Winning Against No. 1 -- Illinois State hosts top-ranked NDSU.  Thirteen of the previous 22 MVFC wins against a No. 1 team have been league games.  MVFC schools are 9-15 all-time against non-conference No. 1-ranked teams.  There are two league games this weekend that feature two MVFC ranked teams playing one another (ISU-NDSU; SDSU-YSU)

MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL
MVFC Stats  – Click Here   |  MVFC Composite Schedule -- Click Here  |  NCAA Statistics –  Click Here    |  NCAA FCS Records -- Click Here
MVFC Records  -- Click Here    |    MVFC Draft Database -- Click Here  |  MVFC in the Playoffs -- Click Here  |  MVFC All-Time Honors -- Click Here
Top-25 Polls -- Click Here  |  Stats Perform --  Click Here   |   HERO Sports -- Click Here   |   FCS Nation -- Click Here
 
FCS Top 25 Rankings:    Click Here
 

Saturday, Oct. 4
*Murray St. at #21/RV South Dakota [Midco/ESPN+]	2 PM CT
*#15/14 North Dakota at UNI [ESPN+]	4 PM CT
*#2/2 SDSU at #24/18 Youngstown St. [ESPN+]	5 PM CT
*Indiana State at #10/11 Southern Illinois [ESPN+]	6 PM CT
*#1/1 NDSU at #6/6 Illinois State [ABC ND/ESPN+]	6 PM CT

 
FCS rankings listed are Stats Perform/AFCA Coaches polls;
 

• 7 MVFC Teams Ranked -- Seven MVFC teams are ranked in the Stats Perform poll, while six MVFC schools are ranked in the coaches poll.  NDSU (1) and SDSU (2) hold the top two positions in both rankings. 
• MVFC On Top of the FCS -- Missouri Valley Football Conference teams have combined for a 22-6 record against FCS teams from other conferences - that’s the best among FCS leagues
• Ranked vs. Ranked -- This week, there are two MVFC games that feature ranked teams playing one another.  In Conference history, there have been 245 games in which two league teams ranked in the top 25 played one another. Of those previous 245 games, 71 times the meeting involved teams that were both ranked in the Top 10 at the same time. Twenty meetings have occurred in the playoffs. The home team is 138-105 in those games; the higher-ranked team is 155-89. Those figures include two neutral-site games, and one game in which the teams were both No. 25.
• And Then There Were 10 -- Only 10 FCS programs enter this weekend with unblemished records -- two of those 10 are from the MVFC (NDSU, SDSU)
• Home Sweet Home -- Three Missouri Valley Football Conference programs are among the national FCS leaders for consecutive home victories (active streaks).  South Dakota State has the nation’s longest streak with 32-straight wins in Brookings, S.D.
• MVFC Among Defense Leaders -- Five MVFC teams allow fewer than 100 yards per game on the ground.  North Dakota State leads the league and ranks sixth nationally (81.5 ypg), while the Bison lead the FCS by allowing just 111.0 passing yards per game this season.
• What’s the Rush? -- North Dakota State (233.8 yards per game) and Youngstown State (214.3 yards per game) both rank among the Top 10 in the FCS in rushing yards per game.  Additionally, two MVFC individuals rank among the national Top 10 in rushing yards per game.  QB Beau Brungard of Youngstown State is third nationally (131.5 ypg), but he’s the top ground gainer for a QB this season.
• On the Clock -- South Dakota State leads the FCS in average time of possession (35:52).  North Dakota State (33:54) ranks fifth.
• Mighty Defense -- North Dakota State leads five MVFC teams who rank in the Top 20 in the FCS in fewest points allowed.  NDSU ranks second nationally by surrendering just 7.5 points per game this season.  NDSU (2nd) and SDSU (5th) are among the national leaders for fewest yards allowed per game.
• Booting It -- Three MVFC teams rank among the national leaders in net punting.  South Dakota State is the FCS best (43.89).
• Efficiency -- Last season QB Cam Miller of NDSU led the league with a 180.1 passer rating -- the second-best figure in MVFC history (180.6, Trey Lance, 2019).  Cole Payton of NDSU leads the MVFC and ranks second nationally with his 221.4 figure.
• Climbing The Charts -- WR Daniel Sobkowicz of Illinois State now has 27 TD receptions in his career - that tops FCS active leaders and is tied for 14th all-time in MVFC history.  With 2,747 career receiving yards -- he’s 20th on the all-time MVFC list for career receiving yards. He’s the active leader in the FCS for receiving yards.
• MVFC in the NFL -- A total of 43 alums from current Missouri Valley Football schools made NFL opening-day rosters in 2025.
• 2024:  Another Title -- Last season, the MVFC extended its FCS-record to 14-straight title-game appearances as NDSU defeated No. 1 seed Montana State in Frisco for the crown.  Notably, the 2024 season marked the 20th title appearance for a league team. The league is 14-6 in title games, although Youngstown State (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994) and Southern Illinois (1983) both played in the championship prior to joining the league.  All 20 of the league’s title-game appearances have occurred since 1997.
• MVFC Playoff Dominance -- The league has established itself as a leader among FCS conferences.  Counting last year, an MVFC member has reached the FCS semifinals 23 times in the past 14 seasons (and 37 times overall).  The MVFC has had two semifinal teams eight times since 2014 (and three in 2024).  The MVFC is 107-48 (.690) since 2010 in the playoffs -- which includes 18 intra-conference games (meaning the league is 89-30 against teams from other leagues for a phenomenal .748 winning percentage).