Bears Tabbed Eighth in AFCA Preseason Top 25

SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State is ranked No. 8 in the American Football Coaches Association Preseason Top 25 football poll released Monday (Aug. 15).

Along with the weekly Stats Perform Top 25, the AFCA poll is considered the official rankings for FCS college football. Missouri State is tabbed No. 5 in the Stats Perform Preseason Top 25.

The AFCA Top 25 features five Missouri Valley Football Conference programs, including the Bears at No. 8, North Dakota State (1), South Dakota State (3), Southern Illinois (9), and Northern Iowa (21). The opponent for Missouri State’s home opener, UT Martin, is ranked No. 15 in the AFCA preseason rankings, with other 2022 Bears foes South Dakota, UCA and North Dakota, receiving votes.
 
Coach Bobby Petrino enters his third season as Missouri State head coach with 17 starters and 41 lettermen returning from an 8-4 squad that finished as runners-up in the Missouri Valley while making the NCAA FCS Playoffs for the second straight season.

MSU was ranked No. 5 in the Stats Perform Preseason Top 25 on Aug. 8 and the Athlon Sports Top 25 on August 2, while being picked No. 6 in the Hero Sports Preseason Top 25 on May 18.

Missouri State kicks off the 2022 season on Thursday, Sept. 1 at Central Arkansas before the club’s home opener a week later on Sept. 8 in a playoff rematch against UT Martin at Robert W. Plaster Stadium. 
 
Missouri State season tickets are currently on sale by calling (417) 836-8899, with single-game tickets also on sale starting today at MissouriStateBears.com or by calling (417) 836-7678.

AFCA PRESEASON FCS TOP 25
1. North Dakota St. (24)
2. Montana
3. South Dakota St. (1) 
4. Montana St. 
5. Villanova
6. Kennesaw St.
7. Sacramento St. 
8. Missouri St. 
9. Southern Illinois 
10. Stephen F. Austin
11. East Tennessee St.
12. Eastern Washington 
13. Chattanooga
14. UIW 
15. UT Martin 
16. Southeastern Louisiana
17. Jackson St.
18. Holy Cross
19. Delaware
20. Weber St.
21. Northern Iowa
22. UC Davis 
23. Mercer
t24. Rhode Island 
t24. Richmond

Others Receiving Votes: South Dakota, 49; Florida A&M, 44; Harvard, 38; South Carolina St., 38; Princeton, 29; Central Arkansas, 23; Eastern Kentucky, 18; Dartmouth, 17; Nicholls, 8; Furman, 6; North Carolina A&T, 6; William & Mary, 6; Murray St., 5; Davidson, 3; Fordham, 3; Southeast Missouri St., 3; North Dakota, 2; Utah Tech, 2; Austin Peay, 1; Elon, 1.