Missouri Valley Football re-tools league schedules with addition of Murray State

North Dakota State and the University of North Dakota will each match up with the league's newest member, Murray State University in this two-year rotation.

The Fighting Hawks will head to Murray, Kentucky on November 4th, 2023. The Racers will come to Fargo the week before on October 28th.

Murray State's addition to the league brings the Valley to 12 schools, which changed the rotation for the conference.

"Our athletic directors did a deep dive into what the schedules should look like. It was really important that we play each other often." Valley commissioner Patty Viverito said on the league's media day earlier this month.

"To have this work, we need to have a six year plan, we think we have a close enough look at it that it's going to be acceptable."

Viverito told WDAY's Dom Izzo back in April when the Racers were first admitted to the league that divisions were considered but ultimately not pursued. The biggest considerations were given to maximizing bus trips and protecting rivalries.

While for fans of the Dakota schools that means those games aren't going anywhere, it also serves as a large competitive disadvantage.

All four Dakota schools have made the playoffs over the last two seasons, while the eastern side of the Valley has seen just Youngstown State make the postseason and that last happened in 2016.

"Everybody has input into the league office and what they want for schedules." Todd Phelps, NDSU's deputy athletic director said.

"The Missouri Valley has a tough job, they are trying to balance everyone's needs, but they have a tough job to do."

Each Valley team will have three teams rotate off the schedule. For this upcoming season and next, NDSU was scheduled to not play Northern Iowa or Missouri State. Now with the revamped schedules, both the Panthers and Bears are back on the schedule.

The Bison now will not play Indiana State, Illinois State or Youngstown State beginning next season.

NDSU has played the Penguins every year since joining the Valley in 2008. The Redbirds rotated off the Bison schedule famously in 2014, the two schools then ended up playing for the national championship that January.

Indiana State already rotated off in 2018 and 2019. The two schools were scheduled to play in 2020, but ISU opted out of the spring season. NDSU beat Indiana State 44-2 in October of 2021 and the Bison will head to Terre Haute for the first time in five seasons this October.

The 2023 schedule has a couple of quirks for the Bison, which includes just one road trip in the first five weeks of the season and that is only three and a half hours to Minneapolis. That season begins with a destination game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 2nd against Eastern Washington.

The last two road games will be tough in November, at South Dakota State and Northern Iowa.

In 2024, NDSU will put on the miles. The Bison will play games in Colorado, Tennessee and Kentucky. That year is a 12 game schedule for FCS schools. The Bison haven't completed their schedule but are close, with the impeding signing of a home and home series with Tennessee State. NDSU would host the Tigers in 2024, with a return trip to Nashville the following season.

NDSU 2023 schedule

Sept. 2nd vs Eastern Washington (US Bank Stadium)

Sept. 9th vs Maine

Sept. 16th vs Central Arkansas

Sept. 23rd BYE WEEK

Sept. 30th vs South Dakota

Oct. 7th at Missouri State

Oct. 14th at North Dakota

Oct. 21st vs Western Illinois

Oct. 28th vs Murray State

Nov. 4th at South Dakota State

Nov. 11th vs Southern Illinois

Nov. 18th at Northern Iowa

NDSU 2024 schedule (12 game season)

Aug. 31st at Colorado

Sept. 7th vs Tennessee State (probable)

Sept. 14th at East Tennessee State

Sept. 21st vs Towson

Sept. 28th BYE WEEK ?

Oct. 5th at Murray State

Oct. 12th vs Missouri State

Oct. 19th at Southern Illinois

Oct. 26th vs North Dakota

Nov. 2nd at Western Illinois

Nov. 9th vs South Dakota State

Nov. 16th vs Northern Iowa

Nov. 23rd at South Dakota