The Minnesota State Mavericks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the Minnesota State University, Mankato located in the U.S. state of Minnesota.
The team plays in NCAA Division II and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Since 1962, they have played in Blakeslee Stadium, with a natural grass field and a capacity of 7,000.
The current head coach is Todd Hoffner, who has led Minnesota State to NCAA playoff appearances (2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 & 2024) and two appearances at the NCAA Division II National Championship game in 2014 and 2019.
Postseason NCAA Division II playoffs The Mavericks have made sixteen appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs, with a combined record of 19–16.
1987 Quarterfinals Portland State L, 21–27 1991 First RoundQuarterfinals North Dakota StatePortland State W, 27–7L, 27–37 1993 First RoundQuarterfinals Missouri Southern StateNorth Dakota W, 34–13L, 21–54 2008 First Round Ashland L, 16–27 2009 First Round Hillsdale L, 24–27 2012 Second RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinals Northwest Missouri StateMissouri WesternValdosta State W, 38–35W, 17–10L, 19–35 2013 Second Round St. Cloud State L, 48–54 2014 Second RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsNational Championship Pittsburg StateMinnesota–DuluthConcordCSU Pueblo W, 24–21W, 44–17W, 47–13L, 0–13 2015 First Round Emporia State L, 49–51 2017 First RoundSecond RoundRegional Finals CSU PuebloMidwestern StateTexas A&M–Commerce W, 16–13 W, 63–21L, 21–31 2018 Second RoundRegional FinalsSemifinals CSU PuebloTarleton StateFerris State W, 24–10W, 13–10L, 25–42 2019 Second RoundRegional FinalsSemifinalsNational Championship CSU PuebloTexas A&M–CommerceSlippery RockWest Florida W, 35–7W, 42–21W, 58–15L, 40–48 2022 First RoundSecond Round Wayne State (NE)Colorado Mines W, 26–9L, 45–48 2023 First Round Augustana (SD) L, 24–51 2024 First RoundSecond RoundRegional FinalsSemifinals Augustana (SD)CSU PuebloBemidji StateValdosta State W, 20–19W, 26–23W, 27–23L, 21–35 2025 First RoundRegional SemifinalsRegional Finals FindlayIndianapolisFerris State W, 37–14W, 35–27L, 29–52
Bowl Game The Mavericks have played in the Mineral Water Bowl one time, in 2011. +YearBowlCoachOpponentResultRecord2011Mineral Water BowlTodd HoffnerNortheastern StateW, 28–149–3
Notable former players Notable alumni who played in the NFL include: Larry Brown Bob Bruer Tywan Mitchell Chris Reed Adam Thielen Shane Zylstra
Other Notable Pro Players: Zach Witt former Maverick quarterback played professionally in the German Football League (GFL) for the Franken Knights 2001-2002 and won the 2003 GFL German Bowl Championship playing for the Hamburg Blue Devils.
Facilities From 1966 to 2017 the university hosted the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League for their preseason training camp. The Vikings eventually left Mankato after a new training facility was built in Eagan, MN. Five other NFL teams used campuses across Wisconsin and Minnesota for training camp, in what was known as the Cheese League.
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