A look at every team on Missouri State football's schedule heading into the 2023 season
New Missouri State head football coach Ryan Beard has a tough first schedule in front of him as he tries to get the Bears to bounce back from a disappointing 5-6 season a year ago.
The Bears kick off the season with two-straight non-conference road games before alternating home and away each week until two-straight home games to begin November.
Here’s an early look at who the Bears will have to deal with this season.
Sept. 1: @ Kansas
When Kansas was added to the 2023 schedule, some thought it might be the Bears’ best opportunity to get their first win over an FBS program since 1990. It doesn’t look as “easy” now after Kansas had its best season last year since Mark Mangino’s second-to-last season in charge of the Jayhawks in 2008.
Lance Leipold’s Jayhawks started 5-0 before finishing the year 6-7 and with a Liberty Bowl appearance. The season unraveled after starting quarterback Jalon Daniels injured his shoulder causing him to miss most of the Big 12 season.
Daniels is back to 100% this year and is the Big 12’s preseason offensive player of the year. He’s joined by first-teamers Devin Neal (RB), Mike Novitsky (OL) and Cobee Bryant (DB). The Jayhawks were still picked to finish ninth in the temporary 14-team Big 12 before Oklahoma and Texas ditch it for the SEC next year.
Kansas was one of the best teams in the country last year in third-down conversions on offense, passing efficiency and sacks allowed.
Defensively, the Jayhawks had some struggles by allowing over 35 points per game and ranking near the bottom of the FBS in rushing yards allowed.
Sept. 9: @ UT Martin
MSU and UT Martin have gotten to know each other quite well over the last few years. The Bears and Skyhawks met in the 2021 fall postseason with UT Martin ending the Bears’ season. The Bears got their revenge early in the 2022 season, evening their recent series.
A trip to Martin comes in the second week of the season. UT Martin will have a new look on offense after starting quarterback Dresser Winn signed an undrafted free-agent deal in the NFL.
UT Martin will feature Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year Sam Franklin at running back. All-American defensive lineman Daylan Dotson returns along with fellow defensive lineman Oshae Baker who is among the best at his position in the FCS.
The Skyhawks ended last season 7-4 and without a playoff berth. They lost to Missouri State 35-30 during the second week of the season. UT Martin will play College Football Playoff National Champion Georiga to open the year.
Sept. 23: vs. Utah Tech
Missouri State’s home opener finally arrives with the Bears playing the former Dixie State — which they beat on the road in the fall 2021 season when the Trailblazers began the transition to become an FCS program from Division II.
The Trailblazers have gotten better since the last time the two met while going from a 1-10 season to finishing 4-7 a year ago in the Western Athletic Conference. They kept a game with FCS power Sam Houston close while knocking off the likes of Southern Utah, Tarleton State and Stephen F. Austin.
Utah Tech has six returning starters on offense and seven on defense. The Blazers lost their leading passer, rusher and receiver. Defensive lineman Syrus Webster returns as the team’s leading pass rusher on a defense that allowed nearly 500 yards per game.
Sept. 30: @ Southern Illinois
Conference play begins with an important trip to Carbondale to play playoff-contender Southern Illinois. The Salukis beat the Bears 38-21 in Springfield last season.
Southern Illinois returns starting quarterback Nic Baker who has been one of the best players in the MVFC at the position for the last several years. He has standout receiver D’Ante’ Cox while the defense returns second-team All-MVFC linebacker Branson Combs and defensive back P.J. Jules.
Baker was the MVFC’s second-leading passer last year and had the seventh-best completion percentage in the country. SIU’s been one to produce solid pass rushers each season and was seventh in the nation in bringing down the quarterback a year ago. This should serve as a good early test for the Bears with a new-look roster under Beard.
Oct. 7: vs. North Dakota State
Perennial power North Dakota State is back on the Bears’ schedule after a one-year hiatus. The Bison finished as the FCS national runners-up last season.
Cam Miller returns as NDSU’s starting quarterback but the Bison will largely depend on their ground game which is among the nation’s best year after year. TaMerik Williams will be the premiere ballcarrier with Hunter Brozio being the next fullback in line behind a powerful offensive front.
Will Mostaert becomes the name to know on the defensive line with third-leading tackler Nick Kubitz at linebacker. The Bison will create new names by this time following three-straight home games and a matchup with Eastern Washington at the Minnesota Vikings’ stadium in Minneapolis.
Oct. 14: @ Western Illinois
The Bears’ emotional farewell to Western Illinois and Macomb, Illinois, will take place in mid-October with the Leathernecks most likely headed to the bottom of the MVFC, again, on their way out the door. We’re kidding about it being emotional, of course.
Western Illinois will look to improve upon an 0-11 season in which it wasn’t really competitive with anybody. Perhaps its fortunes will change with its upcoming move to the Ohio Valley Conference.
Juan DelaCruz is an MVFC honorable-mention linebacker who is the top returning player from last season.
If this is a loss, the Bears are in a lot of trouble.
Oct. 21: vs. Murray State
The Racers are now full Valley members with the football team making the move to the MVFC. They haven’t been very good in the OVC and finished last year 2-9 in a conference that sent one team to the playoffs.
Murray State had one of the worst passing games in the country last season and also struggled on the ground. Defensively, the passing defense was OK but the rushing defense was among the worst 10 in the FCS. Western Illinois might have some company at the bottom of the league this year and this is a must-win for the Bears at home — no matter how their season has played out before here.
Oct. 28: @ Youngstown State
The Bears ruined Youngstown State’s hopes of a playoff berth last year. The Penguins enter this season with a new look on offense after losing one of the best running backs in the nation to the NFL.
YSU has its starting quarterback back with Mitch Davidson who wasn’t asked to carry too much of the offense because the Penguins ran the ball so well. All-MVFC first-teamer Bryce Oliver returns at receiver after cathing 59 passes for 821 yards and 10 scores last year. Dra Rushton may step into the starting running back spot after carrying the ball 71 times for 329 yards and a pair of touchdowns last season. Jaleel McLaughlin leaves 227 carries and 1,588 yards up for grabs.
Defensively, the Penguins were solid against the run and held opponents to 25.4 points per game. All-MVFC second-teamer Dylan Wudke returns to the defensive line along with honorable mention selection Chris Fitzgerald.
Nov. 4: vs. Illinois State
The Redbirds are back on the Bears’ schedule after a year off. MSU last beat the Redbirds in Normal in 2021 with a 41-20 beatdown. Illinois State started off well last season but lost three of its last four to finish 6-5.
The Redbirds are one of the most disciplined teams in the country. They got after the quarterback last year but lost the top FCS defensive player in the country last year in Zeke Vandenburgh. The defense allowed 20.4 points per game but struggled in the red zone.
Offensively, the Redbirds return starting quarterback Zack Annexstad and their top two receivers. The Redbirds have quite a bit to replace when running the ball.
Nov. 11: vs. Northern Iowa
UNI usually finds itself in playoff contention at this point in the year. It will come to Plaster Stadium needing to beat the Bears whether they’ve had a good season or they’ve been underwhelming.
The Panthers return the best quarterback in the MVFC with Theo Day behind center. He broke out last season by throwing for over 3,100 yards with 26 touchdowns and six interceptions. They will have three of their top four receivers but will have to replace their ground attack.
Defensively, UNI is usually solid but was a bit average a year ago. The Panthers whooped the Bears 41-20 in Cedar Falls by holding them to 151 passing yards and sacking Jason Shelley five times.
Nov. 18: @ South Dakota State
No matter how the season has gone for Missouri State up until this point, the regular season finale will serve as a great measuring stick against the defending national champions.
The Bears end their regular season at South Dakota State when the Jackrabbits are national title favorites heading into the year. The Jacks return their starting quarterback, running back, top wide receivers, a few offensive linemen, top linebacker, a few defensive linemen and their star corner. In other words, SDSU is going to be really good again this year.
The only thing totally different about the Jacks will be their head coach after John Stiegelmeier’s retirement. New head coach Jimmy Rogers has been on the SDSU coaching staff for the last 10 years.
Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or Twitter at @WyattWheeler_NL.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State football 2023 schedule features Kansas, MVFC foes
