Gateway Football Conference
Encyclopedia
The Missouri Valley Football Conference (formerly the Gateway Football Conference) is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern United States. It participates in the NCAA
's Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a football
-only conference.
The Missouri Valley Football Conference has a convoluted history. The conference was formed from the remnant football schools of the old Missouri Valley
when it stopped sponsoring its hybrid I-A/I-AA football league in 1985. At that time, the I-AA members from the MVC (Illinois State, Indiana State, and Southern Illinois) joined Eastern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Southwest Missouri State, and Western Illinois to form the Association of Mid-Continent Universities, later the Mid-Continent Conference and now The Summit League, for sports other than football. The football programs joined with the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference, which at the time was a women's athletic conference that roughly paralleled the MVC.
In 1992, when the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference merged with the MVC, the football conference kept the Gateway charter, with a minor name change to Gateway Football Conference. After Eastern Illinois joined the Ohio Valley Conference
for football in 1995, Youngstown State joined in 1997 and was followed by Western Kentucky in 2001. Southwest Missouri State changed its name to Missouri State in 2005. The Gateway changed its name to the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2008.
On November 2, 2006, Western Kentucky's Board of Regents approved a proposal by the school's president to upgrade the football program
to the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS; formerly Division I-A). The Hilltoppers left the GFC after the 2006 season, went through the two-year "reclassification" period mandated by the NCAA for schools moving from the FCS to the FBS, and became a football member of its all-sports conference, the Sun Belt Conference
, in 2009.
Due to Western Kentucky's move, the Gateway was left with 7 members for the 2007 season. However, Great West Football Conference
members North Dakota State and South Dakota State were asked to submit information about themselves and to attend the conference presidents' meeting. On March 7, 2007, the conference announced that both schools would join the conference beginning with the 2008 season.
On June 6, 2008, the Gateway Football Conference changed its name to the Missouri Valley Football Conference, effective immediately. This change aligns the conference with the Missouri Valley Conference, a conference in which five of the nine Missouri Valley Football schools participate. The conferences will share the "Missouri Valley" name but will remain separate administratively.
On November 4, 2010, the University of South Dakota was invited as the 10th member. This will renew a rivalry with fellow MVC member South Dakota State.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
's Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
-only conference.
History
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
when it stopped sponsoring its hybrid I-A/I-AA football league in 1985. At that time, the I-AA members from the MVC (Illinois State, Indiana State, and Southern Illinois) joined Eastern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Southwest Missouri State, and Western Illinois to form the Association of Mid-Continent Universities, later the Mid-Continent Conference and now The Summit League, for sports other than football. The football programs joined with the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference, which at the time was a women's athletic conference that roughly paralleled the MVC.
In 1992, when the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference merged with the MVC, the football conference kept the Gateway charter, with a minor name change to Gateway Football Conference. After Eastern Illinois joined the Ohio Valley Conference
Ohio Valley Conference
The Ohio Valley Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern and southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in the Football Championship Subdivision , the lower of two levels of Division I...
for football in 1995, Youngstown State joined in 1997 and was followed by Western Kentucky in 2001. Southwest Missouri State changed its name to Missouri State in 2005. The Gateway changed its name to the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2008.
On November 2, 2006, Western Kentucky's Board of Regents approved a proposal by the school's president to upgrade the football program
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football program is a college football team that represents Western Kentucky University. The team is currently a member of the Sun Belt Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
to the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS; formerly Division I-A). The Hilltoppers left the GFC after the 2006 season, went through the two-year "reclassification" period mandated by the NCAA for schools moving from the FCS to the FBS, and became a football member of its all-sports conference, the Sun Belt Conference
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
, in 2009.
Due to Western Kentucky's move, the Gateway was left with 7 members for the 2007 season. However, Great West Football Conference
Great West Football Conference
The Great West Conference is an NCAA college athletic conference in the continental United States. Formerly a football-only conference, in 2008 it became an all-sports conference...
members North Dakota State and South Dakota State were asked to submit information about themselves and to attend the conference presidents' meeting. On March 7, 2007, the conference announced that both schools would join the conference beginning with the 2008 season.
On June 6, 2008, the Gateway Football Conference changed its name to the Missouri Valley Football Conference, effective immediately. This change aligns the conference with the Missouri Valley Conference, a conference in which five of the nine Missouri Valley Football schools participate. The conferences will share the "Missouri Valley" name but will remain separate administratively.
On November 4, 2010, the University of South Dakota was invited as the 10th member. This will renew a rivalry with fellow MVC member South Dakota State.
Membership
| Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Joined | Nickname | Primary Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois State University Illinois State University Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest... |
Normal, Illinois Normal, Illinois Normal is an incorporated town in McLean County, Illinois, United States. It had a population of 52,497 as of the 2010 census. Normal is the smaller of two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area... |
1857 | Public | 20,762 | 1985 | Redbirds Illinois State Redbirds The Illinois State Redbirds are the athletic teams that represent Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Teams play at the NCAA Division I level . The football team competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference while most other teams compete in the Missouri Valley Conference... |
Missouri Valley Conference Missouri Valley Conference The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States... |
| Indiana State University Indiana State University Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S... |
Terre Haute, Indiana Terre Haute, Indiana Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and... |
1865 | Public | 11,120 | 1986 | Sycamores Indiana State Sycamores The Indiana State University Sycamores are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Indiana State University. They are members of the Missouri Valley Conference, joining in the 1977-78 academic year; past conference memberships include the Indiana College Athletic League , the Indiana Intercollegiate... |
Missouri Valley Conference Missouri Valley Conference The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States... |
| Missouri State University Missouri State University Missouri State University is a public university located in Springfield, Missouri, United States and founded in 1905. It is the state's second largest university, with an official enrollment of 20,802 in fall 2011... |
Springfield, Missouri Springfield, Missouri Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of... |
1905 | Public | 18,870 | 1985 | Bears Missouri State Bears The Missouri State Bears and Lady Bears are the athletic teams representing Missouri State University. Missouri State athletics date back to 1908. Missouri State is in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, and most teams compete in the Missouri Valley Conference... |
Missouri Valley Conference Missouri Valley Conference The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States... |
| North Dakota State University North Dakota State University North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, more commonly known as North Dakota State University , is a public university in Fargo, North Dakota. NDSU has about 14,000 students and it is the largest university in North Dakota based on full time students and land size... |
Fargo, North Dakota Fargo, North Dakota Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777... |
1890 | Public | 14,189 | 2008 | Bison North Dakota State Bison The North Dakota State Bison is the name of the athletic teams of North Dakota State University which is located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota. The teams are often called the "Thundering Herd"... |
The Summit League |
| University of Northern Iowa University of Northern Iowa The University of Northern Iowa is a college located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States. UNI offers more than 120 majors across the colleges of Business Administration, Education, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral sciences, and graduate college.UNI has... |
Cedar Falls, Iowa Cedar Falls, Iowa Cedar Falls is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States, and it is home to one of Iowa's three public universities, the University of Northern Iowa. The population was 39,260 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 36,145 population in the 2000 census... |
1876 | Public | 13,201 | 1985 | Panthers Northern Iowa Panthers The Northern Iowa Panthers are the athletic teams of the University of Northern Iowa. The university is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 15 varsity teams in 11 sports:... |
Missouri Valley Conference Missouri Valley Conference The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States... |
| University of South Dakota University of South Dakota The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current... |
Vermillion, South Dakota Vermillion, South Dakota Vermillion is a city in and the county seat of Clay County, in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the tenth largest city in the state. According to the 2010 Census, the population was 10,571. Vermillion lies atop a bluff near the Missouri River.The area has been home to... |
1882 | Public | 10,151 | 2012* | Coyotes South Dakota Coyotes The South Dakota Coyotes, also known as the USD Coyotes , are the athletic teams for the University of South Dakota. Their team colors are vermilion and white. They have been members of The Summit League of the NCAA's Division I since the 2011-12 season... |
The Summit League |
| South Dakota State University South Dakota State University South Dakota State University is the largest university in the U.S. state of South Dakota, located in Brookings. A public land-grant university and sun grant college, founded under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act, SDSU offers programs of study required by, or harmonious to, this Act... |
Brookings, South Dakota Brookings, South Dakota Brookings is a city in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. Brookings is the fourth largest city in South Dakota, with a population of 22,056 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brookings County, and home to South Dakota State University, the largest institution of higher... |
1881 | Public | 12,816 | 2008 | Jackrabbits South Dakota State Jackrabbits The South Dakota State Jackrabbits are the 19 intercollegiate teams representing South Dakota State University that compete in the U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I . SDSU is currently a member of the Summit League, the Missouri Valley Football Conference, the Western... |
The Summit League |
| Southern Illinois University Southern Illinois University Carbondale Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public research university located in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1869, SIUC is the flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system... |
Carbondale, Illinois Carbondale, Illinois Carbondale is a city in Jackson County, in the state of Illinois, within the Southern Illinois region. It is located at the junction of Illinois Route 13 and U.S. Route 51, southeast of St. Louis, Missouri, on the northern edge of the Shawnee National Forest... |
1869 | Public | 19,800 | 1985 | Salukis Southern Illinois Salukis The Southern Illinois Salukis are the varsity athletic teams representing Southern Illinois University. The nickname comes from the saluki, the royal dog of Egypt and the Persian greyhound, which ties into the fact that southern Illinois has had the nickname "Little Egypt" for just under 200... |
Missouri Valley Conference Missouri Valley Conference The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States... |
| Western Illinois University Western Illinois University Western Illinois University is a public university founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. Like many similar institutions of the time, Western Illinois State Normal School focused on teacher training for its relatively small body of students. As the normal school grew, it became... |
Macomb, Illinois Macomb, Illinois Macomb is a city in and the county seat of McDonough County, Illinois, United States. It is situated in western Illinois southwest of Galesburg. The population was 18,588 at the 2000 census. Macomb is the home of Western Illinois University.- Geography :... |
1899 | Public | 13,600 | 1985 | Leathernecks Western Illinois Leathernecks The Western Illinois Leathernecks are the teams and athletes that represent Western Illinois University, located in Macomb, Illinois, in NCAA Division I sports. The school's primary conference affiliation is with The Summit League; its football team is a member of the Division I FCS Missouri... |
The Summit League |
| Youngstown State University Youngstown State University Youngstown State University, founded in 1908, is an urban research university located in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. As of fall 2010, there were 15,194 students and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. It is recognized as being one of the premier schools in the country, comparable to Ivy League... |
Youngstown, Ohio Youngstown, Ohio Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania... |
1908 | Public | 12,585 | 1997 | Penguins Youngstown State Penguins Youngstown State University is in NCAA Division I. Nicknamed the Penguins, they play in the Horizon League and Missouri Valley Football Conference, and compete in the following sports:*Baseball *Basketball *Cross Country... |
Horizon League Horizon League The Horizon League is a ten school, NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located in five of the Midwestern United States.... |
Former members
- Eastern Illinois UniversityEastern Illinois UniversityEastern Illinois University is a state university located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1895 as the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, a teacher's college offering a two-year degree, Eastern Illinois University gradually expanded into a comprehensive university with a...
(Ohio Valley ConferenceOhio Valley ConferenceThe Ohio Valley Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern and southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in the Football Championship Subdivision , the lower of two levels of Division I...
), 1985–1995 - Western Kentucky UniversityWestern Kentucky UniversityWestern Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
(Sun Belt ConferenceSun Belt ConferenceThe Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
), 2001–2006
Champions
- 1985: Northern Iowa (5-0)
- 1986: Eastern Illinois (5-1)
- 1987: Northern Iowa (6-0)
- 1988: Western Illinois (6-0)
- 1989: Missouri State (5-1)
- 1990: Missouri State & Northern Iowa (5-1)
- 1991: Northern Iowa (5-1)
- 1992: Northern Iowa (5-1)
- 1993: Northern Iowa (5-1)
- 1994: Northern Iowa (6-0)
- 1995: Eastern Illinois & Northern Iowa (5-1)
- 1996: Northern Iowa (6-0)
- 1997: Western Illinois (6-0)
- 1998: Western Illinois (5-1)
- 1999: Illinois State (6-0)
- 2000: Western Illinois (5-1)
- 2001: Northern Iowa (6-1)
- 2002: Western Illinois & Western Kentucky (6-1)
- 2003: Northern Iowa & Southern Illinois (6-1)
- 2004: Southern Illinois (7-0)
- 2005: Northern Iowa2005 Northern Iowa Panthers football teamThe 2005 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represented the University of Northern Iowa in the college football season of 2005 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The previous year's team finished first in the Gateway Football Conference...
, Southern Illinois, & Youngstown State (5-2) - 2006: Youngstown State (6-1)
- 2007: Northern Iowa2007 Northern Iowa Panthers football teamThe 2007 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represented the University of Northern Iowa in the 2007 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The team was coached by Mark Farley and played their home games in the UNI-Dome...
(6-0) - 2008: Southern Illinois & Northern Iowa2008 Northern Iowa Panthers football teamThe 2008 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represented the University of Northern Iowa in the 2008 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The previous year's team finished first in the Gateway Football Conference. The Gateway Football Conference was renamed the Missouri Valley Football League in...
(7-1) - 2009: Southern Illinois (8-0)
- 2010: Northern Iowa2010 Northern Iowa Panthers football teamThe 2010 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represented the University of Northern Iowa in the 2010 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Panthers are a members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, were coached by Mark Farley and played their home games in the UNI-Dome. They finished...
(6-2) - 2011: North Dakota State2011 North Dakota State Bison football teamThe 2011 North Dakota State Bison football team represents North Dakota State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bison will be led by ninth year head coach Craig Bohl and will play their home games at the Fargodome. They are a member of the Missouri Valley Football...
(7-1) & Northern Iowa2011 Northern Iowa Panthers football teamThe 2011 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represents the University of Northern Iowa in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The previous year's team finished first in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The team is coached by Mark Farley and play their home games in the...
(7-1)
Conference titles by school
| School | Championships | Championship Years |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Iowa | |
1985, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 1993 Northern Iowa Panthers football team The 1193 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represented the University of Northern Iowa in the college football season of the 1993 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Panthers offense scored 350 points while the defense allowed 238 points... , 1994, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2005 2005 Northern Iowa Panthers football team The 2005 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represented the University of Northern Iowa in the college football season of 2005 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The previous year's team finished first in the Gateway Football Conference... , 2007 2007 Northern Iowa Panthers football team The 2007 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represented the University of Northern Iowa in the 2007 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The team was coached by Mark Farley and played their home games in the UNI-Dome... , 2008 2008 Northern Iowa Panthers football team The 2008 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represented the University of Northern Iowa in the 2008 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The previous year's team finished first in the Gateway Football Conference. The Gateway Football Conference was renamed the Missouri Valley Football League in... , 2010 2010 Northern Iowa Panthers football team The 2010 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represented the University of Northern Iowa in the 2010 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Panthers are a members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, were coached by Mark Farley and played their home games in the UNI-Dome. They finished... , 2011 2011 Northern Iowa Panthers football team The 2011 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represents the University of Northern Iowa in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The previous year's team finished first in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The team is coached by Mark Farley and play their home games in the... |
| Southern Illinois | |
2003. 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009 |
| Western Illinois | |
1988, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002 |
| Missouri State | |
1989, 1990 |
| Eastern Illinois | |
1986, 1995 |
| Youngstown State | |
2005, 2006 |
| Illinois State | |
1999 |
| Western Kentucky | |
2002 |
| North Dakota State | |
2011 |
| Indiana State | |
N/A |
| South Dakota State | |
N/A |
| South Dakota South Dakota South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over... |
|
N/A |
Conference facilities
| School | Football Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois State | Hancock Stadium Hancock Stadium Hancock Stadium is a 9,500-seat multi-purpose stadium in Normal, Illinois. It opened in 1963. It is home to the Illinois State University Redbirds football team.- History :... |
15,000 |
| Indiana State | Memorial Stadium Memorial Stadium (Terre Haute) Memorial Stadium is the current home of Indiana State University football in Terre Haute, Indiana, USA. Constructed in 1923-24 by the City of Terre Haute to seat approximately 16,000 people, the facility's initial primary use was as the home of the Terre Haute Baseball Club, aka the Terre Haute... |
12,764 |
| Missouri State | Plaster Sports Complex Plaster Sports Complex The Plaster Sports Complex is a 16,600-seat multipurpose stadium located in Springfield, Missouri. It is home to the Missouri State University Bears football, women's field hockey, men's and women's soccer, and track and field teams.... |
16,300 |
| North Dakota State | Fargodome Fargodome The Fargodome is an indoor stadium, located in Fargo, North Dakota. It opened in 1992 and holds over 19,000 people for football games and over 25,000, for full arena concerts.... |
19,500 |
| Northern Iowa | UNI-Dome UNI-Dome UNI-Dome is a multi-purpose stadium, on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States. It opened in 1976, as the home of the UNI Panthers basketball and football teams. The facility's capacity, for football, is 16,324... |
17,000 |
| South Dakota | DakotaDome DakotaDome DakotaDome is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose stadium on North Dakota Street in Vermillion, South Dakota. Opened in 1979 for a cost of $8.2 million, it is home to the University of South Dakota Coyotes for numerous athletic events, including football, men's and women's basketball, volleyball, men's... |
10,000 |
| South Dakota State | Coughlin–Alumni Stadium | 15,000 |
| Southern Illinois | Saluki Stadium | 15,276 |
| Western Illinois | Hanson Field Hanson Field Hanson Field is a 17,168-seat multi-purpose stadium in Macomb, Illinois, USA. It opened in 1950 and is home to the Western Illinois University Leathernecks football team. The Leathernecks have a record of 205-37-7 since 1950. From 1996 through 2004, Hansen Field was the training camp home of the... |
17,168 |
| Youngstown State | Stambaugh Stadium Stambaugh Stadium Arnold D. Stambaugh Stadium, usually shortened to just Stambaugh Stadium, is the home of football and soccer teams at Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio. Built in 1982, Stambaugh has seen the Penguins football team rise to become a power in NCAA Division I Football Championship... |
20,630 |