Youngstown State’s football program is generating buzz ahead of the upcoming season, with analysts projecting a third‑place finish in the Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason poll.
Preseason Projections
The poll placed South Dakota State at the top with 312 votes and Illinois State second with 256, while Youngstown State accumulated 235 points, underscoring the competitive depth of the league.
North Dakota, South Dakota and Southern Illinois round out the top six, each earning at least one first‑place vote, though Youngstown State remains the only team in that group without a top‑vote.
What makes the projection especially notable is the return of quarterback Beau Brungard, the 2025 Walter Payton Award winner, whose experience and playmaking ability are expected to drive the offense.
Coaches and administrators view the ranking as a milestone, marking the highest preseason standing for the Penguins since 2017 and signaling a potential resurgence for a program that has steadily built momentum.
With the new season on the horizon, the team is focused on translating preseason optimism into on‑field success, aiming to challenge the conference’s traditional powerhouses and perhaps break new ground in the coming weeks.