 (.500) | 0 |