The 2021 Missouri Valley Football Conference football season was the 36th season of college football play for the Missouri Valley Football Conference and part of the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. This was the MVFC's 2nd straight season with 11 teams. North Dakota State made it to the National Championship and won their 9th FCS title in program history. South Dakota State made the playoffs unseeded, and won their way into the semifinals where they lost to 8th seeded Montana State. Southern Illinois also made it to the playoffs, and beat fellow MVFC member South Dakota in the first round, but would fall to eventual champion North Dakota State in the second round. Northern Iowa also made it to the playoffs, but lost to Eastern Washington in the first round.
Preseason MVFC Media Day Preseason Poll The annual preseason poll; voted on by conference coaches, athletic directors, and media members. 1 South Dakota State 454 (24) 2 North Dakota State 435 (18) 3 North Dakota 357 4 Southern Illinois 345 5 Northern Iowa 311 (1) 6 Missouri State 256 7 Illinois State 196 8 South Dakota 163 9 Youngstown State 126 10 Indiana State 112 11 Western Illinois 83
Preseason Awards Individual awards
First Team OffenseTommy SchusterNorth DakotaQBRS So.Pierre Strong Jr.South Dakota StateRBJr.Otis WeahNorth DakotaRBRS Jr.Hunter LuepkeNorth Dakota StateFBJr.Zach HeinsSouth Dakota StateTESo.Avante Cox Jr.Southern IllinoisWRJr.Dennis HoustonWestern IllinoisWRSr.Christian WatsonNorth Dakota StateWRSr.ZeVeyon FurcronSouthern IllinoisOLSr.Garret GreenfieldSouth Dakota StateOLSo.Cody MauchNorth Dakota StateOLSr.Cordell VolsonNorth Dakota StateOLSr.Matt WaletzkoNorth DakotaOLSr.Javon Williams Jr.Southern IllinoisAPSo. First Team DefenseJordan BernerSouthern IllinoisDLSr.Jared BrinkmanNorthern IowaDLGSCaleb SandersSouth Dakota StateDLJr.Spencer WaegeNorth Dakota StateDLSr.Logan BackhausSouth Dakota StateLBSr.Spencer CuvelierNorthern IowaLBSr.Grant DixonYoungstown StateLBSr.James KaczorNorth Dakota StateLBSr.Montrae BraswellMissouri StateDBSo.Qua BrownSouthern IllinoisDBSr.James CaesarSouthern IllinoisDBSr.Don GardnerSouth Dakota StateDBSr.Michael TutsieNorth Dakota StateDBSr.First Team Special TeamsBrady SchuttSouth DakotaPSr.Matthew CookNorthern IowaPKJr.Dalton GodfreySouth DakotaLSJr.Christian WatsonNorth Dakota StateRSSr.
Second Team OffenseStone LabanowitzSouthern IllinoisQBSr.Isaiah DavisSouth Dakota StateRBFr.Jaleel McLaughlinYoungstown StateRBSr.Jacob GarrettSouthern IllinoisFBJr.Noah GindorffNorth Dakota StateTESr.Jaxon JankeSouth Dakota StateWRSo.Tony TateWestern IllinoisWRSr.Caleb Vander EschSouth DakotaWRSr.Landon BebeeMissouri StateOLJr.Dan BeckerYoungstown StateOLSr.Wes GenantSouth Dakota StateOLSr.Mason McCormickSouth Dakota StateOLSo.Trevor PenningNorthern IowaOLSr.Deion McShaneNorthern IowaAPSr.Second Team DefenseKevin EllisMissouri StateDLSr.Eric JohnsonMissouri StateDLSr.Anthony KnightonSouthern IllinoisDLSr.Eli MostaertNorth Dakota StateDLSo.Devon KrzanowskiNorth DakotaLBSr.Brock MogensenSouth DakotaLBSo.Bryson Strong Jr.Southern IllinoisLBJr.Tylar WiltzMissouri StateLBSr.Omar BrownNorthern IowaDBJr.Austin EvansNorthern IowaDBGSEvan HolmNorth DakotaDBSr.Zaire JonesYoungstown StateDBSr.Kyriq McDonaldMissouri StateDBSr.Second Team Special TeamsJack ColquhounSouthern IllinoisPSr.Jose PizanoMissouri StatePKJr.Bradey SorensonSouth Dakota StateLSSr.Tony TateWestern IllinoisRSSr.
Honorable Mention OffenseWill McElvainNorthern IowaQBJr.Connor SampsonWestern IllinoisQBSr.Tyler HoosmanNorthern IowaRBSr.Tim McCloynIllinois StateFBSr.Josh BabiczNorth Dakota StateTESr.Dante HendrixIndiana StateWRRS Jr.Isaiah WestonNorthern IowaWRSr.Isaiah EdwardsIndiana StateOLRS Sr.Mason ScheideggerSouth DakotaOLSr.William WaddellWestern IllinoisOLSr.Christian TurnerYoungstown StateAPSr.Honorable Mention DefenseJames JacksonYoungstown StateDLSr.Jacob MatthewSouth DakotaDLSr.Inoke MoalaIndiana StateDLRS Sr.Reece WinkelmanSouth Dakota StateDLJr.Jack CochraneSouth DakotaLBSr.Jaxson TurnerNorth DakotaLBSr.Jordan CanadyNorth DakotaDBSr.Myles HardenSouth DakotaDBFr.Benny Sapp IIINorthern IowaDBSr.Honorable Mention Special TeamsAdam FellnerWestern IllinoisPSr.Nico GualdoniSouthern IllinoisPKSr.Dan HeilbronSouthern IllinoisLSJr.Luke SkoknaNorth DakotaRSJr.
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 RV Indiana State STATS Perform AFCA Coaches Missouri State STATS Perform 24 23 17 18 16 15 20 17 17 17 16 14 12 14 AFCA Coaches RV 25 19 18 16 16 23 18 20 20 14 14 10 14 North Dakota STATS Perform 8 9 11 10 10 13 22 RV RV RV AFCA Coaches 7 7 14 13 11 15 24 RV RV North Dakota State STATS Perform 4 5 5 5 5 5 3 3 2 2 5 4 3 1 AFCA Coaches 3 4 4 5 5 5 3 3 2 2 6 4 3 1 Northern Iowa STATS Perform 21 21 18 17 15 16 16 20 16 13 20 RV RV 23 AFCA Coaches 16 15 15 14 13 12 17 24 17 15 24 RV 25 25 South Dakota STATS Perform RV RV RV 21 15 21 23 19 16 17 18 AFCA Coaches RV RV RV RV South Dakota State STATS Perform 3 2 2 2 2 2 7 6 10 9 4 12 11 4 AFCA Coaches 4 3 3 3 3 3 8 7 13 12 7 13 11 5 Southern Illinois STATS Perform 7 8 8 7 7 8 4 4 3 7 15 17 21 16 AFCA Coaches 10 9 9т 8 7 7 4 4 3 9 16 15 23 17 Western Illinois STATS Perform AFCA Coaches Youngstown State STATS Perform RV RV AFCA Coaches RV RV
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 0
Week 1
Date Bye WeekSeptember 4 Indiana State
Week 2
Week 3
Date Bye WeekSeptember 18 No. 17 Missouri State No. 2 South Dakota State
Week 4
Date Bye WeekSeptember 25 No. 5 North Dakota State No. 17 Northern Iowa No. 10 North Dakota
Week 5
Week 6
Date Bye WeekOctober 9 Illinois State
Week 7
Date Bye WeekOctober 16 Youngstown State
Week 8
Date Bye WeekOctober 23 No. 4 Southern Illinois
Week 9
Date Bye WeekOctober 30 No. 21 South Dakota
Week 10
Date Bye WeekNovember 6 Indiana State
Week 11
Date Bye WeekNovember 13 Western Illinois
Week 12
Postseason
In 2021, six teams made the FCS playoffs. North Dakota State (No. 2) received a first bye. Missouri State, Southern Illinois, South Dakota, South Dakota State, and Northern Iowa were all unseeded and 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. Tournament seedings in parentheses
First round
Second round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship
MVFC records vs other conferences 2021-22 records against non-conference foes (through January 8, 2022):
FCS Power ConferencesRecordBig Sky4–2CAA2–0FCS Power Total6–2Other FCS ConferencesRecordASUN2–0Big SouthNoneIvy LeagueNoneMEACNoneNortheastNoneOVC3–0PatriotNonePFL5–0SoConNoneSouthland1–0SWACNoneWAC2–0Other FCS Total13–0FCS Total19–2FBS OpponentsRecordFootball Bowl Subdivision1–9Other NCAA DivisionsRecordDivision II1–0Total Non-Conference Record21–11
Post Season FCS Power ConferencesRecordBig Sky3–2CAA2–0FCS Power Total5–2Other FCS ConferencesRecordASUNNoneBig SouthNoneIvy LeagueNoneMEACNoneNortheastNoneOVC0–1PatriotNonePFLNoneSoCon1–0SouthlandNoneSWACNoneWACNoneOther FCS Total1–1Total Postseason Record6–3
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. 5) Jaleel McLaughlinRBYSUMichael ThomasDBINSTColt McFaddenPKYSUJason ShelleyQBMOSTNic BakerQBSIUChris OladokunQBSDSUWeek 2 (Sept. 12)Xavier LaneWRMOSTSpencer CuvelierMLBUNIMontrae BraswellCBMOSTXavier LaneWRMOSTWeek 3 (Sept. 19)Connor SampsonQBWIUBraydon DemingDEILSTHunter LunsfordDBINSTPhazione McClurgeWRINSTWeek 4 (Sept. 26)Pierre Strong Jr.RBSDSUDarius JoinerDBWIUIzaiah HartrupWRSIUJason ShelleyQBMOSTWeek 5 (Oct. 3)Tobias LittleRBMOSTSpencer CuvelierLBUNIJake ReinholzKNDSUNate ThomasRBUSDWeek 6 (Oct. 10)Nic BakerQBSIUInoke MoalaDEINSTJack ColquhounPSIUDemeatric CrenshawQBYSUWeek 7 (Oct. 17)Isaiah SmithRBUNDJack CochraneLBUSDSteven WardLBMOSTQuincy PattersonQBNDSUWeek 8 (Oct. 24)Cole MuellerRBILSTJJ HendersonDBINSTMatthew CookPKUNICole MuellerRBILSTWeek 9 (Oct. 31)Jason ShelleyQBMOSTFerrin ManuleleuaLBMOSTNate MurphyPUNIJason ShelleyQBMOSTWeek 10 (Nov. 7)Pierre Strong JrRBSDSUZeke VandenburgLBILSTJT BohlkenPILSTNate ThomasRBUSDWeek 11 (Nov. 14)Jason ShelleyQBMOSTDavid MillerCBSIUCade PetersonPUNDJeremiah WebbWRUSDWeek 12 (Nov. 21)Jaleel McLaughlinRBYSURiley Van WyheLBUNIJose PizanoPKMOSTKevon LatulasRBMOST
Players of the Year On November 29, 2021, the Missouri Valley Football Conference released their Players of the Year and All-Conference Honors.
Offensive Player of the Year Jason Shelley, QB (RS-Jr, Missouri State)
Defensive Player of the Year Jared Brinkman, DL (RS-Sr, Northern Iowa)
Newcomer of the Year Jason Shelley, QB (RS-Jr, Missouri State)
Freshman of the Year Demeatric Crenshaw, QB (RS-Fr, Youngstown State)
Coach of the Year Matt Entz (North Dakota State)
All-Conference Teams
First Team OffenseJason ShelleyMissouri StateQBRS-Jr.Jaleel McLaughlinYoungstown StateRBSr.Pierre Strong Jr.South Dakota StateRBSr.Hunter LuepkeNorth Dakota StateFBJr.Tucker KraftSouth Dakota StateTESo.Dennis HoustonWestern IllinoisWRSr.Tyrone ScottMissouri StateWRRS-So.Christian WatsonNorth Dakota StateWRSr.Zeveyon FurcronSouthern IllinoisOLSr.Cody MauchNorth Dakota StateOLSr.Trevor PenningNorthern IowaOLRS-Jr.Cordell VolsonNorth Dakota StateOLSr.Matt WaletzkoNorth DakotaOLSr.Christian WatsonNorth Dakota StateAPSr. First Team DefenseJared BrinkmanNorthern IowaDLRS-Sr.Kevin EllisMissouri StateDLJr.Inoke MoalaIndiana StateDLRS-Sr.Brayden ThomasNorth Dakota StateDLSr.Logan BackhausSouth Dakota StateLBSr.Adam BockSouth Dakota StateLBSo.Jack CochraneSouth DakotaLBSr.Spencer CuvelierNorthern IowaLBRS-Jr.Montrae BraswellMissouri StateDBSo.Qua BrownSouthern IllinoisDBSr.Darius JoinerWestern IllinoisDBSr.Benny Sapp IIINorthern IowaDBJr.Michael TutsieNorth Dakota StateDBSr.First Team Special TeamsGrant BurkettMissouri StatePRS-Fr.Matthew CookNorthern IowaPKSo.Montrae BraswellMissouri StateRSSo.Dalton GodfreySouth DakotaDSJr.
Second Team OffenseConnor SampsonWestern IllinoisQBSr.Otis WeahNorth DakotaRBJr.Javon Williams Jr.Southern IllinoisRBSo.Tim McCloynIllinois StateFBSr.Josh BabiczNorth Dakota StateTESr.Jaxon JankeSouth Dakota StateWRJr.Landon LenoirSouthern IllinoisWRSr.Isaiah WestonNorthern IowaWRRS-Jr.Landon BebeeMissouri StateOLSo.Wes GenantSouth Dakota StateOLSr.Alex JensenSouth DakotaOLJr.Aron JohnsonSouth Dakota StateOLSr.Mason McCormickSouth Dakota StateOLJr.Isaiah WestonNorthern IowaAPRS-Jr. Second Team DefenseEric JohnsonMissouri StateDLSr.Anthony KnightonSouthern IllinoisDLSr.Caleb SandersSouth Dakota StateDLSr.Reece WinkelmanSouth Dakota StateDLSr.Jasir CoxNorth Dakota StateLBSr.Jackson HankeyNorth Dakota StateLBSr.Bryce NotreeSouthern IllinoisLBSr.Tylar WiltzMissouri StateLBJr.Don GardnerSouth Dakota StateDBSr.Evan HolmNorth DakotaDBSr.Clayton IsbellIllinois StateDBSo.Michael LawsonWestern IllinoisDBSr.Elijah ReedSouth DakotaDBSr. Second Team Special TeamsBrady SchuttSouth DakotaPSr.Jose PizanoMissouri StatePKSo.Jayden PriceNorth Dakota StateRSJr.Bradey SorensonSouth Dakota StateDSSr.
All-Newcomer Team