Watch Missouri State football coach Ryan Beard on media day
Ryan Beard speaks to the media during the Missouri State football team’s annual media day at Plaster Stadium on Saturday, August 3, 2024.
The Missouri State football team is entering its final FCS season and there is a lot to consider when assessing the Bears’ future as they enter Conference USA.
Conference USA, an FBS league the Bears will join in 2025, produced a New Year’s Six program last season and was expected to compete for a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff. Another major storyline is the addition of Kennesaw State, which is coming off its last season in the FCS, in which it struggled.
There are a handful of things Missouri State fans should pay attention to when considering the level of play on offense and defense and how the Bears’ future opponents this year compare to familiar opponents.
Here are five things a Missouri State fan should keep an eye on throughout the 2024 Conference USA season.
More: All of our 2024 Missouri State high school football preseason coverage in one place
Can Missouri State football be immediately competitive in Conference USA?
Some metrics suggest the Bears won’t be as bad as one would think if they move up to a higher football league, but the game isn’t played with a calculator or an Excel spreadsheet. Watching the skill and level of coaching in Conference USA and then comparing it to the players and how they play this season will be one of the bigger storylines of the 2024 season.
They want Conference USA to be successful when it plays its best games against strong conference opponents. They want the league to qualify for the College Football Playoffs. The league’s national recognition will only benefit Missouri State on the field and in its bank account.
You’ll also want to see where the Bears fit in. That will depend largely on the Bears’ performance on the field this year, but there are also ways to watch CUSA games this year and get a sense of how competitive MSU is right now.
More: Missouri State Football Depth Chart Predictions: Our First Preseason Prediction Is In
How will Kennesaw State fare against Conference USA opponents in its first year?
Kennesaw State will make its Conference USA debut in 2024 after losing 6-3 in the FCS’ 84th toughest schedule last season. The Owls limited a handful of players to just four games and intentionally had them redshirt to retain their eligibility to move to a new league. Missouri State, for example, went 7-4 in the 19th toughest schedule.
Expectations are extremely low for the Owls in their first year at the next level, and we’ll say the same about Missouri State if they move up next year. Keeping an eye on Kennesaw State this season can give Bears fans an idea of what to expect in year one.
More: Missouri State football coach Ryan Beard is determined to lead the program’s challenging rebirth
Will Liberty win Conference USA and make it to the College Football Playoffs?
Liberty is a clear favorite to defend its CUSA title thanks to the return of star quarterback Kaidon Salter and running back Quinton Cooley. Their biggest challengers will likely come from Western Kentucky, Jacksonville State and up-and-coming Sam Houston.
The Flames just participated in the New Year’s Six and are considered one of the Group of 5 favorites to join the expanded College Football Playoff field. The top five ranked conference champions will be in the mix, giving a team like Liberty an opportunity to break through.
Liberty’s offseason additions included power conference transfers on defense and several big-play options at the wide receiver position.
Liberty should be as good as it gets at the Group of 5 level. Watching the Flames and comparing them to the Bears will be quite a benchmark.
More: Questions and answers with Missouri State football coach Ryan Beard, Conference USA, 2024 season, Biff Williams
How do Conference USA’s offensive and defensive lines compare to Missouri State’s?
We’ve seen the Bears get bigger and better on both offense and defense over the past few years, but they still need to make another leap to be competitive in the Group of 5.
Liberty, for example, led CUSA in allowing the second-fewest sacks in the nation last season at 0.64 per game. The starting offensive line in the Fiesta Bowl matchup with Oregon averaged 320 pounds. Only Erick Cade of MSU’s offensive line late last season weighed more than 320 pounds, with the entire unit averaging 310.6.
There’s a lot more to an offensive line than just weight, but these guys are going to be bigger and badder.
The same goes for the other side of the ball, when the Bears will look to attack the quarterback more in 2024. They took a step back in 2023, but should have more depth in 2024. You’ll see what the best defense in CUSA looks like with Maurice Westmoreland (UTEP) and Issiah Nixon (Sam Houston) rushing from the side. Liberty had the 24th best rush defense in the FBS last year, allowing 116.7 yards per game.
These 5 Conference USA games are worth watching for Missouri State fans in 2024
September 28 – UT Martin @ Kennesaw State
This game comes one week after Missouri State plays at UT Martin, so you can easily compare the Bears and the Owls and then see what Kennesaw State does the rest of the year.
Oct. 9 – New Mexico State @ Jacksonville State
Here’s a taste of Wednesday’s Conference USA football for you as you watch Jax State head coach Rich Rodriguez’s offense take on an Aggies team that had one of its best seasons in decades a year ago.
October 16 – Florida International @ UTEP
These two are ranked 8th and 9th in the CUSA to start the season, roughly where the Bears will be next year. Here’s a look at the familiar opponents the Bears have at the bottom of the standings as they try to rebuild.
November 23 – Western Kentucky @ Liberty
These two are considered the favorites in Conference USA this season. This could be the first of two meetings as they face off in a conference championship game. Yes, there is a real conference championship game in this league with a big trophy on the line. This isn’t FCS.
November 29th – Liberty @ Sam Houston
Sam Houston won the FCS national championship in the spring of 2020, defeating teams like North Dakota State, James Madison and South Dakota State. The Bearkats looked like a team with a lot of potential last season and could make a splash in 2024, their second season in Conference USA.
