Springfield Standard

Missouri State University will host Western Kentucky University (WKU) in its first-ever Conference USA football game at Robert W. Plaster Stadium on Saturday, September 27, 2025. The matchup marks the fifth game of the season for the Bears, who enter with a 2-2 record, while WKU stands at 3-1 and already has one conference win.

The two programs have met ten times before, most recently in 2006 when WKU defeated Missouri State 17-14. WKU leads the all-time series 8-2. Both teams were previously league rivals in the Gateway Conference from 2001 to 2006.

Saturday's game is scheduled to begin at 6:02 p.m. Central Time and will be broadcast on ESPN+. Fans can also listen to live radio coverage on KWTO (101.3 FM) or follow along via live stats and updates through Missouri State’s official channels.

Several promotions are planned for the event, including a "Black Out," activities for Future Bears Kids Club members, a Spirit Squads Clinic, and other features from the university’s promotional calendar. Tailgating will open at BearFest Village starting at 3:00 p.m.

Under head coach Ryan Beard, now in his third season leading Missouri State, the team has shown consistent offensive production. Since March 2021, Missouri State has won 18 of its last 25 home games and scored two or more touchdowns in nearly every contest during that period.

Linebacker Jared "Bird" Lloyd is approaching a career milestone and needs eight tackles to reach 100 for his college career. Wide receiver Jmariyae Robinson is five catches away from joining an exclusive group of Bears players with at least 100 career receptions.

Quarterback Jacob Clark recently surpassed 1,000 passing yards for the current season after four games and now has thrown over 200 yards in sixteen of his twenty career starts. Last week against UT Martin, Clark accounted for five touchdowns—matching his personal best—and was recognized as an honorable mention for the Earl Campbell Award Player of the Week.

Statistically this year, Missouri State ranks second in Conference USA and twenty-ninth nationally among FBS programs in passing offense with an average of just over 277 yards per game. The team also sits fourth among CUSA schools according to MasseyRatings.com’s FBS computer rankings.

Coach Ryan Beard was officially introduced as head coach on December 19, 2022, making him one of the youngest coaches in FBS football at age thirty-six entering this season. Beard earned recognition as CUSA Coach of the Week earlier this month following Missouri State’s first FBS victory against Marshall.

Reflecting on last season—the Bears’ final campaign at the FCS level—Beard led them to an eight-win season and a No. 23 national ranking. Twelve players earned all-conference honors under his leadership while three received All-America recognition.

Before taking over as head coach, Beard served as defensive coordinator for three seasons and previously held coaching positions at Central Michigan and Louisville. He played collegiate football as a defensive back at Western Kentucky from 2007 to 2011 and later earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees from WKU.

Tickets for Saturday's contest are available through MissouriStateBears.com or by calling (417) 836-7678; stadium box office sales begin at noon on game day.