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Missouri State returns to the road this week as the No. 15-ranked Bears continue MVFC play at Murray State. It will be the Bears' first trip to Roy Stewart Stadium since 2016 and the first-ever matchup between the squads in Kentucky as league foes. The Bears have won 7 straight games, the squad's longest win streak since 1990. 

Missouri State (5-0) is one of two unbeaten teams in MVFC play, along with North Dakota State (6-0). MSU's 7-game win streak is its longest since Sept. 15 to Oct. 27, 1990 and matches the 4th-longest active streak in the FCS headed into this week's competition. 

A Missouri State win against Murray State would give the Bears a: 
     - 6-0 start in conference play for the first time since 1978 (coach Rich Johanningmeier)
      - 6 conference wins for just the third time in program history (1978 and 2021)
      - 8-2 overall start for the first time since 1990 (coach Jesse Branch)
      - 8 overall wins (or more) for just the ninth time in program history and first since 2021 (coach Bobby Petrino)
      - 8-game winning streak for the first time since Oct. 28, 1988 to Oct. 7, 1989 (coach Jesse Branch)
      - 4-game road winning streak for the first time since Oct. 26, 1996 to Oct. 4, 1997 (coach Del Miller)

All-America candidate Jacob Clark (QB, Rockwall, Texas) is 170 yards away from becoming the 8th MSU passer to throw for 4,000 career yards. He is also 20 completions away from becoming the 10th Bear to complete 300 career passes. Likewise, Clark is 608 yards away from surpassing MSU's single-season passing standard (3,347) set by Jason Shelley in 2021. See p. 6 for Clark's national rankings.

The Bears have scored points in 17 straight quarters and have posted 30 or more points in 6 straight games for the first time since 2006. MSU is 9-3 under coach Ryan Beard when scoring 30+ points. 

Jayden Becks (So., Waxahachie, Texas) was named MVFC Offensive Player of the Week after carrying 11 times for 101 yards and two touchdowns in last week's win over Southern Illinois. He finished the game with 9.2 yards per carry with a 29-yard touchdown in the second quarter that made it a 17-0 game and a one-yard TD carry in the fourth quarter to put the game on ice. He shared game-high honors with 109 all-purpose yards and is the only Valley rusher to post back-to-back 100-yard games the past two weeks.

Jacardia Wright (Sr., Decatur, Ill.) has 451 carries for 2,073 yards and 27 touchdowns in 29 games as a Bear. He recently became the 11th Missouri State player to rack up 2,000 career rushing yards, while his 27 rushing scores is 5th on MSU's career list. He ranks 7th nationally in rushing touchdowns (12); 12th in total touchdowns; 26th in scoring per game (8.0); and 46th in all-purpose yards (105.3).

MoState's defense ranks in the top 25 nationally in the following: 6th in sacks (2.89); 15th in defensive touchdowns (2); 16th in turnover margin (0.78); 17th in interceptions (10); 18th in takeaways (16) and 26th in tackles for loss (6.4). The Bears are 1st in the MVFC in sacks, interceptions and tackles for loss.

With the club's 38-point output against Southern Illinois last week, the Bears (329 points) have surpassed their scoring total from last season (328) and have posted the 8th-best season point total in club history. The Bears are also on pace to average more points (36.3) than any MSU team since 1922.

Missouri State's next victory will mark the program's 500th all-time win. Since 1908, the Bears have compiled a 499-534-39 record in 113 seasons of college football. According to the NCAA, MVFC foes Murray State and Youngstown State both reached the 500-win plateau last season. 



MoState's offense ranks in the FCS top 20 in the following categories: 3rd in completion percentage (.720); 4th in pass efficiency (173.68); 6th in passing offense (306.1.); 9th in scoring offense (36.6); 13th in third-down efficiency (.469); 14th in total offense (435.1); 17th in first downs (203); 18th in yards per completion (13.37). MSU leads The Valley in passing offense and total offense.