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.
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