If you were looking for a predictable season in the Valley, you picked the wrong year. Honestly, the 2025-26 campaign for Missouri Valley Conference football scores felt less like a standard sports schedule and more like a high-stakes thriller that nobody saw coming. Between a powerhouse program like North Dakota State nearly sweeping their way to glory and Illinois State pulling off a playoff run that felt like a movie script, the landscape of FCS football has fundamentally shifted.
We’re sitting here in early 2026, and people are still talking about that January 5th title game in Nashville. It wasn't just about who won; it was about how the scores reflected a changing of the guard—or at least a very loud challenge to it.
The Post-Season Chaos That Defined 2025
You can’t talk about missouri valley conference football scores without looking at the 2025 playoffs. It was basically a gauntlet. Illinois State, led by Brock Spack, did something that literally no other team in the history of the Football Championship Subdivision has ever done: they won four straight road games to get to the national championship.
Think about that for a second.
They started the season 4-3. They looked like they were circling the drain after a tough homecoming loss to Youngstown State. Then, something clicked. They went to Fargo—the Fargodome, of all places—and beat the #1 North Dakota State Bison 29-28 on December 6th. That score alone sent shockwaves through the Midwest. A two-point conversion catch by Scotty Presson Jr. at the very end of the game was the difference. If he drops that ball, we aren't even having this conversation.
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The National Title Heartbreak
The final score of the season for the Valley's top contender was a brutal one. On January 5, 2026, Illinois State faced Montana State at FirstBank Stadium.
- Final Score: Montana State 35, Illinois State 34 (OT)
- The Context: The Redbirds were down by 14 points in the fourth quarter.
- The Finish: They forced overtime but fell just a single point short.
It’s the kind of score that haunts a locker room, but for the conference, it was a massive statement of depth. Even with Missouri State moving up to the FBS and joining Conference USA for the 2025-26 season, the "Valley" remains the deepest pool of talent in the FCS.
Breaking Down the 2025 Regular Season Standings
If you just look at the raw numbers, the North Dakota State Bison still look like the kings. They finished the regular season with a dominant 12-1 overall record and went a perfect 8-0 in conference play. But the scores tell a story of closer games than in years past.
North Dakota State’s offense was an absolute juggernaut, averaging 41.1 points per game. Meanwhile, their defense was a brick wall, giving up only 13 points on average. That’s a 28-point margin of victory. It’s hard to beat that kind of math.
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- North Dakota State: 12-1 (8-0 Conf)
- South Dakota: 10-5 (6-2 Conf)
- Illinois State: 12-5 (5-3 Conf)
- Youngstown State: 8-5 (5-3 Conf)
- North Dakota: 8-6 (5-3 Conf)
You’ve got a massive logjam in the middle there. Southern Illinois and South Dakota State both had flashes of brilliance, but they struggled with consistency. The Salukis ended with a 7-5 record, while the Jackrabbits—who usually dominate—slipped to 9-5. It’s wild to think that a 9-win season for SDSU feels like a "down" year, but that’s the standard these teams have built.
Why the Missouri Valley Conference Football Scores Matter for 2026
So, what does this mean for the upcoming season? Recruitment. 247Sports already has the 2026 rankings trickling in, and the Bison are leading the way with 30 commits. They are loading up to ensure that a 29-28 upset doesn't happen again.
There’s also the "Missouri Valley" school (NAIA) to keep track of—often confused with the conference itself. Their 2025-26 season was a bit of a struggle, finishing 3-7 overall. They had some high-scoring heartbreakers, like a 36-35 loss to William Woods and a massive 48-41 shootout win against Culver-Stockton. Different level, same drama.
Key Takeaways for Fans
- Defense still wins (most) games: NDSU's 13.0 points-allowed average is the gold standard.
- Road wins are the new currency: Illinois State proved that you can lose at home and still make a historic run if you can win on the bus.
- The gap is closing: The scores between the #1 and #6 teams in the conference are tighter than they were five years ago.
If you’re tracking missouri valley conference football scores for betting or just pure fandom, pay attention to the turnover margins. Teams like North Dakota and South Dakota State were uncharacteristically sloppy at times in late 2025, which led to those "weird" scores where a favorite loses by a field goal.
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Moving Forward into the 2026 Season
Right now, the coaches are back in the weight room. Brock Spack and his staff at Illinois State were back in the office just days after the January title game. They know they’re only two points away from a trophy.
The schedule for the 2026 season is going to be grueling. With the formalization of the new conference structure between the MVC and the MVFC that took effect in July 2025, the administrative side is smoother, but the play on the field is getting more violent. You're going to see more emphasis on "hybrid" defenses to stop the dual-threat quarterbacks that have started to take over the league.
To stay ahead, keep an eye on the spring camp reports. The scores we see in September will be dictated by who found a reliable kicker in March. In a conference where three of the biggest games last year were decided by one point, the special teams unit is basically the most important room in the building.
Start by looking at the returning starters for Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois. Both teams underperformed their expected win totals based on their yardage, which usually means a "bounce-back" year is coming in 2026. Keep those scoreboards bookmarked; it’s going to be a loud autumn.