Missouri State football is less than two-and-a-half months away from running out of the tunnel at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to take on USC during its first season in Conference USA and the FBS level. Outside of the
Bears ' Sept. 20 game against UT Martin, they will face a new-look schedule as they try to make a good impression on their new league.
The schedule features a home game against SMU, which is coming off a College Football Playoff appearance, and a home matchup with Conference USA-contending Western Kentucky.
Aug. 30: at USC
Jayden Maiava enters 2025 as Lincoln Riley's next quarterback. He took over the
Trojans ' offense late last season after transferring from UNLV. He was a 59.8% passer for 1,201 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions across seven appearances and four starts. We know Riley's offense can produce great passers, which has included Heisman winners Caleb Williams, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. USC's transfer class ranks 18th in the FBS, with the most notable names being Purdue transfer interior offensive lineman
D.J. Wingfield , San Jose State corner
D.J. Harvey , Georgia defensive tackle
Jamaal Jarrett and Kentucky defensive lineman
Keeshawn Silver , who all ranked as four-star transfers. The Trojans struggled getting after the passer in their first Big Ten season, ranking 99th in the nation in sacks and 122nd in team tackles for loss. Believe it or not, the Trojans took significant steps in improving their defense last year under first-year defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn.
Sept. 6: at Marshall
The Thundering Herd had a major roster overhaul this offseason after Charles Huff departed the Sun Belt champion to remain in the league and join Southern Miss. Many of his players went with him, leaving new coach Tony Gibson, the defensive coordinator at North Carolina State, looking to fill a roster. According to 247Sports, Marshall has landed 54 players in the transfer portal, which features a handful of former four-star prospects. Rod Smith, the offensive coordinator under Rich Rodriguez at Jacksonville State, will hold the same position at Marshall, where he has brought quarterback
Zion Smith with him, as well as Syracuse transfer
Carlos Del Rio-Wilson . The QB will run the ball, along with UNLV transfer running back
Michael Allen and McNeese State transfer
Jo'Shon Barbie. Defensively? Who knows what to expect? This program is in for an interesting year. Marshall will warm up for its game against Missouri State by playing... Georgia.
Sept. 13: SMU
SMU has a team that can return to the College Football Playoff and win an ACC championship. Somehow, former MSU athletic director Kyle Moats convinced the Mustangs to come to Springfield. Quarterback
Kevin Jennings , who, funny enough, committed to Missouri State when Bobby Petrino was in town, will continue to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country. The offensive line is expected to be better, with a new running back taking over after Brashard Smith left for the Kansas City Chiefs. Defensively, the Mustangs had the seventh-best rush defense, were 10th in sacks and intercepted the 14th most passes in the country. This group is great.
Sept. 20: UT Martin
The Bears held on for a 31-24 win at UT Martin last year after taking a 31-14 lead over the Skyhawks early in the fourth quarter. UT Martin went on to make the second round of the FCS Playoffs. The Skyhawks will have a new QB, with Sam Houston/Central Michigan transfer
Jase Bauer ,
Grambling State transfer
Julian Chavez and Lake Erie College transfer
Hunter Geissinger in the mix for the starting job. They're also replacing many of their skill positions after graduation and the portal. Akron transfer receiver
Phaizon Wilson was a four-star out of high school. Defensively, the Skyhawks had the sixth-best run defense in the FCS and were one of the best in creating turnovers.
Sept. 27: Western Kentucky*
Beard's alma mater is expected to be a Conference USA contender after finishing as the CUSA runner-up in 2024. Abilene Christian transfer QB
Maverick McIvor (awesome QB name) will likely start, and the
Hilltoppers bring in a pair of top-tier weapons in Western Illinois transfer
Matthew Henry and BYU transfer
Kody Epps. WKU brings back a pair of defensive backs, a quality linebacker in
Anthony Brackenridge and adds San Diego State transfer defensive end
Dominic Oliver .
Oct. 8: at Middle Tennessee*
Middle Tennessee QB
Nicholas Vattiato became the second in Blue Raiders history to throw for 3,000 yards in consecutive seasons. He's back and will have UCF transfer
Tyree Patterson and Arizona transfer
A.J. Jones to throw to. Defensive end
Anthony Bynum was an All-CUSA freshman, with linebacker
Parker Hughes returning after making 69 tackles. The Blue Raiders were among the FBS's worst in creating turnovers while also allowing nearly 450 yards per game.
Oct. 22: at New Mexico State*
New Mexico State is in its second season under Tony Sanchez after a 3-9 finish in 2024. The Aggies already have a new offensive coordinator with FIU's OC from last season, David Yost, moving within the league. A familiar foe will start at QB for the Aggies in Montana transfer
Logan Fife. NM State ranked second-to-last in CUSA last year in passing. Fife was brought off the bench against Missouri State in last year's season opener at Montana when he completed 5 of 7 passes for 90 yards and a score. The Aggies return their top rusher and top two receivers. The Aggies ranked last in points allowed per game (36.5 points) and second-to-last in yards allowed (446.8). They were also the worst in takeaways and sacks.
Oct. 29: Florida International*
FIU enters its first season under former Duke running back coach Willie Simmons after Mike MacIntyre was canned following his third season. The Panthers were transfer-heavy this offseason, adding several Miami (Florida) players from the portal, as well as others from the South Florida pipeline. Keeping starting QB
Keyonte Jenkins was a win, while the running back room is a little more crowded. Miami transfer
Ajay Allen is the most intriguing name when he started a game for the Hurricanes in 2023. The team's defense was solid last year, allowing the 16th fewest passing yards and leading CUSA in sacks. Cleaning up the rushing offense is the next step after allowing an average of 191.3 yards last year.
Nov. 8: at Liberty*
Another favorite to win the league, Liberty will have some major changes in its offense after QB Kaidon Salter left for Deion Sanders and Colorado, and RB Quinton Cooley joined the Canadian Football League. Coastal Carolina transfer
Ethan Vasko and North Carolina transfer
Michael Merdinger will compete to start. Flames receiver
Julian Gray could start at running back. The defense had a lot of turnover, especially on the defensive line. NC State transfer
D.J. Jackson is among the top replacements on the line. Michigan transfer
Micah Pollard also looks to be a potential starter at linebacker.
Nov. 15: UTEP*
The Bears' lone contest with UTEP as CUSA members before UTEP joins the Mountain West will see the Miners try to bounce back from a 3-9 season. They made headlines when they landed former five-star quarterback
Malachi Nelson out of Boise State, but still may lean on
Skyler Locklear after he completed 64% of his passes for 1,583 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions for the Miners last year. They have a pair of All-CUSA selections at receiver in
Kenny Odom and
Kam Thomas. The defense will need to take a step forward after allowing 32.3 points per game. That recipe doesn't bode well for an offense that averaged under 20 points last year.
Nov. 22: at Kennesaw State*
The Owls will have a new look this year after parting ways with long-time coach Brian Bohannon, a descendant of the Paul Johnson tree at Georgia Tech. They will be led by former Jacksonville Jaguars running back coach Jerry Mack. Georgia Southern transfer
Dexter Williams II and Wofford transfer
Amari Odom are fighting for the starting QB job. The team only has one returning receiver who had over 200 yards last season. The defense will have seven of their top nine tacklers back, including a pair of All-CUSA corners.
Nov. 29: Louisiana Tech*
Louisiana Tech is entering an important year under Sonny Cumbie in his fourth season. He has a lot of returners, including QB
Evan Bullock, who threw for 2,107 yards, 14 scores and three interceptions as a freshman. The defense allowed the fewest yards of any team in CUSA, and returns an experienced secondary, including one of the league's best safety duos, who combined for 114 tackles last season.
