FCS: 2023 Missouri Valley Football Conference Preview
The Missouri Valley Football Conference had the last two FCS teams standings in 2022 when South Dakota State defeated North Dakota State in the national title game. The MVFC now looks to show off more depth this fall and prove it deserves more than three teams in the playoffs.
What’s in store for 2023? Here’s a look ahead at the top returning players and our predicted order of finish.
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From last season’s All-MVFC Team
South Dakota State — 12: RB Isaiah Davis (1st Team), OL Garret Greenfield (1st Team), OL Mason McCormick (1st Team), DB Dyshawn Gales (1st Team), LB Adam Bock (1st Team), QB Mark Gronowski (2nd Team), RS Jadon Janke (2nd Team), TE Zach Heins (2nd Team), WR Jaxon Janke (2nd Team), WR Jadon Janke (HM), DB Dalys Beanum (HM), LB Jason Freeman (HM), P Hunter Dustman (HM)
South Dakota — 6: LB Stephen Hillis (1st Team), LB Brock Mogensen (2nd Team), DB Myles Harden (2nd Team), AP Carter Bell (HM), OL Isaac Erbes (HM), RB Travis Theis (HM)
North Dakota — 5: WR Bo Belquist (2nd Team), DB C.J. Siegel (2nd Team), DL Ben McNaboe (2nd Team), OL Donny Ventrelli (2nd Team), QB Tommy Schuster (HM)
Northern Iowa — 5: QB Theo Day (1st Team), K Matthew Cook (1st Team), DB Woo Governor (2nd Team), DL Khristian Boyd (2nd Team), WR Sam Schnee (HM)
Indiana State — 4: RB Justin Dinka (2nd Team), DB Rylan Cole (2nd Team), DL Lucas Hunter (HM), OL Jose Vazquez IV (HM)
North Dakota State — 4: LS Hunter Brozio (2nd Team), DL Will Mostaert (HM), RB TaMerik Williams (HM), RS Jayden Price (HM)
Southern Illinois — 4: DB PJ Jules (2nd Team), LB Branson Combs (2nd Team), QB Nic Baker (HM), WR D’Ante’ Cox (HM)
Youngstown State — 4: WR Bryce Oliver (1st Team), DL Dylan Wudke (2nd Team), DL Chris Fitzgerald (HM), OL Jaison Williams (HM)
Missouri State — 2: P Grant Burkett (1st Team), LS Caden Bolz (HM)
Murray State — 2: LB Cade Shupperd (2nd Team All-OVC), WR Taylor Shields (2nd Team All-OVC)
Western Illinois — 1: LB Juan DelaCruz (HM)
Illinois State — 0
FBS-to-FCS Transfers & FCS-to-FCS Transfers
Missouri State — 16 (12 FBS, 4 FCS)
Northern Iowa — 15 (13 FBS, 2 FCS)
Murray State — 12 (10 FBS, 2 FCS)
Southern Illinois — 11 (6 FBS, 5 FCS)
South Dakota — 8 (6 FBS, 2 FCS)
Illinois State — 8 (5 FBS, 3 FCS)
Western Illinois — 8 (4 FBS, 4 FCS)
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYER:Theo Day, Northern Iowa QB — Day started his college career at Michigan State and was ranked 247Sports’ No. 7 pro-style quarterback recruit in the country. He transferred to UNI in 2021, throwing for 2,316 yards and 16 touchdowns. Last year, he completed 210/323 passes (65%) for 3,121 yards, 26 scores, and six interceptions.
TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER:Adam Bock, South Dakota State LB — Bock is a back-to-back All-MVFC First Team selection. Last season in 11 of SDSU’s 15 games, he totaled 76 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks. In 2021, Bock racked up 125 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, eight passes defended, and two forced fumbles.
TOP NFL PROSPECT:Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State RB — The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranks Davis as the No. 2 senior RB prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder has had an elite three seasons so far, rushing for 818 yards and 10 TDs on only 85 carries in the 2021 spring. Davis ran for 701 yards and seven scores on 95 attempts in the 2021 fall. Last season, he rushed 249 times for 1,451 yards and 15 TDs.
1. South Dakota State
2. North Dakota State
3. North Dakota
4. Youngstown State
5. Northern Iowa
6. Southern Illinois
7. South Dakota
8. Missouri State
9. Illinois State
10. Indiana State
11. Western Illinois
12. Murray State
SDSU has the most talented roster in the FCS, bringing back a majority of its starting lineup from last year’s squad that dominated its way to semifinal and national championship wins. The Jackrabbits are a clear favorite to win the MVFC and the FCS title again. The experience is there. The stability is still there under first-year head coach Jimmy Rogers and coordinators who played for the Jacks in the 2010s. And SDSU gets its toughest games at home (Montana State, UND, UNI, and NDSU).
The Bison have questions, some big and some small, at really every offensive and defensive position group. But they will get a deserved benefit of the doubt until a team not named SDSU can beat them. NDSU should still be better than 99% of the FCS in the trenches.
Teams 3-6 will be strong and playoff-worthy, showing off the depth of the Valley. UND looks to have its best team in years to make another postseason appearance. YSU is on the rise, improving from 3-7 in 2021 to 7-4 last year, and brings back nine offensive starters and eight defensive returners.
UNI will have an elite offense led by QB Theo Day. If the defense can get back to its usual form this season with the return of great defensive coordinator Jeremiah Johnson, who left for one season last year to be Kent State’s DC, then the Panthers can find themselves back in the playoffs. SIU always has talent, but it was up and down last year. Veteran QB Nic Baker gives the Salukis a chance to rise up in the standings.
That’s a strong top six for the MVFC, which looks to be a 4-to-5-bid conference in 2023.
USD has made recent playoff brackets, Missouri State made back-to-back postseasons in the 2021 spring and fall seasons, and Illinois State will typically play tough. But as we sit now, there seems to be a divide between the top six and the bottom six, with another divide between Team 1 and everyone else.
