Missouri State Bears 2025 Preview Written By: Danny Oakmont Twitter: @The_BigSleazy
Missouri State University Bears
Head Coach: Ryan Beard- At School and Overall: (12-11) 2 years
OC : Nick Petrino; DC: LD Scott
2024 Record: 8-4 (FCS)
Impact Players: QB Jacob Clark, RB Shomari Lawrence, RB King Davis, WR James Blackstrain, WR Jmariyae Robinson, TE Lance Mason, S JJ O’Neal, DB Dylan Simmons
Offense:
The Bears’ offense has the benefit of a 7th year signal caller to lead the offense. QB Jacob Clark returns to the FBS after being one of the best quarterbacks in the FCS last season. Clark will benefit from playing behind an experienced o-line. Also in the backfield is the versatile Shomari Lawrence, who comes over from CUSA member FIU. On the outside, Clark loses his top targets from a year ago, but pass catches James Blackstrain and Jmariyae Robinson are slotted to take over.
Defense:
The Bear defense was hit hard by the portal this offseason and scrambled to try to sign players of their own to fill the holes. S JJ O’Neal and S EJ Williams are 2 of 3 returning starters on the defensive side and will be looked at to lead the unit. With the mix of players returning from injury and new faces from the transfer portal, it is tough to predict how well this unit will perform. Opening up against Lincoln Riley and USC will be a brutal first test but should show which players are willing to step up and take a larger role in the defense.
Analysis:
Missouri State, along with CUSA member Delaware, made the jump to the FBS this season. The Bears haven’t beaten an FBS opponent in over 30 years. Now facing a schedule with FBS teams every week, 2025 figures to be an adjustment period for the program. However, that is to be expected when a team makes the jump to the next level and the 2025 season will be viewed more as laying the groundwork for the future of the program and less about immediate success.
2025 Record Floor: 2-10
2025 Record Ceiling: 6-6
2025 Record Prediction: 4-8
