The 2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference season was 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 was the MVFC's first season dropping to 10 teams since the 2019 season, and will be the last for now.
Illinois State made it to the National Championship as the first FCS team ever to win four playoff road games. They were defeated in the title game by Montana State. South Dakota made the playoffs as the 11th seed and was able to make the quarterfinals before falling to 3rd seeded Montana. North Dakota State (1st seed) and South Dakota State (14th seed) both lost in the second round of the playoffs, to Illinois State and Montana respectively. This was the first year that NDSU made the playoffs but did not manage to reach the quarterfinal round. North Dakota also made it to the second round after playing on the road in the first round, but they fell on the road to Tarleton State to end their postseason. Youngstown State made the playoffs as well, but lost to Yale at home in the first round.
Conference changes 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.
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.
Coaching changes North Dakota On December 8, 2024, Eric Schmidt was named the next head coach at North Dakota. Schmidt takes over for Bubba Schweigert, who stepped down after the 2024 season.
Northern Iowa On December 3, 2024, Todd Stepsis was named the new head coach at Northern Iowa. Stepsis takes over for longtime coach Mark Farley, who retired after the 2024 season.
South Dakota On January 16, 2025, Travis Johansen was named the next head coach at South Dakota. Johansen steps in for Bob Nielson, who retired after the 2024 season.
South Dakota State On December 31, 2024, Dan Jackson was named the next head coach at South Dakota State. Jackson was hired after Jimmy Rogers left the program to become the next head coach at Washington State.
Preseason League poll The annual preseason poll; voted on by conference coaches, athletic directors, and media members. 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
Individual awards 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.
OffenseAidan BoumanSouth DakotaQBBeau BrungardYoungstown StateQBChase MasonSouth Dakota StateQBJim OgleMurray StateQBElijah OwensIndiana StateQBCole PaytonNorth Dakota StateQBTommy RittenhouseIllinois StateQBD J WilliamsSouthern IllinoisQBBarika KpeenuNorth Dakota StateRBPlez LawrenceIndiana StateRBJulius LoughridgeSouth Dakota StateRBJawaun NorthingtonMurray StateRBCharles Pierre JrSouth DakotaRBSawyer SeidlNorth DakotaRBWenkers WrightIllinois StateRBEthan WrightYoungstown StateRBGaven ZiebarthNorth DakotaRBTruman WerremeyerNorth Dakota StateRB (FB)Scotty Presson JrIllinois StateTE (FB)Derek AndersonNorthern IowaTEAustin BrayYoungstown StateTEJavon CharlesIllinois StateTEDallas HolmesSouth DakotaTEAidan QuinnSouthern IllinoisTELance ReesIndiana StateTERyan SchwendemanSouthern IllinoisTEBlake AndersonNorthern IowaOLSeth AndersonNorth DakotaOLLiam BecherOLBen BuxaOLQuinten ChristensenSouth Dakota StateOLCam DyeSouthern IllinoisOLGriffin EmpeyNorth Dakota StateOLNoah FenskeSouthern IllinoisOLTrent FraleyNorth Dakota StateOLSam HagenSouth Dakota StateOLAdrian HawkinsSouth DakotaOLKeean KamerlingNorthern IowaOLVan KeenYoungstown StateOLDesmeal LeighOLJake PopeIllinois StateOLLandon WoodardOLJ K CarterMurray StateWRVinson Davis IIISouthern IllinoisWRJaiden Ellis-LaheyNorthern IowaWRIsaiah Garcia-CastanedaSouth Dakota StateWREddie KasperIllinois StateWRTysen KershawNorthern IowaWRBryce LanceNorth Dakota StateWRLofton O'GroskeSouth Dakota StateWRRashad RochelleIndiana StateWRJ C Roque JrNorthern IowaWRDaniel SobkowiczIndiana StateWRMike SolomonYoungstown StateWRMax TomczakWRKy WilsonWRDefenseJake AndersonIllinois StateDLToby AneneNorth Dakota StateDLKobe ClayborneSouth Dakota StateDLCaden CrawfordSouth DakotaDLJaxon DuttenheferNorth Dakota StateDLNick KesslerIllinois StateDLReis KirschenmanSouth Dakota StateDLJack KriebsNorthern IowaDLOwen OstroskiDLFranz ReiszDLJackson StortDLMichael VoitusYoungstown StateDLDonnie WingateSouthern IllinoisDLColin BohanekLBNate EwellSouth DakotaLBLogan KoppNorth Dakota StateLBTucker LangenbergNorthern IowaLBLucas McAllisterIndiana StateLBMalachi McNealNorth DakotaLBTye NiekampIllinois StateLBJoe OllmanSouth Dakota StateLBChris PrestoSouthern IllinoisLBLance RuckerNorth DakotaLBBraxton SampsonIndiana StateLBChase Van TolSouth Dakota StateLBMike WellsYoungstown StateLBDallas WesthoffIndiana StateLBPreston ZandierYoungstown StateLBKoby BretzSouth Dakota StateDBJonathan Cabral-MartinNorthern IowaDBAnthony Chideme-AlfaroNorth Dakota StateDBKimal ClarkIndiana StateDBJailen DuffieNorth Dakota StateDBDarius GivanceDBD J HarrisYoungstown StateDBRyan JonesNorth Dakota StateDBZach LewisNorth DakotaDBJeremiah McClendonSouthern IllinoisDBShadwell NkubaIllinois StateDBJayden OliverSouth Dakota StateDBMichael OlowoNorthern IowaDBMakahi ShahidYoungstown StateDBJorge ValdesIndiana StateDBTim WhiteSouth DakotaDBSpecial TeamsRyan AlgrimSouthern IllinoisLSCaleb BowersSouth DakotaLSDylan CalabreseIllinois StateLSByron FloydYoungstown StateLSKaydon OliviaSouth Dakota StateLSHayden FutchIllinois StatePPaul GeelenSouthern IllinoisPBrendon KilpatrickYoungstown StatePTom O'HaraMurray StatePHarry TraumIndiana StatePPaul GeelenSouthern IllinoisPKAndrew LastovkaYoungstown StatePKWill LeylandSouth DakotaPKRaJa NelsonNorth Dakota StateRSJackson WilliamsRS
Rankings
+ Legend 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 Wk1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Final Illinois State STATS 6 7 7 6 7 6 9 10 18 17 16 14 11 17т 2 Coaches 6 7 4 4 5 6 10 9 20 18 17 13 11т 17 2 Indiana State STATS Coaches RV Murray State STATS Coaches North Dakota STATS RV 20 16 16 14 15 13 9 8 8 13 13 13 19 14 Coaches RV 22 17 17 15т 14 12 11 10 10 15 18 16 23 16 North Dakota State STATS 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4т Coaches 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 Northern Iowa STATS Coaches RV RV RV RV South Dakota STATS 4 4 12 15 17 21 23 22 21 RV 22 17 16 12 9 Coaches 5 6 20 21 18 RV RV RV RV RV 25 22 21 20 11 South Dakota State STATS 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 4т 8 16 22 16 13 Coaches 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 5 9 15 22 18 14 Southern Illinois STATS 20 14 17 13 11 10 8 12 16 16 15 21 24 23 25 Coaches 20 15 14 11 12 11 9 12 18 17 16 23 RV 25 RV Youngstown State STATS RV RV RV RV 24 24 RV RV 22 18 21 20 18 14 18 Coaches RV RV 25 24 19 18 20 25 21 19 22 19 17 13 17
Schedule Index to colors and formattingMVFC member wonMVFC member lostMVFC teams in bold All times Central time.
† denotes Homecoming game ^ denotes AP Poll ranking for FBS teams
Regular season schedule Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Date Bye Week September 20 No. 1 North Dakota State No. 2 South Dakota State
Week 5
Date Bye Week September 27 No. 7 Illinois State Indiana State Murray State No. 14 North Dakota Northern Iowa No. 11 Southern Illinois No. 24 Youngstown State
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Date Bye Week November 22 No. 16 South Dakota
FCS playoffs
In 2025, six teams made the FCS playoffs. North Dakota State (No. 1) received a first round bye; South Dakota (No. 11), South Dakota State (No. 14), Youngstown State (No. 15), Illinois State, and North Dakota played in the first round. Below are the games in which they played.
Index to colors and formattingMVFC member wonMVFC member lostMVFC teams in bold All times Central time, seedings in parentheses.
First round
Second round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship
MVFC records vs other conferences 2025–26 records against non-conference foes:
FCS power conferencesRecordBig Sky5–2CAA1–0FCS power total6–2Other FCS conferencesRecordIvy LeagueNoneMEACNoneNortheast3–0OVC–Big South6–0PatriotNonePFL6–0SoCon1–1Southland0–2SWACNoneUAC1–1Other FCS total16–4Other Division I opponentsRecordFootball Bowl Subdivision0–9Total Division I23–15Other NCAA opponentsRecordDivision II2–0Total non-conference record25–15
Postseason FCS power conferencesRecordBig Sky1–3CAA2–0FCS power total3–3Other FCS conferencesRecordIvy League0–1MEACNoneNortheastNoneOVC–Big South1–0PatriotNonePFL1–0SoCon1–0Southland1–0SWACNoneUAC0–1Other FCS total4–2Total postseason record7–5
Awards and honors Players of the week honors Week Offensive Defensive Special teams Newcomer Offensive line Player Position Team Player Position Team Player Position Team Player Position Team Player Position TeamWeek 1 (Sept. 1) Plez LawrenceRBINSTDathan HickeyDBYSUSebastian LopezPKINSTJulius LoughridgeRBSDSUSeth AndersonOLUNDWeek 2 (Sept. 8) Beau BrungardQBYSULogan WilsonDLINSTMatt MaldonadoPKILSTLarry Stephens IIIWRINSTJake PopeOTILSTWeek 3 (Sept. 15) L. J. Phillips Jr.RBUSDTye NiekampLBILSTPaul GeelenK/PSIUAyden PriceWRUNIBrock WoolfRTUSDWeek 4 (Sept. 22) DJ WilliamsQBSIUChris PrestoLBSIUShadwel Nkuba IIDBILSTAndrew LastovkaPKYSUDerek HardenOGSIUWeek 5 (Sept. 29) Cole PaytonQBNDSUNathaniel StaehlingLBNDSUJackson WilliamsRSNDSUJames BasingerRBSDSUGriffin EmpeyRGNDSUWeek 6 (Oct. 6) Jerry KaminskiQBUNDShug WalkerLBSIUAlex BullockWRSDSUMax PelhamPSDSUShane WillenbringOCSDSUWeek 7 (Oct. 13) Cole PaytonQBNDSUMalachi McNealLBUNDB.J. FlemingWRUNDWill LeylandPKUSDJake PopeRTILSTWeek 8 (Oct. 20) Beau BrungardQBYSUJalen LeeSSDSUZeke MataPKUSDKimal ClarkDBINSTLiam BecherOLUNDWeek 9 (Oct. 27) Cole PaytonQBNDSUTye NiekampLBILSTTae Marrero Jr.PRSIUKy WilsonKR/WRYSUTrent FraleyCNDSUWeek 10 (Nov. 3) Rashad RochelleWR/KRINSTDeJuan LewisDBUSDNic YatskoDBINSTJackson WilliamsRSNDSULandon WoodardOGILSTWeek 11 (Nov. 10) Bill JacksonRBUNIDonovan WoolenLBNDSUVictor DawsonSILSTAaron BickertonPNDSUJacob AropOLUSDMatt MaldonadoPKILSTWeek 12 (Nov. 17) Beau BrungardQBYSUTye NiekampLBILSTAndrew LastovkaPKYSUCarson FletcherRBUSDSeth AndersonOLUNDWeek 13 (Nov. 28) Jawaun NorthingtonRBMUSTDylan RowseyDBMUSTKy "Flash" WilsonKR/WRYSUPaul GeelenK/PSIUNoah FenskeCSIU
Players of the Year On December 1, 2025, the Missouri Valley Football Conference released their Players of the Year and All-Conference Honors.
Offensive Player of the Year Beau Brungard, QB (Jr - Youngstown State)
Defensive Player of the Year Tye Niekamp, LB (Jr - Illinois State)
Newcomer of the Year Kimal Clark, DB (Sr - Indiana State)
Freshman of the Year Luke Mailander, WR (Fr - Illinois State)
Coach of the Year Tim Polasek (North Dakota State)
All–Conference Teams