The Missouri Valley Football Conference capped its 40th season with its 14th NCAA Division I FCS title on Jan. 6, 2025.  To celebrate the league's 40 years, fans voted for 40 days to recognize the league's all-time best players.  More than 2,000 ballots were cast.

Founded in 1985, the Missouri Valley Football Conference is the nation’s premier NCAA FCS conference.  

Last season, the MVFC extended its FCS-record to 14-straight title game appearances as North Dakota State defeated No. 1 seed Montana State in Frisco, Texas, 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.

There’s not much that has eluded the Missouri Valley Football Conference in its first 40 seasons of competition.  The league’s first four decades have included national championships, national players of the year, national coaches of the year, No. 1 national rankings, and countless All-Americans.  League member North Dakota State earned five-straight national championships from 2011-15 and three-straight from 2017-19.  The league also has NCAA titles in 1997 (YSU), 2002 (WKU), 2021 and 2024 (NDSU), and 2022 and 2023 (SDSU).

Strong coaching and great players have helped make the league a national force, but the stability and leadership of Commissioner Patty Viverito -- the only commissioner the league has ever known -- has helped make the Missouri Valley Football Conference a standard bearer on the FCS scene.  

The Gateway Conference football division was born on August 21, 1985, when the Gateway Conference President’s Council voted to add an FCS football division for six of its members to the previously all-women’s athletics organization.  Founding members of the football division were Eastern Illinois, Illinois State, UNI, Southern Illinois, Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State), and Western Illinois.  The creation of the football division marked the first time in college annals that football was added to a women’s conference.  In June of 1986, Indiana State became the seventh member of the conference.

In the 40 years of the football division, league membership has been relatively stable.  Eastern Illinois left the league to join the Ohio Valley Conference in 1996, while Youngstown State joined the conference in 1997 to return league membership to its original seven-member status.  League membership reached what was then an all-time high of eight members for the start of the 2001 season with the addition of Western Kentucky.  The Hilltoppers left the league after six years to join the Sun Belt (FBS).  North Dakota State and South Dakota State joined for the start of the 2008 season, giving the league nine members for the first time.  And the league expanded to 10 members in 2012 after the University of South Dakota was admitted.  The University of North Dakota joined the MVFC for the start of the 2020 campaign to expand league membership to 11 institutions.  Murray State University joined the league for the start of the 2023 football campaign, bringing league membership to an all-time high of 12 schools. Western Illinois played its final MVFC season in 2023 after departing for the Ohio Valley Conference for the 2024 campaign. And Missouri State finished its final MVFC season in 2024 as it joins Conference USA (FBS) for all sports of the 2025-26 season.

40TH ANNIVERSARY TEAM SELECTIONS (AS VOTED BY FANS)

QUARTERBACKS
Taryn Christion, South Dakota State, 2015-18 (Sioux Falls, S.D. / Roosevelt High)
Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State, 2020-24 (Naperville, Ill. / Neuqua Valley High)
Brock Jensen, North Dakota State, 2010-13 (Waupaca, Wis. / Waupaca High)
Trey Lance, North Dakota State, 2019-20 (Marshall, Minn. / Marshall High)
Russ Michna, Western Illinois, 2000-03 (Elk Grove Village, Ill. / James B. Conant High)
Cam Miller, North Dakota State, 2020-24 (Solon, Iowa / Solon High)
Tre Roberson, Illinois State, 2013-15 (Indianapolis, Ind. / Lawrence Central High)
Joel Sambursky, Southern Illinois, 2002-05 (Liberty, Mo. / Liberty High)
Eric Sanders, UNI, 2004-07 (Oelwein, Iowa / Oelwein High)
Easton Stick, North Dakota State, 2015-18 (Omaha, Neb. / Creighton Prep High)
Kurt Warner, UNI, 1990-93 (Cedar Rapids, Iowa / Regis High)
Carson Wentz, North Dakota State, 2012-15 (Bismarck, N.D. / Bismarck Century High)

RUNNING BACKS
Shakir Bell, Indiana State, 2010-13 (Indianapolis, Ind. / Warren Central High)
Jamaine Cook, Youngstown State, 2009-12 (Cleveland, Ohio / Midpark High)
Marshaun Coprich, Illinois State, 2012-15 (San Bernidino, Calif. / Oak Hills High)
John Crockett, North Dakota State, 2012-14 (Minneapolis, Minn. / Totino-Grace High)
Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State, 2020-23 (Joplin, Mo. / Joplin High)
Herb Donaldson, Western Illinois, 2005-08 (St. Louis, Mo. / CBC High)
Brandon Jacobs, Southern Illinois, 2004 (Houma, La. / Assumption High)
David Johnson, UNI, 2010-14 (Clinton, Iowa / Clinton High)
Tom Koutsos, Southern Illinois, 1999-03 (Oswego, Ill. / Marmion Military)
Hunter Luepke, North Dakota State, 2018-22 (Spencer, Wis. / Spencer High)
Jaleel McLaughlin, Youngstown State, 2020-22 (Marshville, N.C. / Forest Hills High)
James Robinson, Illinois State, 2016-19 (Rockford, Ill. / Lutheran High)
Pierre Strong Jr., South Dakota State, 2018-21 (Little Rock, Ark. / McClellan High)
Zach Zenner, South Dakota State, 2011-14 (Eagan, Minn. / Eagan High)

WIDE RECEIVERS
Don Beebe, Western Illinois, 1986-88 (Aurora, Ill. / Maple Park (Ill.) Kaneland)
Bo Belquist, North Dakota, 2020-24 (New Rockford, N.D. / New Rockford-Sheyenne High)
Cornell Craig, Southern Illinois, 1996-99 (Louisville, Ky. / Central High)
Mike Furrey, UNI, 1997-98 (Hilliard, Ohio / Hilliard High)
Jadon Janke, South Dakota State, 2018-23 (Madison, S.D. / Madison High)
Jaxon Janke, South Dakota State, 2018-23 (Madison, S.D. / Madison High)
Laurént Robinson, Illinois State, 2003-06 (Ft. Lewis, Wash. / Rockledge High)
Kenny Shedd, UNI, 1989-92 (Davenport, Iowa / West High)
Darrius Shepherd, North Dakota State, 2015-18 (Blue Springs, Mo. / Blue Springs High)
Dedric Ward, UNI, 1993-96 (Cedar Rapids, Iowa / Washington High)
Christian Watson, North Dakota State, 2017-21 (Tampa, Fla. / Plant High)
Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State, 2014-17 (Maple Grove, Minn. / Maple Grove High)

TIGHT ENDS 
Josh Babicz, North Dakota State, 2017-21 (Barrington, Ill. / Barrington High)
Ben Ellefson, North Dakota State, 2015-19 (Hawley, Minn. / Hawley High)
J.J. Galbreath, South Dakota, 2021-24 (Arvada, Colo. / Ralston Valley High)
Noah Gindorff, North Dakota State, 2018-2022 (Crosby, Minn. / Crosby-Ironton High)
Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State, 2014-17 (Britton, S.D. / Britton-Hecla High)
Ryan Hannam, UNI, 1998-01 (St. Ansgar, Iowa / St. Ansgar High)
Clay Harbor, Missouri State, 2006-09 (Libertyville, Mo. / Dwight (Ill.) High)
Damon Jones, Southern Illinois, 1993-96 (Evanston, Ill. / Evanston High)
Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State, 2019-22 (Timber Lake, S.D. / Timber Lake High)
James O’Shaugnessy, Illinois State, 2010-14 (Naperville, Ill. / Naperville North High)
MyCole Pruitt, Southern Illinois, 2011-14 (St. Louis, Mo. / Kirtkwood High)
Robert Tonyan, Indiana State, 2012-16 (McHenry, Ill. /  McHenry East High)

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Spencer Brown, UNI, 2016-20 (Lenox, Iowa / Lenox High)
Garret Greenfield, South Dakota State, 2018-23 (Rock Valley, Iowa / Rock Valley High)
Joe Haeg, North Dakota State, 2012-15 (Lake Shore, Minn. / Brainerd High)
Zack Johnson, North Dakota State, 2012-16 (Apple Valley, Minn. / Eastview High)
Cody Mauch, North Dakota State, 2017-22 (Breckenridge, Minn. / Hankinson (ND) High)
Mason McCormick, South Dakota State, 2018-23 (Sioux Falls, S.D. / Roosevelt High)
Brad Meester, UNI, 1996-99 (Iowa Falls, Iowa / Aplington–Parkersburg High)
Trevor Penning, UNI, 2017-21 (Clear Lake, Iowa / Newman Catholic High)
Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State, 2016-20 (Becker, Minn. / Becker High)
Brad Samsa, Youngstown State, 2005-08 (Warren, Ohio / Howland High)
Billy Turner, North Dakota State, 2010-13 (Shoreview, Minn. / Mounds View High)
Cordell Volson, North Dakota State, 2016-21 (Balfour, N.D. / Drake High)
Frank Winters, Western Illinois, 1985-86 (Hoboken, N.J. / Emerson (NJ) High)

PLACEKICKERS
Travis Brawner, Missouri State, 1997-99 (Branson, Mo. / Branson High)
Craig Coffin, Southern Illinois, 2002-06 (Cape Coral, Fla. / North Fort Myers High)
Matthew Cook, UNI, 2019-23 (Cedar Falls, Iowa / Cedar Falls High)
Griffin Crosa, North Dakota State, 2019-24 (Dublin, Ohio / Dublin Scioto High)
Hunter Dustman, South Dakota State, 2020-24 (East Bethel, Minn. / St. Francis High)
Billy Hallgren, UNI, 2007-10 (Cedar Rapids, Iowa / Washington High)
Adam Keller, North Dakota State, 2011-14 (Lewisberry, Pa. / Red Land High)
Justin Langan, Western Illinois, 2001-04 (Bettendorf, Iowa)
Brian Mitchell, UNI, 1989-91 (Coral Springs, Fla. / Marshall High)
Cam Pedersen, North Dakota State, 2015-18 (Eau Claire, Wis. / Regis High)
Tyler Sievertsen, UNI, 2010-13 (Cedar Rapids, Iowa / Kennedy High)
Chase Vinatieri, South Dakota State, 2016-19 (Sioux Falls, S.D. / Roosevelt High)

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Khristian Boyd, UNI, 2018-23 (Kansas City, Mo. / Blue Springs High)
Jared Brinkman, UNI, 2017-21 (Iowa City, Iowa / Regina High)
Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State, 2011-14 (Schuyler, Neb. / Schuyler Central High)
Cole Jirik, North Dakota State, 2010-13 (Northfield, Minn. / Northfield High)
Greg Menard, North Dakota State, 2014-18 (Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville North High)
James Ruffin, UNI, 2006-09 (Newark, N.J. / Burnsville (Minn.) High
Caleb Sanders, South Dakota State, 2018-22 (Glenwood, Iowa / Glenwood High)
Khalen Saunders, Western Illinois, 2014-18 (St. Louis, Mo. / Parkway Central High)
Mychal Savage, Youngstown State, 2005-09 (Hartsdale, N.Y. / New Rochelle High / Hargrave Military Academy)
Karter Schult, UNI, 2013-16 (Tripoli, Iowa / Tripoli High)
Derrek Tuszka, North Dakota State, 2016-19 (Warner, S.D. / Warner High)
Spencer Waege, North Dakota State, 2018-22 (South Shore, S.D. / Watertown High)
Xavier Williams, UNI, 2011-14 (Kansas City, Mo. / Grandview (Mo.) High)

LINEBACKERS
Andre Allen, UNI, 1991-94 (Des Moines, Iowa / Des Moines North High)
Adam Bock, South Dakota State, 2019-24 (Solon, Iowa / Solon High)
Jabril Cox, North Dakota State, 2017-19 (Kansas City, Mo. / Raytown South High)
Nick DeLuca, North Dakota State, 2013-17 (Omaha, Neb. / Millard North High)
Boomer Grigsby, Illinois State, 2001-04 (Canton, Ill. / Canton High)
Edgerton Hartwell, Western Illinois, 1998-00 (Las Vegas, Nev. / Cheyenne High)
Tim Johnson, Youngstown State, 1999-00 (Fairfield, Ala. / Fairfield High)
James Milton, Western Illinois, 1995-98 (Miami, Fla. / Hialeah Lakes High)
Richard Moss, Indiana State, 1993-96 (Indianapolis, Ind. / Pike High)
Grant Olson, North Dakota State, 2010-13 (Plymouth, Minn. / Wayzata High)
Bryce Paup, UNI, 1986-89 (Jefferson, Iowa /Scranton (Iowa) High)
Christian Rozeboom, South Dakota State, 2015-19 (Sioux Center, Iowa / Sioux Center High)
Bart Scott, Southern Illinois, 1998-01 (Detroit, Mich. / Southeastern High)

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Willie Beamon, UNI, 1989-90, 1992 (Belle Glade, Fla. / Suncoast High)
Montrae Braswell, Missouri State, 2020-22 (Avon Park, Fla. / Avon Park High)
Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois, 2016-19 (Fishers, Ind. / Fishers High)
Bryan Cox, Western Illinois, 1987-90 (LB in NFL) (East St. Louis, Ill. / East St. Louis High)
Tre Dempsey, North Dakota State, 2014-17 (Lakeland, Fla. / Lakeland High)
Robbie Grimsley, North Dakota State, 2015-18 (Hutchinson, Minn. / Hutchinson High)
Myles Harden, South Dakota, 2020-23 (Miami Gardens, Fla. / Miramar High)
Rodney Harrison, Western Illinois, 1991-93 (Markham, Ill. / Marion Catholic High
Caleb Schaffitzel, Missouri State, 2011-14 (Springfield, Mo. / Fair Grove (Mo.) High)
Alex Sewall, Indiana State, 2008-11 (Western Springs, Ill. / Lyons Township High)
Marcus Shipp, Missouri State, 1989-91 (Oklahoma City, Okla. / Douglass High)
Ty Talton, UNI, 1995-98 (Beloit, Wis. / Turner High)
Michael Tutsie, North Dakota State, 2018-22 (Indianapolis, Ind. / Warren Central High)
Marcus Williams, North Dakota State, 2010-13 (Minneapolis, Minn. / Hopkins High)

PUNTERS
Miles Bergner, South Dakota, 2013-16 (Longmont, Colo. / Longmont High)
JT Bohlken, Illinois State, 2017-21 (Jefferson City, Mo. / Jefferson City High)
Grant Burkett, Missouri State, 2020-24 (Joplin, Mo. / Webb City (Mo.) High)
Mark Gagliano, Southern Illinois, 1993-96 (Collierville, Tenn. / Collierville High)
Lucas Hileman, Indiana State, 2011-12 (Anna, Ill. / Anna-Jonesboro High)
Mike Krause, Western Illinois, 1986-89 (Kewanee, Ill.)
Ben LeCompte, North Dakota State, 2012-15 (Barrington, Ill. / Barrington High)
Tim Mosley, UNI, 1990-93 (Fort Dodge, Iowa / Fort Dodge High)
John Prelvitz, North Dakota State, 2008-10 (Roseau, Minn. / Roseau High)
Mike Scifres, Western Illinois, 1999-02 (Metarie, La. / Destrehan (La.) High)
Brady Schutt, South Dakota, 2017-21 (Orange City, Iowa / MOC/FV High)
Garret Wegner, North Dakota State, 2017-20 (Lodl, Wis. / Lodl High)