(STATS) – FCS dynasty North Dakota State has had trouble landing FBS opponents – a 9-3 all-time record against them will do that – but the big boys of Division I have to be leery about facing any Missouri Valley Football Conference team.
The MVFC is the only FCS conference that has posted at least one FBS win in every season during the 2010s. Last year, Illinois State pushed the streak to nine seasons.
As FCS programs seek to make their mark again this year, here’s a look at the games involving Missouri Valley teams:
The Matchups (9) – Illinois State: Northern Illinois (Aug. 31); Indiana State: Kansas (Aug. 31); Missouri State: Tulane (Sept. 14); Northern Iowa: Iowa State (Aug. 31); South Dakota: Oklahoma (Sept. 7): South Dakota State: Minnesota (Aug. 29); Southern Illinois: Massachusetts (Sept. 7) and Arkansas State (Sept. 21); Western Illinois: Colorado State (Sept. 7)
Glamour Game – South Dakota at Oklahoma (Sept. 7): A home opener with Montana precedes the Coyotes’ first-ever trip to Norman for a matchup with the seven-time national champion Sooners. It’s the second of four straight seasons USD is facing the Big 12 after falling 27-24 at Kansas State last year.
Upset Alert – South Dakota State at Minnesota (Aug. 29) and Illinois State at Northern Illinois (Aug. 31): Could opening weekend turn golden for the MVFC? South Dakota State returns an experienced lineup from its second straight FCS semifinalist and Illinois State has won its last two FBS games (Northwestern in 2016 and Colorado State last year).
Notable – Two-time defending FCS national champion North Dakota State, which has won six straight games against FBS opponents, won’t have its next chance until visiting Oregon on Sept. 5, 2020. … Youngstown State also isn’t facing an FBS opponent this season. … Southern Illinois is playing two FBS opponents (UMass and Arkansas State) for the first time since 1993. The Salukis have three all-time FBS wins. … Iowa State is well-versed with Northern Iowa, which posted wins over the Cyclones in 2013 and ’16. … Indiana State lost previous meetings with Kansas in 1995 and ’96. Kansas has opened two of the last four seasons with losses to FCS programs (South Dakota State in 2015 and Nicholls last season). … Among first-time meetings, Missouri State is facing Tulane and Western Illinois is taking on Colorado State.
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