The 2022 Missouri Valley Football Conference football season was the 37th season of college football play for the Missouri Valley Football Conference and part of the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season. This was the MVFC's 3rd straight season with 11 teams, and was the last as the conference added a 12th team for the 2023 season.
South Dakota State and North Dakota State met in the National Championship Game after winning all three of their home playoff games. It was only the second time in FCS history and MVFC history that the final game was played between two same-conference teams, the last one pitting North Dakota State and Illinois State against each other in 2015. The Jackrabbits would go on to win their first National Title, 45-21.
Coaching changes
Western Illinois On December 17, 2021, Myers Hendrickson was named the new head coach at Western Illinois. Hendrickson played for the Leathernecks in his brief college career as a wide receiver from 2008-10. He replaces coach Jared Elliot who led the program since 2018.
Preseason MVFC Media Day Preseason Poll The annual preseason poll; voted on by conference coaches, athletic directors, and media members. 1 North Dakota State 446 (39) 2 South Dakota State 407 (2) 3 Missouri State 355 4 Southern Illinois 306 5 Northern Iowa 304 6 South Dakota 235 7 North Dakota 190 8 Illinois State 178 9 Youngstown State 132 10 Indiana State 109 11 Western Illinois 44
Preseason Awards Individual awards First Team OffenseJason ShelleyMissouri StateQBSr.Isaiah DavisSouth Dakota StateRBJr.Jaleel McLaughlinYoungstown StateRBSr.Javon WilliamsSouthern IllinoisRB/APJr.Hunter LuepkeNorth Dakota StateFBSr.Avante CoxSouthern IllinoisWRSr.Jaxon JankeSouth Dakota StateWRSr.Tyrone ScottMissouri StateWRJr.Tucker KraftSouth Dakota StateTEJr.Landon BebeeMissouri StateOLJr.Garret GreenfieldSouth Dakota StateOLSr.Cody MauchNorth Dakota StateOLSr.Mason McCormickSouth Dakota StateOLSr.Alex JensenSouth DakotaOLSr. First Team DefenseKevin EllisMissouri StateDLSr.Eli MostaertNorth Dakota StateDLSr.Caleb SandersSouth Dakota StateDLSr.Reece WinkelmanSouth Dakota StateDLSr.Adam BockSouth Dakota StateLBJr.Spencer CuvelierNorthern IowaLBRS Sr.Brock MogensenSouth DakotaLBJr.Zeke VandenburghIllinois StateLBSr.Montrae BraswellMissouri StateDBJr.PJ JulesSouthern IllinoisDBJr.Kyriq McDonaldMissouri StateDBSr.Benny Sapp IIINorthern IowaDBSr.Michael TutsieNorth Dakota StateDBSr.First Team Special TeamsDalton GodfreySouth DakotaLSSr.Matthew CookNorthern IowaPKJr.Grant BurkettMissouri StatePSo.Montrae BraswellMissouri StateRSJr.Carter BellSouth DakotaAPSo.Second Team OffenseMark GronowskiSouth Dakota StateQBSo.Kobe JohnsonNorth Dakota StateRBSr.Cole MuellerIllinois StateRBSo.Jacob GarrettSouthern IllinoisFBJr.Carter BellSouth DakotaWRSo.Bo BelquistNorth DakotaWRJr.Dante HendrixIndiana StateWRRS Sr.Noah GindorffNorth Dakota StateTESr.Drew BonesIllinois StateOLSr.Nash JensenNorth Dakota StateOLSr.Erik SorensenNorthern IowaOLRS Sr.Donny VentrelliNorth DakotaOLSr.Jaison WilliamsYoungstown StateOLSo.Second Team DefenseBraydon DemingIllinois StateDLSr.Nick GaesSouth DakotaDLSo.Caden HoughtellingNorthern IowaDLRS Jr.Devin RiceNorthern IowaOLRS Jr.Spencer WaegeNorth Dakota StateDLSr.Greg Benton Jr.Youngstown StateLBSr.Bryce FlaterNorthern IowaLBRS Sr.James KaczorNorth Dakota StateLBSr.Devon KrzanowskiNorth DakotaLBSr.Clayton BushSouthern IllinoisDBJr.Korby SanderNorthern IowaDBFr.C.J. SiegelNorth DakotaCBSr.Destin TalbertNorth Dakota StateDBSr.Dawson WeberNorth Dakota StateDBSr.Second Team Special TeamsJoey MalinowskiIllinois StateLSJr.Jose PizanoMissouri StatePKJr.Cade PetersonNorth DakotaPSr.Jayden PriceNorth Dakota StateRSSr.Quan HamptonNorthern IowaAP/WRSr.
Rankings
+ Legend Improvement in ranking Drop in ranking Not ranked previous week No change in ranking from previous week RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll т Tied with team above or below also with this symbol
Pre Wk1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Final Illinois State STATS Perform RV RV RV AFCA Coaches RV RV RV RV Indiana State STATS Perform AFCA Coaches Missouri State STATS Perform 5 5 5 6 7 20 RV RV AFCA Coaches 8 7 4т 9 19 RV RV North Dakota STATS Perform RV 22 19 RV 22 20 20 23 21 19 16 20 20 AFCA Coaches RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV 23 24т RV North Dakota State STATS Perform 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 AFCA Coaches 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 Northern Iowa STATS Perform 21 24 RV RV AFCA Coaches 21 24 RV South Dakota STATS Perform RV RV RV AFCA Coaches RV RV South Dakota State STATS Perform 2 2 2 2т 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 AFCA Coaches 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Southern Illinois STATS Perform 9 17 RV 24 19 17 16 14 20 RV RV AFCA Coaches 9 19 RV RV RV 24 19 17 24 RV RV Western Illinois STATS Perform AFCA Coaches Youngstown State STATS Perform RV RV RV RV RV RV AFCA Coaches RV 23 25т RV RV RV RV RV
Schedule Index to colors and formattingMVFC member wonMVFC member lostMVFC teams in bold All times Central time.
† denotes Homecoming game ^ denotes AP Poll ranking for FBS teams
Regular season schedule
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Date Bye WeekSeptember 24 Illinois State Indiana State No. RV Youngstown State
Week 5
Date Bye WeekOctober 1 South Dakota
Week 6
Date Bye WeekOctober 8 Western Illinois
Week 7
Date Bye WeekOctober 15 No. RV Missouri State No. 20 North Dakota
Week 8
Date Bye WeekOctober 22 No. 4 North Dakota State
Week 9
Week 10
Date Bye WeekNovember 5 No. RV Southern Illinois
Week 11
Date Bye WeekNovember 12 Northern Iowa
Week 12
Date Bye WeekNovember 19 No. 1 South Dakota State
Postseason
In 2022, three teams made the FCS Playoffs. South Dakota State (No. 1) and North Dakota State (No. 3) both received byes, while North Dakota was unseeded and played in the opening round. Below are the games in which they played. Index to colors and formattingMVFC member wonMVFC member lostMVFC teams in bold All times Central time. Tournament seedings in parentheses
First round
Second round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship
MVFC records vs other conferences 2022-23 records against non-conference foes (through December 17, 2022):
FCS Power ConferencesRecordBig Sky3-4CAANoneFCS Power Total3-4Other FCS ConferencesRecordASUN2-0Big South1-0Ivy LeagueNoneMEACNoneNortheastNoneOVC3-1PatriotNonePFL4-0SoConNoneSouthland0-1SWACNoneWAC2-0Other FCS Total12-2FBS OpponentsRecordFootball Bowl Subdivision1-10Total Non-Conference Record16-16
Post Season FCS Power ConferencesRecordBig Sky2-1CAA1-0FCS Power Total3-1Other FCS ConferencesRecordASUNNoneBig SouthNoneIvy LeagueNoneMEACNoneNortheastNoneOVCNonePatriot1-0PFLNoneSoCon1-0Southland1-0SWACNoneWACNoneOther FCS Total3-0Total Postseason Record6-1
Source:
Awards and honors Player of the week honors Week Offensive Defensive Special Teams Freshman Player Position Team Player Position Team Player Position Team Player Position TeamWeek 1 (Sept. 4) Jaleel McLaughlinRBYSUAdam BockLBSDSURyan O'GradyPKIN STNaseim BrantleyWRWIURyan ColeSIN STMontrae BraswellCB/RSMO STWeek 2 (Sept. 11) Jason ShelleyQBMO STZeke VandenburghLBILL STJalen CarrKRILL STJacardia WrightRBMO STWeek 3 (Sept. 18) Nic BakerQBSIUZeke VandenburghLBILL STCade PetersonPUNDZack AnnexstadQBILL STJason ShelleyQBMO STWeek 4 (Sept. 25) Mark GronowskiQBSDSUWoo GovernorDBUNIGriffin CrosaKNDSUDillon ThomasSMO STWeek 5 (Oct. 2) Isaiah DavisRBSDSUZeke VandenburghLBILL STBrady StevensPKUNDD'Ante' CoxWRSIUWeek 6 (Oct. 9) Javon Williams Jr.APSIURylan ColeSIN STWill MostaertDTNDSUCole DavisDBUNDIan WagnerPKILL STWeek 7 (Oct. 16) Nic BakerQBSIUStephen HillisLBUSDHunter DustmanK/PSDSUCade ChambersQBIN STWeek 8 (Oct. 23) Mark GronowskiQBSDSUCameron TisdaleCBUSDColt McFaddenPKYSUZack AnnexstadQBILL STDom WilliamsRBUNIWeek 9 (Oct. 13) Nic BakerQBSIUDylan WudkeDEYSUJose PizanoPKMO STDesmond HutsonWRUNIWeek 10 (Nov. 7) TaMerik WilliamsRBNDSUAlex HowardLBYSUHunter DustmanK/PSDSUAidan BoumanQBUSDWeek 11 (Nov. 14) Jaleel McLaughlinRBYSUJames KaczorLBNDSUMontrae BraswellCB/RSMO STMalachi McNealLBUNDTommy SchusterQBUNDWeek 12 (Nov. 21) Cam MillerQBNDSUZeke VandenburgLBILL STDJ HartWR/RSNDSUGarret OllendieckLBIN STTheo DayQBUNI In Week 12, an Offensive Lineman was also named to the player of the week honors, Nash Jensen of North Dakota State.
Players of the Year On November 28, 2022, the Missouri Valley Football Conference released their Players of the Year and All-Conference Honors.
Offensive Player of the Year Jaleel McLaughlin, RB (Sr - Youngstown State)
Defensive Player of the Year Zeke Vandenburgh, LB (Sr - Illinois State)
Newcomer of the Year Naseim Brantley, WR (Jr - Western Illinois)
Freshman of the Year Cade Chambers, QB (Fr - Indiana State)
Coach of the Year John Stiegelmeier (South Dakota State)
All-Conference Teams
First Team OffenseTheo DayNorthern IowaQBRS Jr.Isaiah DavisSouth Dakota StateRBJr.Jaleel McLaughlinYoungstown StateRBSr.Hunter LuepkeNorth Dakota StateFBSr.Naseim BrantleyWestern IllinoisWRJr.Dante HendrixIndiana StateWRRS Sr.Bryce OliverYoungstown StateWRJr.Tucker KraftSouth Dakota StateTEJr.Drew BonesIllinois StateOLSr.Garret GreenfieldSouth Dakota StateOLSr.Nash JensenNorth Dakota StateOLSr.Cody MauchNorth Dakota StateOLSr.Mason McCormickSouth Dakota StateOLSr.Hunter LuepkeNorth Dakota StateAPSr. First Team DefenseRichie HagartySouthern IllinoisDLSo.Caleb SandersSouth Dakota StateDLSr.Spencer WaegeNorth Dakota StateDLSr.Reece WinkelmanSouth Dakota StateDLSr.Adam BockSouth Dakota StateLBJr.Stephen HillisSouth DakotaLBJr.James KaczorNorth Dakota StateLBSr.Zeke VandenburgIllinois StateLBSr.Montrae BraswellMissouri StateDBJr.Dyshawn GalesSouth Dakota StateDBSr.Benny Sapp IIINorthern IowaDBSr.Michael TutsieNorth Dakota StateDBSr.Dawson WeberNorth Dakota StateDBSr. First Team Special TeamsGrant BurkettMissouri StatePSo.Matthew CookNorthern IowaPKJr.Dalton GodfreySouth DakotaDSSr.Montrae BraswellMissouri StateRSJr.
Second Team OffenseMark GronowskiSouth Dakota StateQBSo.Justin DinkaIndiana StateRBRS So.Tyler HoosmanNorth DakotaRBJr.Jacob GarrettSouthern IllinoisFBJr.Bo BelquistNorth DakotaWRJr.Avante CoxSouthern IllinoisWRSr.Jaxon JankeSouth Dakota StateWRSr.Zach HeinsSouth Dakota StateTESrLandon BebeeMissouri StateOLJr.Alex JensenSouth DakotaOLSr.Mike McAllisterYoungstown StateOLSr.Erik SorensonNorthern IowaOLRS Sr.Donny VentrelliNorth DakotaOLSr.Javon Williams Jr.Southern IllinoisAPJr. Second Team DefenseKhristian BoydNorthern IowaDLRS Jr.Kevin EllisMissouri StateDLSr.Ben McNaboeNorth DakotaDLJr.Dylan WudkeYoungstown StateDLSo.Branson CombsSouthern IllinoisLBSo.Spencer CuvelierNorthern IowaLBRS Sr.Ferrin ManuleleuaMissouri StateLBSr.Brock MogensenSouth DakotaLBJr.Korby SanderNorthern IowaLBGSRylan ColeIndiana StateDBSo.Woo GovernorNorthern IowaDBJr.Myles HardenSouth DakotaDBSo.PJ JulesSouthern IllinoisDBJr.C.J. SiegelNorth DakotaDBSr. Second Team Special TeamsJohn BickleSouth DakotaPSr.Colt McFaddenYoungstown StatePKSr.Hunter BrozioNorth Dakota StateDSJr.Jadon JankeSouth Dakota StateRSSr.
All-Newcomer Team
All-Newcomer Team OffenseZack AnnexstadIllinois StateQBJr.Aidan BoumanSouth DakotaQBRS Fr.Naseim BrantleyWestern IllinoisWRJr.Brayden BryantNorth DakotaOLSo.Cade ChambersIndiana StateQBRS Fr.D'Ante' CoxSouthern IllinoisWRSr.Desmond HutsonNorthern IowaWRRS Fr.Shomari LawrenceSouth DakotaRBRS Fr.John O'BrianSouth Dakota StateOLJr.Max TomczakYoungstown StateWRRS Fr.Jacardia WrightMissouri StateRBSo.Wenkers WrightIllinois StateRBRS Fr. All-Newcomer DefenseCordarrius BaileyNorthern IowaDERS Sr.John BickleSouth DakotaPSr.Jaxon DuttenheferNorth Dakota StateDTRS Fr.Jason FreemanSouth Dakota StateLBJr.Chris HarrisSouthern IllinoisLBSr.Logan KoppNorth Dakota StateLBRS Fr.Deandre LamontIllinois StateDBSr.Tucker LargeSouth Dakota StateS/LBRS Fr.Kole MenzNorth Dakota StateDERS Fr.Edmund OcanseyNorth DakotaDBRS Fr.Garret OllendieckIndiana StateLBSo.Noah PettingerNorthern IowaPFr.Michael ScottSouth DakotaDESr. Source: