The 2026 Youngstown State Penguins football team represents Youngstown State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Penguins are led by seventh-year head coach Doug Phillips, and play their home games at Stambaugh Stadium located in Youngstown, Ohio.
Preseason MVFC poll
The Missouri Valley Football Conference released its preseason poll on July 14, 2026, voted on by league athletic directors, coaches, and media members. The Penguins were predicted to finish third in the conference.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries All times in Eastern time.
Mercyhurst
Statistics MERCYSU First downs 16 27 Plays–yards 51–241 66–484 Rushes–yards 20–29 36–252 Passing yards 212 232 Passing: comp–att–int 18–31–2 20–30–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 27:26 32:34 Team Category Player Statistics Mercyhurst Passing Alex Gevaudan 18/31, 212 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jameir Gamble 9 carries, 36 yards Receiving Camden Lewis 3 receptions, 44 yards Youngstown State Passing Beau Brungard 20/29, 232 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Beau Brungard 21 carries, 119 yards, 2 TD Receiving Antuan Gardner 2 receptions, 52 yards
at Kentucky (FBS)
Statistics YSUUK First downs 20 24 Plays–yards 66–305 61–506 Rushes–yards 28–59 34–205 Passing yards 246 301 Passing: comp–att–int 24–38–0 18–27–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 30:08 29:52 Team Category Player Statistics Youngstown State Passing Beau Brungard 23/25, 243 yards, TD Rushing Beau Brungard 12 carries, 29 yards Receiving Lynn Wyche-El 7 receptions, 111 yards, TD Kentucky Passing Kenny Minchey 18/27, 301 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jason Patterson 11 carries, 78 yards Receiving Kenny Darby 3 receptions, 74 yards, TD
Duquesne
Statistics DUQYSU First downs 13 32 Plays–yards 58–244 70–603 Rushes–yards 33–155 38–196 Passing yards 89 407 Passing: comp–att–int 8–25–0 28–32–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 29:00 31:00 Team Category Player Statistics Duquesne Passing Carson Camp 5/19, 63 yards, TD Rushing Ness Davis 11 carries, 88 yards Receiving Ryan Petras 3 receptions, 52 yards, TD Youngstown State Passing Beau Brungard 20/23, 290 yards, 6 TD Rushing Beau Brungard 14 carries, 111 yards, 2 TD Receiving Lynn Wyche-El 5 receptions, 77 yards, 2 TD
at No. 2 South Dakota State
Statistics YSUSDST First downs 20 26 Plays–yards 58–349 66–461 Rushes–yards 23–57 45–308 Passing yards 292 153 Passing: comp–att–int 27–35–1 12–21–0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 28:38 31:22 Team Category Player Statistics Youngstown State Passing Beau Brungard 27/35, 292 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Beau Brungard 13 carries, 32 yards Receiving Lynn Wyche-El 7 receptions, 114 yards, TD South Dakota State Passing Chase Mason 9/13, 137 yards Rushing Josiah Johnson 30 carries, 238 yards, 2 TD Receiving Lofton O'Groske 7 receptions, 94 yards
No. 8 South Dakota
Statistics SDAKYSU First downs 17 26 Plays–yards 60 65 Rushes–yards 185–38 343–48 Passing yards 147 159 Passing: comp–att–int 16–22–2 13–17–0 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 31:37 28:23 Team Category Player Statistics South Dakota Passing Austyn Modrzewski 16/22, 147 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Carson Fletcher 8 carries, 59 yards, TD Receiving Brayden White 5 receptions, 37 yards Youngstown State Passing Beau Brungard 13/17, 159 yards, TD Rushing Beau Brungard 28 carries, 170 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jaden Gilbert 3 receptions, 41 yards
at No. 21 Southern Illinois
Statistics YSUSIU First downs 23 24 Plays–yards 62–403 70–387 Rushes–yards 33–184 35–99 Passing yards 219 288 Passing: comp–att–int 20–29–2 19–35–1 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 30:26 29:34 Team Category Player Statistics Youngstown State Passing Beau Brungard 20/29, 219 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Beau Brungard 16 carries, 69 yards, TD Receiving Austin Bray 5 receptions, 78 yards, TD Southern Illinois Passing DJ Williams 19/35, 288 yards, INT Rushing Chandler Chapman 11 carries, 49 yards Receiving Kyle Thomas 8 receptions, 155 yards
at Indiana State
Statistics YSUINST First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Youngstown State Passing Rushing Receiving Indiana State Passing Rushing Receiving
Northern Iowa
Statistics UNIYSU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Northern Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving Youngstown State Passing Rushing Receiving
North Dakota
Statistics UNDYSU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics North Dakota Passing Rushing Receiving Youngstown State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Murray State
Statistics YSUMUR First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Youngstown State Passing Rushing Receiving Murray State Passing Rushing Receiving
Illinois State
Statistics ILSTYSU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Illinois State Passing Rushing Receiving Youngstown State Passing Rushing Receiving
References