Missouri Valley Football Conference

Missouri Valley Football Conference
Name	Missouri Valley Football Conference
Established	1982
Association	NCAA
Division	Division I (FCS)
Members	12
Region	Midwestern United States
Headquarters	St. Louis, Missouri
Commissioner	Patty Viverito

Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Missouri Valley Football Conference is a premier collegiate athletic conference competing in the NCAA Division I Football Championship (FCS) subdivision. Operated under the auspices of the older Missouri Valley Conference, it was founded in 1982 and has established itself as one of the most competitive leagues in FCS football. The conference is headquartered in St. Louis and is renowned for sending multiple teams to the FCS playoffs annually.

History

The conference's origins trace back to 1982 when it was formed as the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference, a football-only league initially comprising schools like Eastern Illinois, Indiana State, and Northern Iowa. In 1985, the Missouri Valley Conference, one of the nation's oldest collegiate athletic associations, assumed administrative control, leading to a name change to the Gateway Football Conference. A pivotal rebranding occurred in 2008 when it adopted its current name to better align with its parent organization and reflect its geographic footprint. Key moments in its evolution include the addition of North Dakota State and South Dakota State in 2008, which catalyzed an era of unprecedented national success, and subsequent expansions with members like the University of North Dakota.

Member schools

The conference currently comprises twelve member institutions, primarily located across the Midwestern United States. The full membership includes Illinois State, Indiana State, the University of Northern Iowa, and Southern Illinois. Other members are Missouri State, the University of North Dakota, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, the University of South Dakota, and Youngstown State. Associate members include Murray State and the University of Illinois Chicago, though the latter does not sponsor football. These schools are also members of other conferences like the Ohio Valley Conference and Missouri Valley Conference for their primary sports.

Conference champions

Determining a conference champion has followed various formats, including round-robin schedules and, since 2021, a conference championship game. The North Dakota State Bison have been the most dominant program, capturing numerous titles during a dynasty that included multiple FCS national championships under coaches like Craig Bohl and Matt Entz. Other frequent champions include the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, who won their first national title in 2022, and historic powers like the Northern Iowa Panthers and Youngstown State Penguins, the latter having won multiple national titles under Jim Tressel prior to joining. Shared titles have also been awarded in competitive seasons.

MVFC and the FCS playoffs

The conference is widely considered the strongest top-to-bottom league in the FCS, routinely receiving multiple at-large bids to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs. Its teams have featured prominently in the national semifinals, known as the FCS semifinals, and in the championship game held in Frisco. From 2011 through 2022, a member school won every FCS national championship, a streak led by North Dakota State and later broken by the South Dakota State. This playoff success has created iconic moments in venues like the Fargodome and Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, solidifying the league's "FCS Power Conference" reputation.

Facilities

Member schools boast some of the finest and most intimidating venues in the FCS. These include the Fargodome in Fargo, home to North Dakota State and renowned for its deafening atmosphere, and Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, home to South Dakota State. Other notable stadiums are the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls (Northern Iowa), Hancock Stadium in Normal (Illinois State), and Stambaugh Stadium in Youngstown (Youngstown State). These facilities regularly host playoff games and are central to game day traditions.

Rivalries

Intense geographic and competitive rivalries define the conference calendar. The most prominent is the Dakota Marker game between North Dakota State and South Dakota State, which often has national championship implications. The Missouri-North Dakota rivalry involves North Dakota and South Dakota. Other key matchups include the Mid-America Classic between Illinois State and Eastern Illinois, the Battle for the Hoosier Helmet featuring Indiana State and Butler, and historic series like the one between Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois. These games are pivotal for conference standings and playoff seeding.

Category:NCAA Division I Football Championship conferences Category:College athletic conferences in the United States Category:Missouri Valley Conference