Springfield Standard

Missouri State University Bears football team will face Liberty University in a Conference USA matchup on Saturday, November 8, 2025. The game is scheduled for 12:02 p.m. Central Time at Arthur L. Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Both teams come into the contest with identical conference records of 3-1 and are each riding three-game winning streaks. This marks Missouri State’s first visit to Lynchburg since 1989.

The Bears have shown strong performance on the road, with seven wins in their last nine away games—ranking them among the top ten FBS programs for road success during that span. Only Oregon and BYU have better recent road records.

Missouri State is currently ranked No. 103 out of 136 FBS teams by MasseyRatings.com, placing fourth among Conference USA teams behind Western Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, and Jacksonville State.

Wide receiver Ronnel Johnson has recorded 19 catches for 261 yards in conference play this season and ranks fourth in CUSA for receiving yards per game during league contests. Since their season opener against USC, Missouri State has held seven consecutive opponents under 30 points—a defensive feat last achieved by the program in 1998 under coach Del Miller. In CUSA play, the Bears’ defense ranks second in scoring defense at an average of 21.3 points allowed per game.

With a win over Florida International University last week, Missouri State completed an undefeated October and extended its October win streak to six games under head coach Ryan Beard.

Quarterback Jacob Clark is nearing a career milestone; he needs two more pass attempts to reach 700 as a Bear and would become only the fifth player in program history to do so. Clark currently ranks second in CUSA for pass efficiency and fourth both in total offense and passing yards per game.

Running back Shomari Lawrence also reached a personal achievement last week by surpassing 2,000 career rushing yards after recording a season-high performance against FIU.

Defensively, cornerback Jordan Dunbar stands third in CUSA for passes defended per game while linebacker Jalen Brooks posted a career-high tackle count against FIU.

Head coach Ryan Beard was officially introduced as Missouri State’s head football coach on December 19, 2022. At age thirty-six entering the current season, he is one of the youngest head coaches at the FBS level. Beard has twice been named Conference USA Coach of the Week this year following key victories over Marshall and FIU.

Reflecting on his tenure so far: “Last season (2024), the Bears' final campaign at the FCS level, Beard guided MoState to an 8-4 overall record and No. 23 national ranking with twelve all-conference standouts and three All-Americans in his camp,” according to official information from Missouri State University Athletics Communications staff. “Quarterback Jacob Clark finished fourteenth in Walter Payton FCS Player of the Year voting while running back Jacardia Wright signed an undrafted free agent contract with Seahawks after season.”

Beard previously served as defensive coordinator before taking over as head coach; his coaching background includes stints at Central Michigan and Louisville along with playing experience at Western Kentucky University.

The series between Missouri State and Liberty is tied at one win apiece; their most recent meeting occurred on October 15, 1994 when Liberty won by eight points.