2024 Game 11 Preview: Missouri State

[Professor Chaos]

This is going to be a much bigger game than pretty much anyone thought coming into the season. Both teams come in tied for 1st in the conference at 6-0 in MVFC play so the winner guarantees themselves at least a share of the conference title (assuming the MVFC allows Missouri St to be eligible which they haven't said for sure yet as far as I'm aware). The Bears have a prolific offense to say the least but their defense has had lapses at times this season (like last week when they allowed Murray St to hang around). Here's the tale of the tape:




So this game will feature the #1 and #2 ranked teams in the FCS in terms of team passing efficiency. I would guess that, along with Tommy Mellott from Montana St, it'll feature 2 of the top 3 players in the running for the Walter Payton Award in Cam Miller and Missouri St QB Jacob Clark (3171 passing yards, 25 TDs, 6 INTs, 73% completion percentage, 179.96 rating) assuming Clark is eligible with Missouri St transitioning to FBS.

Clark isn't much of a runner though and Missouri St's run offense in general is pretty pedestrian so if the Bison offense can dominate the TOP and the Bison pass rush can get after Clark they've got the ingredients to win the game. This Bears team kind of reminds me of a lite version of Colorado.

[ndsubison1]

THis will be a test for our pass defense, and need to be able to get to the QB to disrupt them. Im not too worried, but if we shoot ourselves in the foot it could be a close game. If we turn them over we win big.

[StecMSU]

This Bears team kind of reminds me of a lite version of Colorado.

I see some parallels. Coach Prime didn't want to put too much of their offense on film and went easy on the Bison in week one, but Coach Beard and the Bears are going to open it up and Jacob Clark is fixing to wreck things in the Fargo Dome. Perfect timing.

[Professor Chaos]

I see some parallels. Coach Prime didn't want to put too much of their offense on film and went easy on the Bison in week one, but Coach Beard and the Bears are going to open it up and Jacob Clark is fixing to wreck things in the Fargo Dome. Perfect timing.

Coach Prime also has multiple NFL WRs and a 1st round NFL QB on his offense - none of that will be on the Bears sideline this Saturday. I like the confidence though - it's not crazy (like it typically would be) to think that Missouri St could win in the Fargodome.

NDSU has also ironed out some issues in the defensive secondary since that Colorado game - although I still expect them to give up plenty of yards to Clark and company playing their 2-deep zone most of the game.

[Kevin]

i haven't followed misery state in years. are they still just a team full of fbs reject transfers?

[Professor Chaos]

i haven't followed misery state in years. are they still just a team full of fbs reject transfers?

Survey says..... YES

40 transfers on the roster: https://missouristatebears.com/sports/football/roster

Here is the aforementioned Jacob Clark from 2019 (he's a 6th year guy):

[StecMSU]

In moving up to Conference USA there is a hope we can recruit Missouri better finally. Outside of the Southeast Missouri, much of this state doesn't really pay attention to FCS football. In the transfer portal era, it would be foolish not to recruit a lot of transfers especially when we are located close to Oklahoma and Texas.

We'll be forever indebted to people like Bobby Petrino, Ryan Beard, and Nick Petrino being willing to take a chance on a football program in 2020 that was having similar attendance to Nixa High School just south of town. They've completely turned this thing around and the FCS world is lucky that we are not eligible for the playoffs in our last season at this level. We'll be one of those teams that is better at the FBS level than we were in FCS.

[tony]

I see some parallels. Coach Prime didn't want to put too much of their offense on film and went easy on the Bison in week one, but Coach Beard and the Bears are going to open it up and Jacob Clark is fixing to wreck things in the Fargo Dome. Perfect timing.

Coach Prime sure didn't put a running game on film against NDSU. Pretty bold move considering that they were down at the half.

I'm flattered that the Bears waited 11 games to unleash their real offense instead of waiting for SDSU. I agree with previous posters: if NDSU is going to slow down Missouri State, they've got to make Jacob Clark uncomfortable. He looked like an NFL QB in the action I saw. Edit: And the WRs are outstanding.

[ndsubison1]

I see some parallels. Coach Prime didn't want to put too much of their offense on film and went easy on the Bison in week one, but Coach Beard and the Bears are going to open it up and Jacob Clark is fixing to wreck things in the Fargo Dome. Perfect timing.

If they went easy on us they wouldve lost.

[Twentysix]

This game is being overbilled. It wont be close.