Looking back: In one of the most bizarre seasons experienced by any conference at any level in quite some time, the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) saw five of its nine members lose five games a piece overall, as the 2010 season ended. If that wasn't enough, after Northern Iowa and Western Illinois claimed first and second place finishes, respectively, six teams finished in a six-way tie for third place, at 4-4 in MVFC action.
The "silly season" for the MVFC continued deep into the postseason, as North Dakota State rolled past Robert Morris (Pa.), followed by an upset win over No. 4 national seed Montana State, to advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs. There, the Bison bowed to the eventual national champion Eastern Washington, 38-31, in overtime.
Two other teams advanced to the FCS playoffs, only to be eliminated sooner than North Dakota. Second place Western Illinois outlasted Coastal Carolina, 17-10, in the first round, before being crushed by Appalachian State, 42-14, in the second round. MVFC champion Northern Iowa fell in round one, losing to Lehigh in a low-scoring game, 14-7.
Looking ahead: Expect more of the unexpected in the MVFC in 2011. Don't be surprised if one of the middle-of-the pack teams come out of nowhere to finish on top this season. As for the 2012 season, the MVFC will welcome South Dakota into the fold, bringing the total number of schools in the league to 10.
Website: http://www.valley-football.org/
Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)
1. Western Illinois (8-5): Head Coach Mark Hendrickson welcomes back 22 starters in hopes that the Leathernecks will make another deep playoff run in 2011.
2. Northern Iowa (7-5): The Panthers also have multiple starters returning for this season, as 10 of those 19 returnees play on the defensive side of the football.
3. North Dakota State (9-5): Can the Bison match last year's success? Key games against UNI, as well as WIU, late in the season, could make or break their season.
4. Illinois State (6-5): The Redbirds hope to advance to the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2006.
5. Indiana State (6-5): After multiple losing seasons over the last decade-plus, the Sycamores finally finished above .500 last year. Hopefully, the upward move will continue for them in 2011.
6. Southern Illinois (5-6): The Salukis hope to get back in both the MVFC title, and playoff hunt, after a disappointing 2010 season. They had made seven straight trips to the FCS playoffs prior to last year.
7. South Dakota State (5-6): The Jackrabbits hope to make their second FCS playoff appearance in three years this season.
8. Missouri State (5-6): How's this for a brutal start to the season? The Bears will play four straight road games to start off 2011, including two games against Arkansas from the SEC, as well as BCS national runner-up Oregon from the Pac-12.
9. Youngstown State (3-8): The Penguins face a long, uphill climb to the top after suffering their worst finish since 1986, when they finished 2-9.
4 years ago
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