2021 Missouri Valley Football Conference season

The 2021 Missouri Valley Football Conference football season was the 36th season of college football play for the Missouri Valley Football Conference and part of the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. This was the MVFC's 2nd straight season with 11 teams. North Dakota State made it to the National Championship and won their 9th FCS title in program history. South Dakota State made the playoffs unseeded, and won their way into the semifinals where they lost to 8th seeded Montana State. Southern Illinois also made it to the playoffs, and beat fellow MVFC member South Dakota in the first round, but would fall to eventual champion North Dakota State in the second round. Northern Iowa also made it to the playoffs, but lost to Eastern Washington in the first round.

Previous season
The 2020 season was a spread out season after the conference schedule and FCS playoffs were postponed to the spring due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In the modified Spring 2021 season, South Dakota State made it to the National Championship for the first time in program history, but fell to Sam Houston State. North Dakota State also made the playoffs and beat Eastern Washington in the first round, but fell to eventual champion Sam Houston State in the quarterfinals. Southern Illinois made the playoffs as well and beat Weber State in the first round before falling to South Dakota State in the quarterfinals. North Dakota made the playoffs as well and beat fellow MVFC member, Missouri State, in the first round but fell to James Madison in the quarterfinals.

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

Postseason
In 2021, six teams made the FCS playoffs. North Dakota State (No. 2) received a first bye. Missouri State, Southern Illinois, South Dakota, South Dakota State, and Northern Iowa were all unseeded and played in the first round. Below are the games in which they played.

All times Central time. Tournament seedings in parentheses

MVFC records vs other conferences
2021-22 records against non-conference foes (through January 8, 2022):

Post Season

Players of the Year
On November 29, 2021, the Missouri Valley Football Conference released their Players of the Year and All-Conference Honors.

Offensive Player of the Year

 * Jason Shelley, QB (RS-Jr, Missouri State)

Defensive Player of the Year

 * Jared Brinkman, DL (RS-Sr, Northern Iowa)

Newcomer of the Year

 * Jason Shelley, QB (RS-Jr, Missouri State)

Freshman of the Year

 * Demeatric Crenshaw, QB (RS-Fr, Youngstown State)

Coach of the Year

 * Matt Entz (North Dakota State)

All-Newcomer Team
Source:

National Awards
On December 7, 2021, 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. Here are the MVFC finalists:
 * Pierre Strong Jr. (RB - South Dakota State)
 * Trevor Penning (OT - Northern Iowa)
 * Jason Shelley (QB - Missouri State)

Buck Buchanan Award
The Buck Buchanan Award is given to the best FCS defensive player. Here are the MVFC finalists:
 * Darius Joiner (S - Western Illinois)
 * Adam Bock (LB - South Dakota State)

Jerry Rice Award
The Jerry Rice Award is given to the best FCS freshman player. Here are the MVFC finalists:
 * Demeatric Crenshaw (QB - Youngstown State)

Home attendance
Bold - Exceed capacity †Season High ‡FCS Playoff Game

2022 NFL Draft
The following list includes all MVFC players who were drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Undrafted Free Agents
Source:

Head coaches
Through January 8, 2022