Missouri State is embarking on a new future, making the move this year from the FCS to the FBS. The Bears will be competing in Conference USA. Delaware is another team moving from the FCS to join Conference USA this year.
Last season, Missouri State went 8-4, but the Bears were ineligible for the FCS playoffs due to its transition to the FBS level.
Missouri State enters this season with heavy hearts after the death of safety Todric McGee on April 19. McGee was the Bears’ starting safety in 2023 and 2024 who earned all-conference honors in 2023.
Missouri State played in arguably the toughest FCS conference – the Missouri Valley. That conference includes North Dakota State and South Dakota State, which have combined to win the last four FCS national titles with two apiece.
Still, this will be a step up in competition for Missouri State. Last year, the only FBS school that Missouri State played was Ball State, which earned a 42-34 win over the Bears.
In head coach Ryan Beard’s first two seasons, Missouri State went 12-11.
New Customer Offers at BetMGM
Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l Terms
Missouri State Football’s Conference USA Title Betting Odds
As a first-year FBS school, Missouri State is ineligible to compete in the Conference USA Championship.
Missouri State Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
- Missouri State’s win total Over/Under, via BetMGM, is 4.5.
- The Over is at -110.
- The Under is also at -110.
Missouri State Football’s 2025 Schedule
- 8/30 at USC
- 9/6 at Marshall
- 9/13 vs SMU
- 9/20 vs UT Martin
- 9/27 vs Western Kentucky
- 10/8 at Middle Tennessee
- 10/22 at New Mexico State
- 10/29 vs FIU
- 11/8 at Liberty
- 11/15 vs UTEP
- 11/22 at Kennesaw State
- 11/29 vs Louisiana Tech
Bold indicates CUSA contests
For more Group of Five coverage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Key Missouri State Football Returners
2024 All-Missouri Valley 1st Team
QB Jacob Clark
2nd Team
OL Cash Hudson
Missouri State Season Preview
The Bears averaged 34.8 points per game last season, and even with the step up in competition, the offense should still be proficient. Senior quarterback Jacob Clark had a breakout season last year, passing for 3,604 yards, 26 touchdowns, and six interceptions. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Clark, who began his career at Minnesota, was a full-time starter for the first time last year.
Jmariyae Robinson Leads Missouri State’s Receiving Corps
Receiver is a strong position for the Bears. Jmariyae Robinson is the leading returning receiver after catching 38 passes for 585 yards and four touchdowns. James BlackStrain, who was named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Newcomer Team after transferring from Georgia Tech, played in all 12 games with three starts last season in his first year with the Bears. He had 24 receptions for 368 yards and three touchdowns.
Missouri State’s Rushing Attack
Two new additions to the running game are Shomari Lawrence, who rushed for 177 yards and a touchdown in eight games last year for FIU, and true freshman King Davis. Lawrence is the projected starter, but Davis, who enrolled early and played this spring, has been impressive.
Missouri State Offensive Line Led By Cash Hudson
Center Cash Hudson is the player the offensive line is built around. Senior Erick Cade, who began his career at Ole Miss, played in nine games with eight starts at left tackle in his second year with the Bears. Hutson Lillibridge, who started 10 games at right guard and one at center last year, suffered a season-ending injury in the spring. That is a big loss for the offensive line.
Missouri State Is Rebuilding Its Defense
The Bears’ defense doesn’t have a lot of experience.
One of the players who looks to improve is defensive end Davon Townley Jr., who transferred after the 2023 season from Penn State where he appeared in three games. Last year in his first season at Missouri State, Townley recorded 13 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He didn’t play football until his junior year in high school so his best could be ahead of him.
Boosting the defensive line is junior DJ Wesolak, a transfer from Oregon State. Last season, the 6-foot-4, 255-pound Wesolak appeared in three games for Oregon State.
Jared Lloyd, who missed last season following a summer car accident, is expected to lead the linebacking corps. As a sophomore in 2023, he made nine starts and totaled 67 tackles.
Safety JJ O’Neal, who played in all 12 games and started the final eight, will be one of the main players in the secondary. Two secondary members who impressed during the spring include safety Maguire Neal, a transfer from Charlotte, and corner Thomas Anderson, who played in the first four games last season to retain his redshirt season after transferring from UNLV following the 2023 season.
Missouri State’s Special Teams Looking Promising
The kicking game will be strong with Yousef Obeid competing in his second season with the Bears after transferring from Michigan State. Last year as a redshirt freshman for Missouri State, Obeid connected on 11 of 12 field goals and 53 of 54 extra points.
Missouri State Football Season Prediction
I predict Missouri State will win four games.
Even though Missouri State is ineligible to compete in the conference championship game, I wouldn’t expect the Bears to challenge for a title anyway in their first year.
This is a difficult schedule, with the welcome to FBS beginning with an opener at USC. Facing USC, Marshall, and SMU in the first three games is challenging to say the least. If the Bears go 1-3 in their non-league schedule, which also includes UT Martin, then they would have to be 3-5 in CUSA games to reach the four-win total. Winning four games would be solid for a first-year FBS team, even though those associated with the program are obviously looking for more.
