Celebrating 2025-26: A Year in Review

From Director of Athletics Patrick Ransdell

Dear Alumni, Friends and Fans:

Every great season starts with belief. This year, our student-athletes and YOU gave us plenty of reasons to believe!

From the first kickoff to the final out, from the pool deck to the hardwood, our student-athletes showed up big and so did you. In the stands, on TV, on social media, on the new EA Sports College Football video game and in every corner of our community, that energy carried our teams as we pushed to new heights.

The 2025–26 season -- our first in Conference USA -- will go down as one of the defining years in the history of Missouri State Athletics. We watched veteran programs return to championship form, a first-year FBS football team exceed expectations, an historic program punch its way onto the national stage for the first time in a new conference and several programs make runs deep in conference tournaments. We saw fundraising more than double, our stadiums fill up like never before, and the groundwork get laid for future facility upgrades worthy of the teams that use it. None of it happened by accident, and none of it would have happened without you. Before we look ahead, we wanted to take a moment to look back and share the full picture of just how far we've come together:

On the Field

Football made history in its first year of FBS competition, going 5-3 in CUSA, posting 7 wins overall, and playing in the program's first-ever bowl game. It was an extraordinary debut on the sport's biggest stage.
Women's Basketball captured the Conference USA Tournament Championship and earned the program's first NCAA Tournament win since 2022. This was a statement season for a team that refused to be counted out.
Men's Swimming and Diving claimed the MVC Championship, showcasing the depth and dedication our student-athletes bring to the pool every single day.
Baseball earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, a testament to a season of gritty, clutch performances against a challenging schedule. We played one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country which allowed us to receive an at-large NCAA bid.
In just its second season as a varsity program, our STUNT team qualified for Nationals, continuing to establish itself as one of the fastest-rising programs on campus.

Off the Field

Total Athletics fundraising more than doubled, growing from $5.3 million to $12.6 million — a reflection of your generosity and belief in our student-athletes' future and this administration's commitment to excellence.
Football revenue reached a program record, fueled by extraordinary fan turnout and engagement in our first FBS season.
Football game-day attendance climbed 40%, as more fans than ever packed the stands to cheer our team on.
We launched preliminary plans for the McDonald Arena Renovation, an exciting first step toward a modernized home for future champions.
We have seen budget growth of more than $8 million as we take aim at more CUSA championships.
We recorded a record high GPA of 3.3, with football recording their first-ever semester with a combined team GPA of 3.0.
We served the greater 417 region with 2,575 hours of community service. Springfield is our home and we intend to make an impact on this community.

None of this would have happened without you. Every ticket purchased, every gift given, every t-shirt worn around town, and every cheer from the stands fuels the success our teams achieved this year. The energy around Missouri State and in the community of Springfield feels different, and a huge part of that is the crowd behind it. You give our student-athletes the confidence to compete for championships, the resources to compete at the highest level, and the home-field advantage that turned close games into signature wins. Remember that unbelievable game against Arkansas at Route 66 Stadium with a crowd of over 6,000 on hand?!

As we look ahead to 2026–27, our momentum has never been stronger, and we're just getting started. Football enters year two of its FBS journey looking to build on a historic debut season. Our champions in women's basketball and swimming and diving will look to defend titles, and the rest of our programs will look to make their mark in history. Planning continues on the McDonald Arena Renovation and an Athletic Master Plan -- projects that will give our student-athletes and our fans facilities that match the ambitions of our program.

With your continued support, we believe our best fundraising, attendance, and competitive years are still ahead of us. The good ol' days are back, and there's still more to come!

I was recently given a great statement by President Richard Williams that I thought would share with you:

Go Bears!
At Missouri State University, "Go Bears" is far more than a cheer. It is a declaration of pride, a word of encouragement, and a bond of belonging that connects Bears across generations. It means we meet opportunity with energy, challenge with optimism, decide with integrity, and meet goals with a commitment to excellence. It means we work hard, lead boldly, care deeply, and prevail together. When we say, "Go Bears!" we are saying we believe in one another, we believe in this university, and we believe in the future we are building together. Go Bears!

Thank you for being the heartbeat of Missouri State Athletics. Thank you for filling the stands, opening your wallets, wearing your colors, and believing in this program through every high and every challenge along the way. Whatever we accomplish next, we will accomplish it together. Here's to an even bigger year ahead.

Celebrating 2025-26: A Year in Review

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