SPRINGFIELD–Missouri State’s 2024 football campaign is officially over.

Ryan Beard’s team came into the game on a two-loss streak, after opening the fall 0-2, and dropping the final two games of the year to FCS titans, North Dakota State and South Dakota State.

The Bears lost their season finale at home 45-9. The Jack Rabbits scored six touchdowns while going 6-6 in the redzone. At one point they scored 21 unanswered points between the second and third quarters.

MSU had chances to find the end zone, but SDSU’s 5th ranked defense stymied them on every chance. By forcing them to make field goals instead.

The latest losses give MO State an 8-4 finish – marking the first time the program has won eight or more games since the fall of 2021.

The winning record is the first for Beard, who is in his second season at the helm. All eight wins came in a row, setting a program record for most consecutive wins in a season.

With this being the last game the Bears will ever play in the Missouri Valley Conference, it’s bittersweet that it didn’t end with a win, but the future looks incredibly bright as the university sets its sights on competing and excelling in Conference USA which will start next time. fall.

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