The 2023 Missouri Valley Football Conference football season was the 38th season of college football play for the Missouri Valley Football Conference and part of the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. This was the MVFC's first season with 12 teams, as the conference added Murray State over the offseason. It was also the last season with 12 teams for now, as it was announced in May 2023 that Western Illinois would be leaving the MVFC after the 2023 season for the Ohio Valley Conference.
South Dakota State made it to the National Championship and won their 2nd FCS title in program history and became the third MVFC team to win back to back titles. North Dakota State made the playoffs unseeded, and won their way into the semifinals where they lost to 2nd seeded Montana. South Dakota made the playoffs as the 3rd seed, and made it to the quarterfinals, where they lost to North Dakota State. Youngstown State and Southern Illinois made the playoffs unseeded as well, and made it to the 2nd round, losing to 8th seeded Villanova and 4th seeded Idaho. North Dakota made the playoffs unseeded and lost to Sacramento State in the opening round.
Offseason Over the offseason, the conference officially welcomed in their 12th league member. Murray State will begin their tenure as a MVFC member after joining the sister conference (Missouri Valley Conference) in the summer of 2022. The Racers arrive in the Valley from the Ohio Valley Conference.
Coaching changes Missouri State On December 19, 2022, Ryan Beard was named the new head coach at Missouri State. Beard was previously the Bears defensive coordinator for the last three years. He takes over for Bobby Petrino who left the program for an eventual job at Texas A&M.
South Dakota State On January 20, 2023, Jimmy Rogers was named the new head coach at South Dakota State. Rogers was promoted from defensive coordinator for the Jacks. Former coach John Stiegelmeier retired after the end of last season, leading South Dakota State for 26 seasons.
Preseason
Preseason League Poll The annual preseason poll; voted on by conference coaches, athletic directors, and media members. 1 South Dakota State 539 (44) 2 North Dakota State 492 (1) 3 Northern Iowa 409 4 North Dakota 399 5 Southern Illinois 337 6 Youngstown State 323 7 Illinois State 269 8 Missouri State 229 9 South Dakota 226 10 Indiana State 148 11 Murray State 74 12 Western Illinois 65
Preseason Individual Awards
First Team OffenseMark GronowskiSouth Dakota StateQBJr.Isaiah DavisSouth Dakota StateRBSr.Justin DinkaIndiana StateRBRS Jr.Hunter BrozioNorth Dakota StateFBSr.Jaxon JankeSouth Dakota StateWRSr.Bo BelquistNorth DakotaWRSr.Bryce OliverYoungstown StateWRSr.Zach HeinsSouth Dakota StateTESr.Mason McCormickSouth Dakota StateOLSr.Garret GreenfieldSouth Dakota StateOLSr.Donny VentrelliNorth DakotaOLSr.Jalen SundellNorth Dakota StateOLSr.Jaison WilliamsYoungstown StateOLJr.First Team DefenseKhristian BoydNorthern IowaDLRS Sr.Ben McNaboeNorth DakotaDLSr.Dylan WudkeYoungstown StateDLSr.Eli MostaertNorth Dakota StateDLSr.Adam BockSouth Dakota StateLBSr.Brock MogensenSouth DakotaLBSr.Stephen HillisSouth DakotaLBSr.Branson CombsSouthern IllinoisLBRS Sr.Woo GovernorNorthern IowaDBSr.DyShawn GalesSouth Dakota StateDBSr.PJ JulesSouthern IllinoisDBRS Sr.Rylan ColeIndiana StateDBJr.Myles HardenSouth DakotaDBJr.First Team Special TeamsMatthew CookNorthern IowaPKSr.Grant BurkettMissouri StatePJr.Caden BolzMissouri StateLSJr.Jayden PriceNorth Dakota StateRSSr.Carter BellSouth DakotaAPJr.
Second Team OffenseTheo DayNorthern IowaQBRS Sr.TaMerik WilliamsNorth Dakota StateRBSr.Travis TheisSouth DakotaRBJr.Jacardia WrightMissouri StateRBJr.Mike MorganSouth Dakota StateFBSr.D'Ante' CoxSouthern IllinoisWRSr.Jadon JankeSouth Dakota StateWR/RSSr.Sam SchneeNorthern IowaWRRS Sr.Alex AllenNorthern IowaTERS Sr.Joe StoffelNorth Dakota StateTEJr.Jared PenningNorthern IowaOLRS Jr.Isaac ErbesSouth DakotaOLSo.Jake KubasNorth Dakota StateOLJr.Jose Vazquez IVIndiana StateOLRS Sr.Brandon WestbergNorth Dakota StateOLSo.Hunter ZambranoIllinois StateOLSo.Second Team DefenseWill MostaertNorth Dakota StateDLSr.Lucas HunterIndiana StateDLSr.Cade TerveerSouth Dakota StateDLSr.Chris FitzgeraldYoungstown StateDLJr.Jason FreemanSouth Dakota StateLBSr.Juan DelaCruzWestern IllinoisLBJr.Geoffrey BrownIndiana StateLBJr.Isaiah StalbirdSouth Dakota StateLBSr.Cole WisniewskiNorth Dakota StateLBSr.C.J. SiegelNorth DakotaDB/RSSr.Dalys BeanumSouth Dakota StateDBSr.Jayden PriceNorth Dakota StateDBSr.PJ HallMissouri StateDBJr.Dillon GearhartIllinois StateDBJr.Second Team Special TeamsGriffin CrosaNorth Dakota StatePKSr.Hunter DustmanSouth Dakota StatePSr.Sam MerrymanYoungstown StateLSJr.Jalen CarrIllinois StateAPJr.
Source:
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 Final Illinois State STATS Perform RV RV AFCA Coaches RV RV 25 RV RV RV 25 RV RV RV RV RV RV Indiana State STATS Perform AFCA Coaches Missouri State STATS Perform AFCA Coaches Murray State STATS Perform AFCA Coaches RV North Dakota STATS Perform 17 17 14 14 12 16 15 11 15 13 10 13 12 16 AFCA Coaches 18 15 13 14 11 15 15 9 17 15 12 17 14 16 North Dakota State STATS Perform 2 2 2 2 2 7 6 14 12 11 12 9 8 3 AFCA Coaches 2 2 2 2 2 8 7 15 11 10 13 9 7 3 Northern Iowa STATS Perform 23 21 RV RV RV RV RV RV 23 18 15 22 RV RV AFCA Coaches 20 20 RV RV RV RV RV RV RV 23 20 RV South Dakota STATS Perform 15 10 6 4 9 6 5 3 4 AFCA Coaches 21 17 16 9 12 6 5 3 4 South Dakota State STATS Perform 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 AFCA Coaches 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Southern Illinois STATS Perform RV 24 15 12 10 6 13 12 11 10 11 16 14 12 AFCA Coaches RV 23 18 13 10 5 13 12 12 11 15 20т 17 13 Western Illinois STATS Perform AFCA Coaches Youngstown State STATS Perform RV 25 25 24 23 RV 23 25 24 22 22 25 21 19 AFCA Coaches RV 25 RV 24 19 RV 20т RV RV RV RV RV 23 21
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
Date Bye WeekSeptember 16 Missouri State
Week 4
Date Bye WeekSeptember 23 No. 24 Youngstown State No. RV Northern Iowa No. 2 North Dakota State No. 1 South Dakota State South Dakota No. 14 North Dakota Indiana State No. 12 Southern Illinois Murray State
Week 5
Date Bye WeekSeptember 30 Western Illinois Illinois State
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
FCS Playoffs
In 2023, six teams made the FCS Playoffs. South Dakota State (No. 1) and South Dakota (No. 3) both received byes; while North Dakota, North Dakota State, Southern Illinois, and Youngstown State were unseeded and played in the opening round. Below are the games in which they played.
All times Central time. Tournament seedings in parentheses.
First round
Second round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship
MVFC records vs other conferences 2023-24 records against non-conference foes:
FCS Power ConferencesRecordBig Sky4–1CAA1–0FCS Power Total5–1Other FCS ConferencesRecordBig South1–0Ivy LeagueNoneMEACNoneNortheastNoneOVC2–4PatriotNonePFL6–0SoConNoneSouthland1–0SWACNoneUAC (ASUN–WAC)3–1Other FCS Total13–5Other Division I OpponentsRecordFootball Bowl Subdivision1–10Total Division I19–16Other NCAA OpponentsRecordDivision II1–0Total Non-Conference Record20–16
Post Season FCS Power ConferencesRecordBig Sky3–3CAA2–1FCS Power Total5–4Other FCS ConferencesRecordBig SouthNoneIvy LeagueNoneMEACNoneNortheast1–0OVCNonePatriotNonePFL1–0SoCon1–0Southland1–0SWACNoneUAC (ASUN–WAC)NoneOther FCS Total4–0Total Postseason Record9–4
Awards and honors Player of the week honors Week Offensive Defensive Special Teams Freshman Player Position Team Player Position Team Player Position Team Player Position TeamWeek 1 (Sept. 4) Nic BakerQBSIUCole WisniewskiSNDSUKaedin SteindorfPNDSUTyshon KingRBYSUWeek 2 (Sept. 11) Mason BlakemoreRBILSTNick GaesDTUSDGriffin CrosaKNDSUGriffin WildeWRSDSUPJ JulesSSIUWeek 3 (Sept. 18) Nic BakerQBSIUPJ JulesSSIUTucker LargePR/SSDSUTyshon KingRBYSUWeek 4 (Sept. 25) Jacob ClarkQBMOSTCaleb BlakeCBMOSTIan WagnerK/PILSTJayden BecksRBMOSTWeek 5 (Oct. 2) Theo DayQBUNIDennis ShorterSSUSDOrion PhillipsPMUSTPlez LawrenceRBINSTCarter BellWRUSDWeek 6 (Oct. 9) Isaiah DavisRBSDSULogan KoppLBNDSUJake AndjelicPKINSTTyshon KingRBYSUWeek 7 (Oct. 16) Gaven ZiebarthRBUNDIsaiah StalbirdLBSDSUWill LeylandPKUSDOwen RozancPKMOSTLuke SkoknaRB/RSUNDWeek 8 (Oct. 23) Amauri Pesek-HicksonRBUNIDevin GoreeDLMOSTAndrew LastovkaPKYSUCharles Pierre Jr.RBUSDWeek 9 (Oct. 30) Mitch DavidsonQBYSULogan KoppLBNDSUHunter DustmanPK/PSDSUC.J. ElrichsPKUNDWeek 10 (Nov. 6) Tommy SchusterQBUNDBrendan WebbLBUSDHunter DustmanK/PSDSUMason BlakemoreQBILSTWeek 11 (Nov. 13) Raylen SharpeWRMOSTGarret OllendieckLBINSTRed WilsonWR/RSUNDAmir AbdullahLBILSTWeek 12 (Nov. 20) Jadon JankeWRSDSUCole WisniewskiSNDSUWill LeylandPKUSDTim VargaDESIUMark GronowskiQBSDSU
Players of the Year On November 27, 2023, the Missouri Valley Football Conference released their Players of the Year and All-Conference Honors.
Offensive Player of the Year Two players were named as Offensive Player of the Year. Mark Gronowski, QB (Jr - South Dakota State) Isaiah Davis, RB (Sr - South Dakota State)
Defensive Player of the Year Brock Mogensen, LB (Sr - South Dakota)
Newcomer of the Year Mason Blakemore, RB (Jr - Illinois State)
Freshman of the Year Tye Niekamp, LB (RS-Fr - Illinois State)
Coach of the Year Bob Nielson (South Dakota)
All-Conference Teams
First Team OffenseMark GronowskiSouth Dakota StateQBJrIsaiah DavisSouth Dakota StateRBSrMason BlakemoreIllinois StateRBJrHunter BrozioNorth Dakota StateFBSrCam GrandyIllinois StateTESrJadon JankeSouth Dakota StateWRSrSam SchneeNorthern IowaWRRS-SrRaylen SharpeMissouri StateWRJrGarret GreenfieldSouth Dakota StateOLSrJake KubasNorth Dakota StateOLSrMason McCormickSouth Dakota StateOLSrJared PenningNorthern IowaOLRS-JrJalen SundellNorth Dakota StateOLSrFirst Team DefenseKhristian BoydNorthern IowaDLRS-SrDylan HendricksNorth Dakota StateDLSrCade TerveerSouth Dakota StateDLSrBrendan WebbSouth DakotaDLSrAmir AbdullahIllinois StateLBJrJason FreemanSouth Dakota StateLBSrLogan KoppNorth Dakota StateLBSoBrock MogensenSouth DakotaLBSrWoo GovernorNorthern IowaDBSrPJ JulesSouthern IllinoisDBSrTucker LargeSouth Dakota StateDBSoCole WisniewskiNorth Dakota StateDBSrFirst Team Special TeamsMatthew CookNorthern IowaPKSrGrant BurkettMissouri StatePJrHunter BrozioNorth Dakota StateLSSrLuke SkoknaNorth DakotaRSSrAmar JohnsonSouth Dakota StateAPJr
Second Team OffenseCam MillerNorth Dakota StateQBSrTyshon KingYoungstown StateRBSrJacardia WrightMissouri StateRBJrMike MorganSouth Dakota StateFBSrTravis TheisSouth DakotaFBJrZach HeinsSouth Dakota StateTESrBo BelquistNorth DakotaWRSrBryce OliverYoungstown StateWRSrDaniel SobkowiczIllinois StateWRSoJoey LombardSouth DakotaOLJrGus MillerSouth Dakota StateOLJrDonny VentrelliNorth DakotaOL5thJaison WilliamsYoungstown StateOLJrHunter ZambranoIllinois StateOLJrSecond Team DefenseJosh DingaIllinois StateDLRS-SrEli MostaertNorth Dakota StateDLSrRyan Van MarelSouth Dakota StateDLSrDylan WudkeYoungstown StateDLSrBranson CombsSouthern IllinoisLBJrGarret OllendieckIndiana StateLBJrWyatt PedigoNorth DakotaLBJrIsaiah StalbirdSouth Dakota StateLBSrMaddix BlackwellIndiana StateDBRS-SoDyshawn GalesSouth Dakota StateDBSrTroy JakubecYoungstown StateDBJrTodric McGeeMissouri StateDBSoC.J. SiegelNorth DakotaDB5thSecond Team Special TeamsWill LeylandSouth DakotaPKSoHunter DustmanSouth Dakota StatePSrKaydon OliviaSouth Dakota StateLSSoTucker LargeSouth Dakota StateRSSoCarter BellSouth DakotaAPJr
National Awards