2026 Missouri Valley Football Conference season

2026 Missouri Valley Football Conference season
LeagueNCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision
SportFootball
DurationAugust 27, 2026
through January 4, 2027
Teams9
TV partner(s)ESPN College Football, ESPN+, Local TV partners
2027 NFL draft
Regular season
2026 Missouri Valley Football Conference standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 10 North Dakota 0–0  1–0 
No. 9 Youngstown State 0–0  1–0 
No. 4 Illinois State 0–0  0–0 
Indiana State 0–0  0–0 
Northern Iowa 0–0  0–0 
No. 12 South Dakota 0–0  0–0 
No. 3 South Dakota State 0–0  0–0 
Murray State 0–0  0–1 
No. 16 Southern Illinois 0–0  0–1 
As of August 29, 2026
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2026 Missouri Valley Football Conference season will be the 41st season of college football play for the Missouri Valley Football Conference and part of the 2026 NCAA Division I FCS football season. This will be the conference's first season at 9 teams since the 2011 season.

Conference changes

On February 9, 2026, North Dakota State accepted an invitation to join the Mountain West Conference and reclassify to the Football Bowl Subdivision effective July 1, 2026.[1][2]

Coaching changes

South Dakota

On February 6, 2026, Travis Johansen announced he would be leaving the Coyotes for the defensive coordinator job at Rutgers. Later that same day, South Dakota named Matt Vitzthum the 32nd head coach of the program.[3]

Preseason

League poll

The annual preseason poll; voted on by conference coaches, athletic directors, and media members.[4]

Predicted
finish		 Team Points
(First place votes)
1South Dakota State312 (28)
2Illinois State256 (3)
3Youngstown State235
4North Dakota211 (2)
5South Dakota196 (2)
6Southern Illinois186 (1)
7Northern Iowa99
8Indiana State80
9Murray State45

Individual awards

The MVFC preseason watch list; which is a list voted on by the league's coaches, athletic directors, and media members.[4]

Rankings

 PreWk
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 4
Coaches 4
Indiana State STATS
Coaches
Murray State STATS
Coaches
North Dakota STATS 10
Coaches 10
Northern Iowa STATS
Coaches
South Dakota STATS 12
Coaches 12
South Dakota State STATS 3
Coaches 3
Southern Illinois STATS 16
Coaches 16
Youngstown State STATS 9
Coaches 9

Schedule

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

Regular season schedule

Week 1

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
August 27 5:00 PM Mercyhurst No. 9 Youngstown State Stambaugh Stadium • Youngstown, OH ESPN+ W 43–10  8,214[5]
August 27 5:00 PM No. 16 Southern Illinois West Florida Pen Air Field • Pensacola, FL ESPN+ L 31–34  6,124[6]
August 27 6:00 PM Eastern Illinois Murray State Roy Stewart Stadium • Murray, KY ESPN+ L 14–28  5,671[7]
August 27 7:00 PM LIU No. 10 North Dakota Alerus Center • Grand Forks, ND ESPN+ W 42–21  10,344[8]
August 29 1:00 PM Central Connecticut No. 12 South Dakota DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD ESPN+    
August 29 6:00 PM No. RV Southeast Missouri State Indiana State Memorial Stadium • Terre Haute, IN ESPN+    
August 29 6:00 PM Stetson No. 3 South Dakota State Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium • Brookings, SD ESPN+    
August 29 6:00 PM St. Francis (IL) No. 4 Illinois State Hancock Stadium • Normal, IL ESPN+    
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time.

Week 2

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 3 6:00 PM Southern Illinois Samford Pete Hanna Stadium • Homewood, AL ESPN+    
September 4 7:00 PM Indiana State Purdue Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN BTN    
September 5 12:00 PM Youngstown State Kentucky Kroger Field • Lexington, KY SECN+/ESPN+    
September 5 3:00 PM St. Thomas North Dakota Alerus Center • Grand Forks, ND ESPN+    
September 5 6:00 PM Murray State Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TN ESPN+    
September 5 6:00 PM Illinois State Western Illinois Hanson Field • Macomb, IL ESPN+    
September 5 6:00 PM Northern Iowa Eastern Washington Roos Field • Cheney, WA ESPN+    
September 5 7:00 PM South Dakota State Northwestern Martin Stadium • Chicago, IL BTN    
September 5 7:00 PM South Dakota Northern Colorado Nottingham Field • Greeley, CO ESPN+    
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time.

Week 3

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 12 1:00 PM Duquesne Youngstown State Stambaugh Stadium • Youngstown, OH ESPN+    
September 12 1:00 PM Drake Northern Iowa UNI-Dome • Cedar Falls, IA ESPN+    
September 12 1:00 PM Eastern Washington South Dakota DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD ESPN+    
September 12 6:00 PM New Haven South Dakota State Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium • Brookings, SD ESPN+    
September 12 6:00 PM Illinois State Northern Illinois Huskie Stadium • DeKalb, IL MW+    
September 12 6:00 PM Southeast Missouri State Southern Illinois Saluki Stadium • Carbondale, IL ESPN+    
September 12 6:00 PM Valparaiso Murray State Roy Stewart Stadium • Murray, KY ESPN+    
September 12 7:00 PM Indiana State Eastern Illinois O'Brien Field • Charleston, IL ESPN+    
September 12 9:00 PM North Dakota Portland State Hillsboro Stadium • Portland, OR ESPN+    
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time.

Week 4

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 19 1:00 PM Southern Illinois Illinois Gies Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL Peacock    
September 19 1:00 PM Valparaiso Indiana State Memorial Stadium • Terre Haute, IN TBD    
September 19 2:00 PM Eastern Illinois Illinois State Hancock Stadium • Normal, IL ESPN+    
September 19 3:00 PM Northern Iowa Iowa Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA FS1    
September 19 6:00 PM Youngstown State South Dakota State Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium • Brookings, SD ESPN+    
September 19 6:00 PM Murray State Oklahoma State Boone Pickens Stadium • Stillwater, OK ESPN+    
September 19 6:15 PM North Dakota Nebraska Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE BTN    
September 19 9:00 PM South Dakota Boise State Albertsons Stadium • Boise, ID CBSSN    
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time.

Week 5

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 26 1:00 PM South Dakota Youngstown State Stambaugh Stadium • Youngstown, OH ESPN+    
September 26 1:00 PM North Dakota Indiana State Memorial Stadium • Terre Haute, IN ESPN+    
September 26 4:00 PM Illinois State Northern Iowa UNI-Dome • Cedar Falls, IA ESPN+    
September 26 6:00 PM Eastern Illinois South Dakota State Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium • Brookings, SD ESPN+    
September 26 6:00 PM Southern Illinois Murray State Roy Stewart Stadium • Murray, KY ESPN+    
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time.

Week 6

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 3 1:00 PM Murray State North Dakota Alerus Center • Grand Forks, ND ESPN+    
October 3 2:00 PM Indiana State South Dakota DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD ESPN+    
October 3 4:00 PM Youngstown State Southern Illinois Saluki Stadium • Carbondale, IL ESPN+    
October 3 6:00 PM South Dakota State Illinois State Hancock Stadium • Normal, IL ESPN+    
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time.
DateBye Week
October 3Northern Iowa

Week 7

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 10 1:00 PM Youngstown State Indiana State Memorial Stadium • Terre Haute, IN ESPN+    
October 10 1:00 PM Southern Illinois South Dakota DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD ESPN+    
October 10 4:00 PM North Dakota Northern Iowa UNI-Dome • Cedar Falls, IA ESPN+    
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time.
DateBye Week
October 10South Dakota StateMurray StateIllinois State

Week 8

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 17 1:00 PM South Dakota State North Dakota Alerus Center • Grand Forks, ND ESPN+    
October 17 4:00 PM South Dakota Murray State Roy Stewart Stadium • Murray, KY ESPN+    
October 17 5:00 PM Northern Iowa Youngstown State Stambaugh Stadium • Youngstown, OH ESPN+    
October 17 TBA Illinois State Southern Illinois Saluki Stadium • Carbondale, IL ESPN Network    
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time.
DateBye Week
October 17Indiana State

Week 9

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 24 1:00 PM Northern Iowa Southern Illinois Saluki Stadium • Carbondale, IL ESPN+    
October 24 1:00 PM North Dakota South Dakota DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD ESPN+    
October 24 2:00 PM Murray State South Dakota State Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium • Brookings, SD ESPN+    
October 24 2:00 PM Indiana State Illinois State Hancock Stadium • Normal, IL ESPN+    
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time.
DateBye Week
October 24Youngstown State

Week 10

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 31 11:00 AM North Dakota Youngstown State Stambaugh Stadium • Youngstown, OH ESPN+    
October 31 1:00 PM Murray State Illinois State Hancock Stadium • Normal, IL ESPN+    
October 31 1:00 PM Indiana State Northern Iowa UNI-Dome • Cedar Falls, IA ESPN+    
October 31 TBD South Dakota South Dakota State Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium • Brookings, SD ESPN Network    
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time.
DateBye Week
October 31Southern Illinois

Week 11

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
November 7 1:00 PM Illinois State North Dakota Alerus Center • Grand Forks, ND ESPN+    
November 7 1:00 PM South Dakota State Northern Iowa UNI-Dome • Cedar Falls, IA ESPN+    
November 7 1:00 PM Youngstown State Murray State Roy Stewart Stadium • Murray, KY ESPN+    
November 7 6:00 PM Southern Illinois Indiana State Memorial Stadium • Terre Haute, IN ESPN+    
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time.
DateBye Week
November 7South Dakota

Week 12

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
November 14 11:00 AM Illinois State Youngstown State Stambaugh Stadium • Youngstown, OH ESPN+    
November 14 1:00 PM Murray State Indiana State Memorial Stadium • Terre Haute, IN ESPN+    
November 14 1:00 PM Northern Iowa South Dakota DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD ESPN+    
November 14 1:00 PM South Dakota State Southern Illinois Saluki Stadium • Carbondale, IL ESPN+    
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time.
DateBye Week
November 14North Dakota

Week 13

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
November 21 12:00 PM South Dakota Illinois State Hancock Stadium • Normal, IL ESPN+    
November 21 1:00 PM Southern Illinois North Dakota Alerus Center • Grand Forks, ND ESPN+    
November 21 1:00 PM Northern Iowa Murray State Roy Stewart Stadium • Murray, KY ESPN+    
November 21 2:00 PM Indiana State South Dakota State Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium • Brookings, SD ESPN+    
#Rankings from Stats Perform. All times are in Central Time.
DateBye Week
November 21Youngstown State

Conference schedule source:[9][10]

MVFC records vs other conferences

2026–27 records against non-conference foes:

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 Team

Home attendance

Team Stadium Capacity Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Game 6 Game 7 Game 8 Total Average % of capacity
Illinois State Hancock Stadium 13,391 %
Indiana State Memorial Stadium 12,764 %
Murray State Roy Stewart Stadium 16,800 5,671 5,671 33.8%
North Dakota Alerus Center 12,283 10,344 10,344 84.2%
Northern Iowa UNI-Dome 16,324 %
South Dakota DakotaDome 9,100 %
South Dakota State Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium 19,340 %
Southern Illinois Saluki Stadium 15,000 %
Youngstown State Stambaugh Stadium 20,630 8,214 8,214 39.8%

Bold - Exceed or met capacity
†Season High
‡FCS Playoff Game

2027 NFL Draft

The following list includes all MVFC players who were drafted in the 2027 NFL draft.

Player Position School Draft
round		 Round
pick		 Overall
pick		 Team

Head coaches

Through August 27, 2026
All stats include 2026 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 18 123–79 (.609) 123–79 (.609) 76–57 (.571) 2 7 12–7 (.632) 0
Indiana State Curt Mallory 9[a] 27–64 (.297) 27–64 (.297) 17–47 (.266) 0 0 0–0 (–) 0
Murray State Jody Wright 3 2–23 (.080) 2–23 (.080) 1–15 (.063) 0 0 0–0 (–) 0
North Dakota Eric Schmidt 2 9–6 (.600) 9–6 (.600) 5–3 (.625) 0 1 1–1 (.500) 0
Northern Iowa Todd Stepsis 2 3–9 (.250) 3–9 (.250) 1–7 (.125) 0 0 0–0 (–) 0
South Dakota Matt Vitzthum 1 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–) 0 0 0–0 (–) 0
South Dakota State Dan Jackson 2 9–5 (.643) 9–5 (.643) 4–4 (.500) 0 1 1–1 (.500) 0
Southern Illinois Nick Hill 11 55–62 (.470) 55–62 (.470) 32–46 (.410) 0 3 3–3 (.500) 0
Youngstown State Doug Phillips 7 30–36 (.455) 30–36 (.455) 20–26 (.435) 0 2 1–2 (.333) 0
  1. ↑ Indiana State did not play football in the 2020–21 academic year

References

  1. ↑ "NDSU Football Joining Mountain West Conference". gobison.com. North Dakota State Bison. February 9, 2026. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Mountain West Adds North Dakota State as a football-only member". themw.com. Mountain West Conference. February 9, 2026. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Johansen Departs; Matt Vitzthum Named Head Football Coach". goyotes.com. South Dakota Coyotes. February 6, 2026. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Missouri Valley Football Conference Announces Preseason Picks". valley-football.org. Missouri Valley Football Conference. July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Mercyhurst Lakers vs. Youngstown State Penguins". ESPN. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Southern Illinois Salukis vs. West Florida Argonauts". ESPN. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Eastern Illinois Panthers vs. Murray State Racers". ESPN. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  8. ↑ "LIU Sharks vs. North Dakota Fighting Hawks". ESPN. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  9. ↑ "MVFC Announces 2026 Conference Schedule". valley-football.org. Missouri Valley Football Conference. February 20, 2026. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Missouri Valley Football Announces Revision to 2026 Conference Schedule". valley-football.org. Missouri Valley Football Conference. March 26, 2026. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
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