The 2025 Missouri State Bears football team represented Missouri State University as a member of Conference USA (CUSA) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by Ryan Beard in his third and final season as head coach during the regular season and Nick Petrino as interim head coach or the team's bowl game, the Bears compiled an overall record of 7–6 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for fourth in CUSA. The 2025 season was Missouri State's first in Conference USA and at the FBS level after transitioning from the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Although initially declared ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules, the Bears were invited to the Xbox Bowl because there were not enough six-win teams eligible for the 42 FBS bowl games. Missouri State lost the bowl game to Arkansas State. The team played home games at Robert W. Plaster Stadium located in Springfield, Missouri.
Schedule
Game summaries at USC
Statistics MOSTUSC First downs 11 27 Plays–yards 57–224 57–597 Rushes–yards 29–65 30–233 Passing yards 159 364 Passing: –– 20–28–2 24–27–0 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 32:31 27:29 Team Category Player Statistics Missouri State Passing Jacob Clark 16/24, 147 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Shomari Lawrence 12 carries, 50 yards Receiving Tristian Gardner 2 receptions, 39 yards, TD USC Passing Jayden Maiava 15/18, 295 yards, 2 TD Rushing King Miller 4 carries, 80 yards, TD Receiving Makai Lemon 7 receptions, 90 yards
at Marshall
Statistics MOST MRSH First downs 18 12 Plays–yards 70–474 57–274 Rushes–yards 38–86 33–191 Passing yards 388 83 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–32–1 13–24–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 34:34 25:26 Team Category Player StatisticsMissouri State Passing Jacob Clark 21/31, 359 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Shomari Lawrence 17 carries, 49 yards Receiving Ramone Green Jr. 4 receptions, 123 yards, TDMarshall Passing Zion Turner 13/24, 83 yards, INT Rushing Jo'Shon Barbe 12 carries, 67 yards Receiving Toby Payne 4 receptions, 43 yards
vs. SMU
Statistics SMUMOST First downs 24 19 Plays–yards 70–448 65–328 Rushes–yards 34–167 27–53 Passing yards 281 275 Passing: comp–att–int 24–36–1 23–38–3 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 28:30 31:30 Team Category Player StatisticsSMU Passing Kevin Jennings 24/36, 281 yards, TD, INT Rushing T. J. Harden 15 carries, 96 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jalen Cooper 5 receptions, 68 yardsMissouri State Passing Jacob Clark 23/37, 275 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Shomari Lawrence 13 carries, 44 yards Receiving Dash Luke 5 receptions, 80 yards, TD
vs. UT Martin (FCS)
Statistics UTM MOST First downs 14 22 Plays–yards 57–221 61–417 Rushes–yards 25–71 29–130 Passing yards 150 287 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–32–1 22–32–0 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 29:32 30:28 Team Category Player StatisticsUT Martin Passing Jase Bauer 19/27, 112 yards, INT Rushing Tommy Ansley 6 carries, 18 yards, TD Receiving Scottie Alexander 3 receptions, 27 yardsMissouri State Passing Jacob Clark 20/28, 271 yards, 3 TD Rushing Shomari Lawrence 8 carries, 65 yards, TD Receiving Dash Luke 9 receptions, 110 yards, TD
vs. Western Kentucky
Statistics WKUMOST First downs 25 21 Plays–yards 68–476 66–414 Rushes–yards 29–159 34–214 Passing yards 317 200 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 26–39–0 15–32–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 31:28 28:32 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Maverick McIvor 26/39, 317 yards, TD Rushing La'Vell Wright 10 carries, 91 yards, 2 TD Receiving Matthew Henry 5 receptions, 73 yardsMissouri State Passing Jacob Clark 8/15, 143 yards Rushing Shomari Lawrence 16 carries, 78 yards, TD Receiving Dash Luke 3 receptions, 71 yds
at Middle Tennessee
Statistics MOST MTSU First downs 19 22 Plays–yards 66–348 68–353 Rushes–yards 35–70 25–86 Passing yards 278 267 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–31–0 30–43–0 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 30:42 29:18 Team Category Player StatisticsMissouri State Passing Deuce Bailey 16/31, 278 yards, TD Rushing Shomari Lawrence 11 carries, 63 yards Receiving Ramone Green Jr. 1 reception, 76 yardsMiddle Tennessee Passing Nicholas Vattiato 30/42, 267 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jekail Middlebrook 17 carries, 93 yards Receiving Cam'ron Lacy 6 receptions, 114 yards, 2 TD
at New Mexico State
Statistics MOST NMSU First downs 22 20 Plays–yards 76–409 59–289 Rushes–yards 32–126 25–82 Passing yards 283 207 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 28–44–2 22–34–4 Turnovers 3 4 Time of possession 32:35 27:25 Team Category Player StatisticsMissouri State Passing Jacob Clark 28/44, 283 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Shomari Lawrence 21 carries, 97 yards Receiving Ronnel Johnson 6 receptions, 99 yards, TDNew Mexico State Passing Logan Fife 22/34, 207 yards, TD, 4 INT Rushing Kadarius Calloway 10 carries, 50 yards Receiving Donovan Faupel 10 receptions, 84 yards, TD
vs. FIU
Statistics FIU MOST First downs 23 18 Plays–yards 71–346 64–369 Rushes–yards 35–115 37–206 Passing yards 231 163 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–36–0 16–27–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 32:01 27:59 Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Keyone Jenkins 15/24, 147 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kejon Owens 18 carries, 63 yards Receiving C'quan Jnopierre 3 receptions, 57 yardsMissouri State Passing Jacob Clark 16/27, 163 yards, 2 TD Rushing Shomari Lawrence 14 carries, 104 yards, 2 TD Receiving Makai Cope 2 receptions, 52 yards
at Liberty
Statistics MOST LIB First downs 20 21 Plays–yards 57–332 78–398 Rushes–yards 24–46 43–202 Passing yards 286 196 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–33–0 18–35–1 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 26:35 33:25 Team Category Player StatisticsMissouri State Passing Jacob Clark 20/33 286 yards, 2 TD Rushing Shomari Lawrence 13 carries, 48 yards Receiving Tristian Gardner 5 receptions, 80 yards, TDLiberty Passing Ethan Vasko 18/35, 196 yards, INT Rushing Evan Dickens 28 carries, 127 yards, TD Receiving Reese Smith 4 receptions, 62 yards
vs. UTEP
Statistics UTEP MOST First downs 17 27 Plays–yards 58–240 78–436 Rushes–yards 29–115 39–106 Passing yards 125 330 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–29–0 30–39–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 22:36 37:24 Team Category Player StatisticsUTEP Passing Skyler Locklear 14/29, 125 yards Rushing Skyler Locklear 16 carries, 56 yards, 2 TD Receiving Eric Willis III 5 receptions, 45 yardsMissouri State Passing Jacob Clark 30/39, 330 yards, 4 TD Rushing Shomari Lawrence 25 carries, 109 yards, TD Receiving Jmariyae Robinson 7 receptions, 88 yards
at Kennesaw State
Statistics MOST KENN First downs 25 26 Plays–yards 62–535 79–500 Rushes–yards 29–191 45–113 Passing yards 344 387 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–33–2 24–34–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 29:21 30:39 Team Category Player StatisticsMissouri State Passing Jacob Clark 23/32, 344 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Shomari Lawrence 20 carries, 173 yards, TD Receiving Dash Luke 5 receptions, 73 yardsKennesaw State Passing Amari Odom 24/34, 387 yards, 5 TD Rushing Amari Odom 16 carries, 32 yards, TD Receiving Gabriel Benyard 7 receptions, 127 yards, 2 TD
vs. Louisiana Tech
Statistics LT MOST First downs 20 21 Plays–yards 64–475 58–416 Rushes–yards 51–388 27–122 Passing yards 87 294 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–13–0 17–31–1 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 33:50 26:10 Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Tech Passing Trey Kukuk 8/13, 97 yards Rushing Trey Kukuk 16 carries, 172 yards, 3 TD Receiving Clay Thevenin 4 receptions, 60 yardsMissouri State Passing Jacob Clark 17/31, 294 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Shomari Lawrence 13 carries, 84 yards, TD Receiving Jeron Askren 1 reception, 75 yards, TD
vs. Arkansas State (Xbox Bowl)
Statistics MSUARST First downs 23 16 Plays–yards 72–396 56–359 Rushes–yards 37–47 25–71 Passing yards 349 288 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–35–0 17–31–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 39:07 20:53 Team Category Player StatisticsMissouri State Passing Jacob Clark 25/35, 349 yards, 4 TD Rushing Shomari Lawrence 16 carries, 57 yards Receiving Dash Luke 7 receptions, 169 yards, 2 TDArkansas State Passing Jaylen Raynor 17/31, 288 yards, 3 TDRushing Kenyon Clay 11 carries, 53 yards Receiving Corey Rucker 6 receptions, 166 yards, TD
Personnel Roster
Transfers Outgoing Lemondre JoeDBColorado StateRyan BoydWRLindenwoodJayden BecksRBNorth TexasTahj ChambersLBOle MissMichael TeasonLBTCUAvery PowellDBTempleKaleno LevineCBTroyDallas Winner-JohnsonLBTulaneLance MasonTEWisconsinBrock BagozziQBNorthern StateJaquez SmithWRSouthwest Baptist
Incoming Christian FordDBArkansasJames RexroatTEArkansas StateAnthony FrederiquePBethune–CookmanJordan DunbarDBBowling GreenJalen BrooksLBCampbellMaguire NealLBCharlotteEbubedike NnabugwuOLDelaware StateDrew ViottoQBEastern MichiganShomari LawrenceRBFIUAntonio SmithDBFlorida AtlanticMyles EwellOLKansasNavonn BarrettDBLackawannaMakhete GueyeOLLouisvilleGrayson CutchlowLBMissouriIsaiah McMorrisWRNebraskaSean WeigandLSNorthern IllinoisDillon HippTEOle MissDJ WesolakDEOregon StateRonnel JohnsonWRStetsonMatthew GreeneOLUNLVJosh JoynerRBWashington State
References