The 2020 Missouri Valley Football Conference season was the 35th season of college football play for the Missouri Valley Football Conference and part of the 2020-21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. This was the MVFC's first season with 11 teams, as they added North Dakota in the offseason. Although, the conference technically only had 10 of their members play the season, since Indiana State opted out of the Spring season.
South Dakota State made it to their first ever National Championship as the number 1 seed, but lost to Sam Houston State. SDSU was one of three teams to be a conference co-champion, including Missouri State and North Dakota. North Dakota beat Missouri State in the first round of the playoffs, but lost to James Madison in the quarterfinals. North Dakota State and Southern Illinois also made the playoffs. North Dakota State beat Eastern Washington in the first round, but lost to eventual champion Sam Houston State in the quarterfinals to be eliminated before the semifinals for the first time since 2010. Southern Illinois beat Weber State in the first round, but lost to South Dakota State in the quarterfinals.
Offseason Over the offseason, the conference welcomed in their 11th league member, North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks arrive to the Valley from being a FCS Independent. Before that, they were a part of the Big Sky Conference.
Coaching changes Missouri State On January 16, 2020, Bobby Petrino was named the new head coach at Missouri State. Petrino replaces former coach Dave Steckel after he was bought out on January 9, 2020.
Youngstown State On February 7, 2020, Doug Phillips was named the new head coach at Youngstown State. Phillips replaces former coach Bo Pelini who stepped down to take a defensive coordinator position at LSU.
Preseason MVFC Media Day Preseason Poll The annual preseason poll; voted on by conference coaches, athletic directors, and media members. 1 North Dakota State 101 2 Northern Iowa 92 3 South Dakota State 91 4 Illinois State 80 5 Southern Illinois 68 6 South Dakota 52 7 North Dakota 39 8 Youngstown State 36 T9 Missouri State 23 T9 Western Illinois 23
Preseason Awards Individual awards
Preseason Team OffenseWill McElvainNorthern IowaQBSo.Kai HenrySouth DakotaRBSr.Pierre Strong Jr.South Dakota StateRBJr.Javon Williams Jr.Southern IllinoisRBSo.Hunter LuepkeNorth Dakota StateFBSo.Avante CoxSouthern IllinoisWRJr.Christian WatsonNorth Dakota StateWRJr.Isaiah WestonNorthern IowaWRJr.Brett SamsonSouth DakotaTESr.Dan BeckerYoungstown StateOLJr.ZeVeyon FurcronSouthern IllinoisOLSr.Drew HimmelmanIllinois StateOLSr.Mason ScheideggerSouth DakotaOLSr.Cordell VolsonNorth Dakota StateOLSr.Preseason Team DefenseJared BrinkmanNorthern IowaDLSr.Anthony KnightonSouthern IllinoisDLSr.Spencer WaegeNorth Dakota StateDLJr.Reece WinkelmanSouth Dakota StateDLJr.Logan BackhausSouth Dakota StateLBSr.Jack CochraneSouth DakotaLBSr.Bryce FlaterNorthern IowaLBJr.Jackson HankeyNorth Dakota StateLBJr.Omar BrownNorthern IowaDBSo.Qua BrownSouthern IllinoisDBSr.Don GardnerSouth Dakota StateDBSr.Josh HayesNorth Dakota StateDBSr.Michael TutsieNorth Dakota StateDBJr.Preseason Team Special TeamsRoss KennellyNorth Dakota StateLSSr.Matthew CookNorthern IowaPKSo.Brady SchuttSouth DakotaPSr.Jake CoatesYoungstown StateRSSr.
Honorable Mention OffenseJ'Bore GibbsSouth Dakota StateQBSo.Tim McCloynIllinois StateFBSr.Caleb Vander EschSouth DakotaWRSr.Damoriea VickMissouri StateWRJr.Josh BabiczNorth Dakota StateTEJr.Wes GenantSouth Dakota StateOLSr.Ryan TobinNorth DakotaOLSr.Nick EllisNorthern IowaOLRS Sr.Honorable Mention DefenseJohn RidgewayIllinois StateDLJr.Xavier WardSouth Dakota StateDLSr.DeMarko CraigYoungstown StateDLSo.Jaxson TurnerNorth DakotaLBSr.Makel CalhounSouthern IllinoisLBJr.Zeke VandenburgIllinois StateLBJr.Jordan CanadyNorth DakotaDBSr.Michael Griffin IISouth Dakota StateDBSr.Charles WoodsIllinois StateDBJr.Zack SandersMissouri StateDBSr.Honorable Mention Special TeamsDalton GodfreySouth DakotaLSJr.Mason LorberSouth DakotaPKSr.Adam FellnerWestern IllinoisPSo.Jaxon JankeSouth Dakota StateRSSo.
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 Final Illinois State STATS Perform 9 7 15 22 AFCA Coaches Not released Missouri State STATS Perform 19 15 14 12 13 AFCA Coaches Not released 23 23 18 17 13 North Dakota STATS Perform 14 4 3 2 6 6 6 6 7 6 AFCA Coaches Not released 2 5т 6 6 6 6 6 North Dakota State STATS Perform 1 1 6 5 4 2 2 2 2 6 5 AFCA Coaches Not released 4 3 3 3 3 7 5 Northern Iowa STATS Perform 3 5 3 4 10 22 23 24 24 AFCA Coaches Not released 14т 23 20 21 23 24 South Dakota STATS Perform 20т 21 AFCA Coaches Not released South Dakota State STATS Perform 5 3 8 8 6 4 4 4 4 2 2 AFCA Coaches Not released 7 5т 4 4 4 2 2 Southern Illinois STATS Perform 24 11 10 5 10 18 16 18 14 8 AFCA Coaches Not released 5 12 19 18 17 14 9 Western Illinois STATS Perform AFCA Coaches Not released Youngstown State STATS Perform AFCA Coaches Not released
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
Fall 2020 Games Some teams played a couple games in the Fall, even though the MVFC schedule was moved to the Spring.
Week 1
Date Bye WeekFebruary 21 No. 9 Illinois State Missouri State
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Date Bye WeekMarch 27 Youngstown State
Week 7
Date Bye WeekApril 3 No. 2 North Dakota State
Week 8
Week 9
Date Bye WeekApril 17 Northern Iowa
Postseason
In 2020, five teams made the FCS playoffs. South Dakota State (No. 1) was the only seeded team. Missouri State, North Dakota, North Dakota State, and Southern Illinois were all unseeded. 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
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship
MVFC records vs other conferences 2020-21 records against non-conference foes:
FCS Power ConferencesRecordBig SkyNoneCAANoneFCS Power Total0–0Other FCS ConferencesRecordASUNNoneBig SouthNoneIvy LeagueNoneMEACNoneNortheastNoneOVC1–0PatriotNonePFLNoneSoConNoneSouthland3–1SWACNoneWACNoneOther FCS Total4–1FBS OpponentsRecordFootball Bowl Subdivision0–1Total Non-Conference Record4–2
Post Season FCS Power ConferencesRecordBig Sky2–0CAA1–1FCS Power Total3–1Other FCS ConferencesRecordASUNNoneBig SouthNoneIvy LeagueNoneMEACNoneNortheastNoneOVCNonePatriot1–0PFLNoneSoConNoneSouthland0–2SWACNoneWACNoneOther FCS Total1–2Total Postseason Record4–3
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 (Feb. 22) Pierre Strong Jr.RBSDSUDevon KrzanowskiLBUNDJake ReinholzPKNDSUMark GronowskiQBSDSUWeek 2 (Feb. 28) Nic BakerQBSIUKevin EllisDEMOSTBrady SchuttPUSDJosh NavratilLBUNDWeek 3 (Mar. 7) Mark GronowskiQBSDSUSpencer CuvelierLBUNIGarret WegnerPNDSUJaleel McLaughlinRBYSUWeek 4 (Mar. 14) Tommy SchusterQBUNDMontrae BraswellCBMOSTCole FrahmPKSDSUCam MillerQBNDSUWeek 5 (Mar. 21) Hunter LuepkeFBNDSUGrant DixonLBYSUJose PizanoKMOSTIsaiah DavisRBSDSUWeek 6 (Mar. 28) Celdon ManningRBMOSTRiley Van WyheLBUNIOmar BrownDBUNIMatt StruckQBMOSTWeek 7 (Apr. 4) Tony TateWRWIUMichael LawsonDBWIUJaleel McLaughlinRBYSUWeek 8 (Apr. 11) Christian WatsonWRNDSUTylar WiltzLBMOSTGarret WegnerPNDSUGrant DixonLBYSUWeek 9 (Apr. 18) Javon Williams Jr.RBSIUAdam BockLBSDSUCole FrahmPKSDSUMark GronowskiQBSDSU
Players of the Year On April 22, 2021, the Missouri Valley Football Conference released their Players of the Year and All-Conference Honors.
Offensive Player of the Year Mark Gronowski, QB (Fr, South Dakota State)
Defensive Player of the Year Jared Brinkman, DL (Sr, Northern Iowa)
Newcomer of the Year Mark Gronowski, QB (Fr, South Dakota State)
Freshman of the Year Mark Gronowski, QB (South Dakota State)
Coach of the Year Bobby Petrino, (Missouri State)
All-Conference Teams
First Team OffenseMark GronowskiSouth Dakota StateQBFr.Pierre Strong Jr.South Dakota StateRBJr.Otis WeahNorth DakotaRBSo.Hunter LuepkeNorth Dakota StateFBSo.Avante CoxSouthern IllinoisWRJr.Dennis HoustonWestern IllinoisWRSr.Christian WatsonNorth Dakota StateWRJr.Zach HeinsSouth Dakota StateTESo.Zeveyon FurcronSouthern IllinoisOLSr.Garret GreenfieldSouth Dakota StateOLSo.Drew HimmelmanIllinois StateOLSr.Nathan NguonNorth DakotaOLSr.Cordell VolsonNorth Dakota StateOLSr.First Team DefenseJared BrinkmanNorthern IowaDLSr.John RidgewayIllinois StateDLJr.Caleb SandersSouth Dakota StateDLJr.Spencer WaegeNorth Dakota StateDLJr.Logan BackhausSouth Dakota StateLBSr.Spencer CuvelierNorthern IowaLBJr.Grant DixonYoungstown StateLBSr.James KaczorNorth Dakota StateLBJr.Montrae BraswellMissouri StateDBSo.Qua BrownSouthern IllinoisDBSr.James CaesarSouthern IllinoisDBSr.Don GardnerSouth Dakota StateDBSr.Josh HayesNorth Dakota StateDBSr.First Team Special TeamsMatthew CookNorthern IowaPKSo.Ross KennellyNorth Dakota StateLSSr.Garret WegnerNorth Dakota StatePSr.Tony TateWestern IllinoisRSSr.
Second Team OffenseConnor SampsonWestern IllinoisQBSr.Tommy SchusterNorth DakotaQBFr.Jaleel McLaughlinYoungstown StateRBJr.Javon Williams Jr.Southern IllinoisRBSo.Jacob GarrettSouthern IllinoisFBJr.Jaxon JankeSouth Dakota StateWRSo.Tony TateWestern IllinoisWRSr.Caleb Vander EschSouth DakotaWRSr.Noah GindorffNorth Dakota StateTEJr.Landon BebeeMissouri StateOLSo.Dan BeckerYoungstown StateOLJr.Cody MauchNorth Dakota StateOLJr.Mason McCormickSouth Dakota StateOLSo.Matt WaletzkoNorth DakotaOLJr.Second Team DefenseJordan BernerSouthern IllinoisDLSr.Kevin EllisMissouri StateDLJr.Eric JohnsonMissouri StateDLSr.Brantae WellsNorthern IowaDLSr.Devon KrzanowskiNorth DakotaLBJr.Brock MogensenSouth DakotaLBSo.Bryson StrongSouthern IllinoisLBJr.Tylar WiltzMissouri StateLBJr.Austin EvansNorthern IowaDBSr.Evan HolmNorth DakotaDBSr.Zaire JonesYoungstown StateDBSr.Kyriq McDonaldMissouri StateDBJr.Michael TutsieNorth Dakota StateDBJr.Second Team Special TeamsJose PizanoMissouri StatePKSo.Dalton GodfreySouth DakotaLSJr.Brady SchuttSouth DakotaPSr.Christian WatsonNorth Dakota StateRSJr.
All-Newcomer Team All-Newcomer Team OffenseCarson CampSouth DakotaQBFr.Mark GronowskiSouth Dakota StateQBFr.Tommy SchusterNorth DakotaQBFr.Pha'Leak BrownIllinois StateRBFr.Isaiah DavisSouth Dakota StateRBFr.Celdon ManningMissouri StateRBFr.Jaleel McLaughlinYoungstown StateRBJr.Bo BelquistNorth DakotaWRFr.Dallas DanielsWestern IllinoisWRJr.Quan HamptonNorthern IowaWRJr.Kyle FourtenbaryNorthern IowaTEGS Second Team DefenseEli MostaertNorth Dakota StateDTFr.Brayden ThomasNorth Dakota StateDESr.Adam BockSouth Dakota StateLBFr.Grant DixonYoungstown StateLBSr.Devon KrzanowskiNorth DakotaLBJr.Montrae BraswellMissouri StateDBSo.Michael LawsonWestern IllinoisDBSr.Kyriq McDonaldMissouri StateDBJr.Benny Sapp IIINorthern IowaDBJr.Myles HardenSouth DakotaCBFr.Keyon MartinYoungstown StateCBFr. Source:
National Awards On April 28, 2021, STATS Perform released their list of finalists for the Walter Payton Award, Buck Buchanan Award, and the Jerry Rice Award, respectively.
Walter Payton Award The Walter Payton Award is given to the best FCS offensive player. Here are the MVFC finalists: Pierre Strong Jr. (RB - South Dakota State) Otis Weah (RB - North Dakota)
There were no MVFC finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award.
Jerry Rice Award The Jerry Rice Award is given to the best FCS freshman player. Here are the MVFC finalists: Mark Gronowski (QB - South Dakota State) Tommy Schuster (QB - North Dakota)
All-Americans