1997 Southwest Missouri State Bears football team

The 1997 Southwest Missouri State Bears football team represented Southwest Missouri State University (now known as Missouri State University) as a member of the Gateway Football Conference (GFC) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by third-year head coach Del Miller, the Bears compiled an overall record of 5–6, with a mark of 3–3 in conference play, and finished fourth in the GFC.