The Missouri Valley Football Conference has seven teams ranked in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 Media Poll.
Here’s a look at the upcoming MVFC season, including names to know and our predicted order of finish.
RELATED: FCS Preseason Preview Central
Preseason All-Americans
South Dakota State (8) — QB Mark Gronowski (1st Team), OL Gus Miller (1st Team), LB Adam Bock (1st Team), S Tucker Large (1st Team), CB Dalys Beanum (1st Team), PR Tucker Large (1st Team), RB Amar Johnson (2nd Team), OL Evan Beerntsen (2nd Team)
North Dakota State (7) — OL Grey Zabel (1st Team), DE Dylan Hendricks (1st Team), S Cole Wisniewski (1st Team), QB Cam Miller (2nd Team), DT Eli Mostaert (2nd Team), LB Logan Kopp (2nd Team), K Griffin Crosa (2nd Team)
South Dakota (3) — TE JJ Galbreath (1st Team), K Will Leyland (1st Team), WR Carter Bell (2nd Team)
Illinois State (2) — LB Amir Abdullah (1st Team), WR Daniel Sobkowicz (2nd Team)
North Dakota (1) — WR Bo Belquist (2nd Team)
Youngstown State (1) — OL Jaison Williams (2nd Team)
Teams Bringing In The Most D1 Transfers
FBS-to-FCS Transfers & FCS-to-FCS Transfers
Murray State — 25 (23 FBS, 2 FCS)
Youngstown State — 19 (15 FBS, 4 FCS)
Missouri State — 17 (12 FBS, 5 FCS)
Southern Illinois — 16 (9 FBS, 7 FCS)
South Dakota — 13 (6 FBS, 7 FCS)
Illinois State — 10 (8 FBS, 2 FCS)
North Dakota State — 8 (4 FBS, 4 FCS)
Names To Know
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State QB — The 2023 Walter Payton Award winner and back-to-back FCS national championship game Most Outstanding Player is 37-3 overall, 13 wins away from breaking the FCS record for QB victories. Last fall, he threw for 3,058 yards, 29 touchdowns, and five interceptions while adding 402 rushing yards and eight TDs.
TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Adam Bock, South Dakota State LB — Bock enters his sixth season at SDSU as a multi-time All-American. The 6-foot-1 and 225-pounder has 344 career tackles, 25 TFLs, and 10.5 sacks. Bock has tallied 76 tackles and 65 stops in the last two years, missing five games in the first half of the 2023 season due to injury.
TOP NFL PROSPECT: Cole Wisniewski, North Dakota State S — Wisniewski is a top NFL Draft prospect in the FCS with the potential to be a Day 2 pick. The 6-foot-4 and 219-pounder transitioned from linebacker to safety last year and totaled 92 tackles and eight interceptions. Wisniewski had the highest PFF grade out of all FCS and FBS safeties.
Wisniewski’s health is currently a concern for this season, though. He has yet to practice in preseason camp as he recovers from offseason foot surgery. Wisniewski is doubtful (but not ruled out yet) to play Week 1 at Colorado, and there is a chance he has a second surgery that could be season-ending. He still has a redshirt available if he were to play in four or fewer games this fall, allowing him to return next year.
HERO Sports’ Predicted Order of Finish
1. South Dakota State
2. North Dakota State
3. South Dakota
4. Illinois State
5. Southern Illinois
6. Youngstown State
7. North Dakota
8. Northern Iowa
9. Missouri State
10. Murray State
11. Indiana State
SDSU, NDSU, USD, Illinois State, SIU, YSU, and UND are all ranked in the FCS preseason Top 25 media poll. Plus, UNI is always a tough out, and Missouri State returns 20 starters while adding 17 D1 transfers as it transitions to the FBS.
The MVFC looks to be loaded again with several teams in contention for playoff bids.
South Dakota State is the odds-on favorite to win a third-straight FCS national championship. The Jackrabbits lose a lot of top-end talent offensively. But they return the best quarterback in the FCS, have a First Team All-MVFC running back returning, and have three players with significant starting experience on the o-line. The defense, a historically good unit last year, brings back eight of its top 13 tacklers.
SDSU has to go to Fargo, though, and face a veteran Bison squad looking to end a five-game losing streak.
North Dakota State returns nine of last year’s 12 All-MVFC selections. The offense brings back its standout QB duo, but it loses three starters on the offensive line, plus its top running back and top two wide receivers from 2023. Defensively, NDSU returns nine players who started at least seven games last year, including its top four tacklers.
South Dakota is coming off of a breakout season. The Coyotes bring back their starting quarterback, top two running backs, top two wide receivers, top tight end, and four starting offensive linemen. The defense returns two of its top five tacklers and five of its top 11.
Illinois State looks to be back in the playoff mix. The Redbirds return their First Team All-MVFC running back, top three wide receivers, and three starting offensive linemen. They also bring back their top seven tacklers and 9 of their top 11.
Southern Illinois had a strong postseason showing last year. SIU’s offense returns six starters, including four on the offensive line. Just four starters return on defense, though, and only two of the top five tacklers are back.
Youngstown State and North Dakota have some rebuilding to do after last year’s postseason appearances.
YSU returns seven starters on offense, including its standout running back, No. 2 wide receiver, starting tight end, and four starting offensive linemen. But the Penguins lose their top nine tacklers from last season.
UND has some dynamic weapons offensively at the skilled positions. But just like Illinois State, SIU, and YSU, the Fighting Hawks have to replace their starting quarterback. They also lose four starters on the offensive line. On defense, UND returns only four starters, losing its entire starting d-line and two safeties.
