Missouri State Football Preview 2025: The Bears Are Ready Right Away For the FBS

Miami Herald

25-06-2025

It's not like Missouri State has a deep, rich history of success, but it's been good enough over the last few years to be ready to hit the FBS ground running.Southwest Missouri State started playing football in 1909, but didn't move up into the real world until 1986. In all that time, it made a little bit of noise and got to the D-IAA/FCS playoffs four times. From 2011 to 2023, the Bears enjoyed just one winning season, but the eight wins last season were the most since 1990. Head coach Ryan Beard has his team ready for Conference USA. This won't be some new program that's all happy to be called up to The Show. There's enough talent here to do some real damage right away.
- The Missouri State offense is dangerous. It was third in the nation last season in passing efficiency, third down conversions weren't a problem, and overall, it averaged 425 yards and 35 points per game. It should all keep going because …- Jacob Clark is back. The 6-5, 220-pound former Minnesota transfer bombed away for over 3,600 yards with 26 touchdowns and six picks. If he gets time, he's deadly. The Bears got a nice backup option in Drew Viotto from Eastern Michigan, and …
- The receiving corps brought in a few terrific new options. Isaiah McMorris (Nebraska) is a quick prospect who should quickly step into a role, and Dillon Hipp (Ole Miss) should take over at tight end with Lance Mason off to Wisconsin.Leading receiver Hunter Wood is gone, but Jmariyae Robinson and James BlackStrain are big play options who know what they're doing. Now …
- The offensive line has to do more to give the passing game time to work. It struggled in pass protection and didn't do enough for the ground game, but it was a young bunch, and almost everyone is back around all-star center Cash Hudson.- The Bears lost their top rushers - Jacardia Wright and Jayden Becks (gone to North Texas) - combined for close to 1,400 yards with 21 touchdowns, but Shomari Lawrence (FIU) brings experience, and Josh Joyner (Washington State) is a smallish, quick option who'll be used in a variety of ways.
- The defense pulled off a few shocking moments in 2024, and it was fantastic at getting to the quarterback, but it got ripped apart by North Dakota State and South Dakota State - no shame there - to close ugly. It's not nearly as experienced as the offensive side, and it'll be a struggle at times, starting with …- The linebacking corps will need fall camp to come together. Dallas Winner-Johnson (gone to Tulane) and Michael Teason (gone to TCU) would've been the stars of the defense after finishing second and third in tackles, respectively.Jalen Brooks (Campbell) was fantastic last year for the Camels, and Kanye Young started late in the season in the middle, finishing with 46 tackles with two sacks.
- The ends are strong, and the interior could use some more options to go with 310-pound Gilles Techie and 275-pound Mitchell Toney. The Bears are solid on the outside as long as transfer DJ Wesolak (Oregon State) is ready for a starting role right away. Davon Townley showed a few flashes last season, and Caleb Dietlin was third on the team with 3.5 sacks, with four quarterback hurries in a limited role.
- The secondary took a hit at corner thanks to the portal, but Antonio Smith (Florida Atlantic) should be an instant fix at one spot, and Jordan Dunbar (Bowling Green) should help. Safety Christian Ford (Arkansas) is good enough to have given a Power Four program a shot. Dylan Dixson is a good freelancing playmaker who should do more, and JJ O'Neal was a decent starter, making 43 tackles with six broken up passes at strong safety.
Missouri State Bears Key to the Season
Give Jacob Clark as much time as possible to work.The star quarterback has the running backs to take the heat off, the receiving corps is good, and the line is loaded with veterans who should be better.The Bears gave up over three sacks per game and too much pressure, and now, considering the defense won't be anything great, Clark needs to get all the time he can to be fantastic in shootouts.
Missouri State Bears Key Player
Stewart McDonald, P RFr.It might not seem like a punter should be the most important player, but the defense could use as much field position help as it can get in its first year in the FBS.The Bears have a star kicker in Yousef Obeid, but they lost Grant Burkett, who had a monster year, averaging 44 yards per kick, putting 15 inside the 20. McDonald might not do that, but he has to be solid.
Missouri State Bears Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss
Top Transfer In: Jalen Brooks, LB Sr.At least, it's the hope that he turns into one of the top transfers for a linebacking corps that needs the help. The former North Carolina Tar Heel moved over to Campbell, where he tackled everything last season, making 118 tackles with four sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss.Top Transfer Out: Lance Mason, TE Sr.The Bears brought in a few nice tight end prospects to help pick up the slack, but Mason was a star who'll be missed after averaging 17.4 yards per catch on 34 grabs with six scores. Now he'll be a key part of the Wisconsin attack.
Missouri State Bears Key Game
WKU, Sept. 27Where, exactly, does Missouri State stand in its first season at the higher level? It might be able to battle at Marshall, and it should beat UT Martin, but it'll lose to USC and SMU. WKU has the talent to win the Conference USA title, but the Bears need to pull off something big with the next two games on the road. Also, this is the last home game for a month.- 2025 Missouri State Schedule Breakdown
Missouri State Bears Top 10 Players
1. Jacob Clark, QB Sr.2. Cash Hudson, C Jr.3. Jmariyae Robinson, WR Jr.4. Jalen Brooks, LB Sr.5. Shomari Lawrence, RB Sr.6. Kanye Young, LB Sr.7. JJ O'Neal, S Sr.8. James BlackStrain, WR Sr.9. Yousef Obeid, PK Soph.10. Josh Joyner, RB RFr.
Missouri State Bears 2024 Fun Stats
- Sacks: Opponents 40 for 247 yards, Missouri State 31 for 194 yards- Kickoff Returns: Missouri State 23.6 yards, Opponents 15.7 yards- Interception Return Yards: Missouri State 134 (on 12 picks), Opponents 7 (on 6 picks)
Missouri State Bears 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
It's possible to be solid right away in Conference USA - Jacksonville State did it, and Sam Houston stepped up last year - but it'll be an uneven year.USC will do whatever it wants in the season opener, and SMU will go off, but other than a date at Liberty, there's nothing else that would seem totally shocking if the new guys pulled it off.
UT Martin needs to be a win, and there should be a few victories out of home games against FIU, Louisiana Tech, and UTEP to come up with a decent showing in the debut campaign.Set The Missouri State Win Total At … 4Likely Wins: UT Martin50/50 Games: FIU, at Kennesaw State, Louisiana Tech, at Marshall, at Middle Tennessee, at New Mexico State, UTEP, WKULikely Losses: at Liberty, SMU, at USC
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