MVFC Unveils 2026 Nine-Team, Eight-Game Round-Robin Schedule After NDSU Exit

The Missouri Valley Football Conference released a revised 2026 schedule after North Dakota State elected to move to the Mountain West, announcing a nine-team alignment that will play an eight-game true round‑robin with each program getting four conference home dates and four conference road dates. Mike Kern, the MVFC senior associate commissioner, said, "the league schedule will be adjusted so all nine teams will play a complete round-robin schedule of eight games."

The nine MVFC members listed for 2026 are Illinois State, Indiana State, Murray State, North Dakota, Northern Iowa, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, and Youngstown State. A statement on NDSU's departure noted, "North Dakota State University has been a distinguished and esteemed member of the [MVFC] for the past 18 seasons, significantly contributing to the conference's unparalleled success. We extend our best wishes to the Bison in their future endeavors and know that the MVFC will continue to maintain its position as the preeminent FCS conference."

The dated conference slate runs Sept. 26 through Nov. 21, beginning Sept. 26 with Illinois State at Northern Iowa, North Dakota at Indiana State, Southern Illinois at Murray State, and South Dakota at Youngstown State. Key midseason matchups include South Dakota State at Illinois State on Oct. 3, North Dakota at Northern Iowa on Oct. 10, and Northern Iowa at Youngstown State on Oct. 17. The schedule culminates Nov. 21 with South Dakota at Illinois State, Indiana State at South Dakota State, Northern Iowa at Murray State, and Southern Illinois at North Dakota. The annual South Dakota vs South Dakota State rivalry is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings; kickoff time will be announced later.

The conference release also listed an early non-conference slate. On Thursday, Aug. 27 Youngstown State hosts Mercyhurst, North Dakota hosts LIU, and Murray State hosts Eastern Illinois. Saturday, Aug. 29 has Southeast Missouri at Indiana State and CCSU at South Dakota. Thursday, Sept. 3 lists Southern Illinois at Samford. Saturday, Sept. 5 includes Murray State at Middle Tennessee, Northern Iowa at Eastern Washington, South Dakota at Northern Colorado, St. Thomas at North Dakota, Youngstown State at Kentucky, Indiana State at Purdue, Illinois State at Western Illinois, and South Dakota State at Northwestern. The NCAA allows FCS programs a 12-game regular season, so MVFC schools can schedule up to four nonconference opponents; four Valley programs still have one nonconference opening each, Illinois State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, and Southern Illinois.

Local team context underscores the competitive stakes. Illinois State, which finished 3-9 overall and 1-7 in the Valley last season, will open nonconference play Aug. 29 vs Southeast Missouri State and host North Dakota on Sept. 26 before finishing at South Dakota State on Nov. 21. Indiana State had been slated to play at North Dakota State on Nov. 7 under earlier calendars; the revised slate shows Indiana State at Northern Iowa on Oct. 31, reflecting how the Bison's move reshuffled Valley dates and opponents.

Start times and television windows were not included with the initial release and will be announced later; the conference provided the date-specific slate to schedule services and outlets after reworking the calendar. The MVFC's nine-team, eight-game round‑robin preserves conference continuity from Sept. 26 to Nov. 21 while opening midweek and nonconference windows that several programs can use to pursue FBS opponents, regional rivals, and recruiting and revenue opportunities.