SPRINGFIELD, Mo – The Missouri State Bears close out the 2024 season at home against South Dakota State on Saturday afternoon.

The 18th-ranked Bears will host the third-ranked Jackrabbits at 2 p.m.

In our Bear Nation report, Missouri State is ineligible for the FCS playoffs as it moves to Conference USA and FBS football next season.

So Saturday is the last game of the year and in MSU history in the Valley Football Conference.

But there’s an outside chance the Bears could share the conference title if they can upset the Jacks and get some help.

And that’s good enough for Bears coach Ryan Beard.

“The reason you play the game is because anything can happen. We’re still on the hunt. Going into the final game, you still have a shot at a share of the conference championship in the best conference in FCS. I think it’s a pretty solid year that these guys have put together. They (SDSU) are really good at what they do structurally. And then on the offensive side of the ball they always reload with running backs. They have a great running back corps and great wideouts. So we certainly have our hands full this week,” said Beard.

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