Missouri State University is a long-time member of the Missouri Valley Conference and has participated in the FCS/I-AA since 1981.
MISSOURI, USA — Missouri State University will move up to college football’s highest division of Division I in 2025 and join Conference USA, it was announced Friday.
Missouri State becomes CUSA’s 12th full member and the third school to join the league by moving up from the Championship Division to the Bowl Division over the next two seasons.
Conference USA will join Kennesaw State this season and Delaware State will join in 2025. Both schools are also scheduled to move up from FCS to Division I FBS.
Missouri State University is a longtime member of the Missouri Valley Conference and has competed in the FCS/I-AA since 1981. The Bears have reached the NCAA playoffs four times, including in 2020 and 2021 under then-coach Bobby Petrino.
“This institution boasts a great athletic and academic tradition that will strengthen our membership and further elevate our standing for long-term success on the national landscape,” said CUSA Secretary Judy. MacLeod stated.
Conference USA lost six members to the American Athletic Conference but rebuilt last year with the addition of former independents such as Liberty State, New Mexico State and former FCS schools Sam Houston State and Jacksonville State.
The remaining teams in Conference USA include Louisiana Tech, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee State, UTEP, and Florida International.
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