2019 Missouri Valley Football Conference season

The 2019 Missouri Valley Football Conference season was the 34th season of college football play for the Missouri Valley Football Conference and part of the 2019 NCAA Division I FCS football season. This was the MVFC's 8th consecutive season with 10 teams, and would be their last for now as they added North Dakota in the following offseason.

North Dakota State won the conference title and achieved the number 1 overall seed again in the 2019 FCS Playoffs. The Bison would go on to win their 8th National Championship in 9 years. South Dakota State, Illinois State, and Northern Iowa all made the playoffs, with the Jacks being the number 7 overall seed. Illinois State and Northern Iowa both played in the first round. Illinois State beat Southeast Missouri State and Northern Iowa beat San Diego to advance to the second round. In the second round, Illinois State beat 8th overall seed Central Arkansas and Northern Iowa upset South Dakota State to both advance to the quarterfinals. North Dakota State beat Nicholls to advance to the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, NDSU beat Illinois State to advance to the semifinals, and Northern Iowa lost to 2nd seeded James Madison. North Dakota State would beat Montana State in the semifinals, and James Madison in the championship.

Previous season
In 2018, North Dakota State won the conference and received the automatic bid to the 2018 playoffs. The Bison won their seventh NCAA Division I Football Championship title in eight years. South Dakota State and Northern Iowa also made the playoffs. NDSU and SDSU were both national seeds, with the Bison being the number 1 overall seed and the Jacks being the number 5 overall seed and received a bye to the second round. Northern Iowa played in the first round, and beat Lamar to advance to the second round. Northern Iowa lost to UC Davis in the second round. North Dakota State beat Montana State in the second round and Colgate in the quarterfinals, before meeting South Dakota State in the semifinals and winning to advance to the title game. South Dakota State beat Duquesne in the second round, and Kennesaw State in the quarterfinals before losing to NDSU in the semifinals. NDSU beat Eastern Washington in the title game.

North Dakota State
On December 13, 2018, Matt Entz was named the new head coach at North Dakota State. Entz takes over for Chris Klieman, who left the program for a head coaching job at Kansas State. The Wildcats allowed Klieman to finish out the 2018 playoffs at NDSU before heading to Manhattan.

Preseason Poll
The annual preseason poll; voted on by conference coaches, athletic directors, and media members.

Schedule
All times Central time.

† denotes Homecoming game ^ denotes AP Poll ranking for FBS teams

Week 9
In Week 9, the 2019 edition of the Dakota Marker was preceded by ESPN's College Gameday on the campus of South Dakota State University.

Postseason
In 2019, four MVFC teams made the FCS playoffs. North Dakota State (No. 1) and South Dakota State (No. 7) both received a first round bye. Illinois State and Northern Iowa both were unseeded and played in the first round.

All times Central time. Tournament seedings in parentheses

MVFC records vs other conferences
2019-20 records against non-conference foes (through January 11, 2020):

Post Season

Players of the Year
On November 27, 2021, the Missouri Valley Football Conference released their Players of the Year and All-Conference Honors.

Offensive Player of the Year

 * Trey Lance, QB (Fr, North Dakota State)

Defensive Player of the Year

 * Derrek Tuszka, DE (Sr, North Dakota State)

Newcomer of the Year

 * Trey Lance, QB (Fr, North Dakota State)

Freshman of the Year

 * Trey Lance, QB (North Dakota State)

Coach of the Year

 * Matt Entz (North Dakota State)

All-Newcomer Team
Source:

National awards
On November 25, 2019, STATS Perform released their list of finalists for the Walter Payton Award, Buck Buchanan Award, and the Jerry Rice Award, respectively.

Walter Payton Award
The Walter Payton Award is given to the best FCS offensive player. Trey Lance (QB) of North Dakota State won the award. Lance was also the first freshman to win the Walter Payton Award in its 33-year history. Here were the other MVFC finalists:
 * Cade Johnson (WR - South Dakota State)
 * James Robinson (RB - Illinois State)

Buck Buchanan Award
The Buck Buchanan Award is given to the best FCS defensive player. Here were the MVFC finalists:
 * Jeremy Chinn (S - Southern Illinois)
 * Christian Rozeboom (LB - South Dakota State)
 * Elerson Smith (DL - Northern Iowa)
 * Derrek Tuszka (DL - North Dakota State)

Jerry Rice Award
The Jerry Rice Award is given to the best FCS freshman. Trey Lance (QB) of North Dakota State won the award. Here were the other MVFC finalists:
 * Omar Brown (DB - Northern Iowa)
 * Javon Williams Jr. (RB - Southern Illinois)

FCS Coach of the Year
Matt Entz of North Dakota State was the only finalist for FCS Coach of the Year.

Finalists source: Winners source:

Home attendance
Bold - Exceed capacity †Season high

2020 NFL Draft
The following list includes all MVFC players who were drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Undrafted free agents
Source:

Head coaches
Through January 11, 2020