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One win. That is all Mississippi Valley State has had in non-conference play against fellow FCS opponents since 1992. The lone win came in 2021 when the Delta Devils upset North Carolina Central. Mississippi Valley State has long been cannon fodder in paycheck games for bigger FCS programs. Among these paycheck losses are those against Missouri Valley Football Conference schools, such as a 72-7 blowout at the hands of North Dakota State in 2017 and a 55-3 loss to Southern Illinois the same year.
The Delta Devils can notch a rare win against the FCS’ preeminent conference this week. Mississippi Valley State travels to Murray State, who lost to Butler of the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League. This loss and a valiant effort by Mississippi Valley State against Southland sleeper Lamar show the Delta Devils have a fighting chance at their second non-conference FCS win in 32 years. The Delta Devils remained within one score until the game’sfinal minute in a 28-14 loss to the Cardinals.
The Delta Devils’ pass defense is its strength. After Draylen Ellis of Tennessee State torched them for 356 yards in week one, Mississippi Valley State allowed Robert Coleman to complete just 12 of his 30 passes. The Delta Devils will face a Murray State offense that completed just ten passes for 41 yards against Butler.
Nevertheless, the Racers’ run game will test a weak Delta Devils front. Mississippi Valley State let Lamar's Khalan Griffin run wild last week with 197 rushing yards. In the loss to Butler, Murray State ran for 198 yards and averaged seven yards per carry. The Delta Devils must make quarterback Jayden Johanssen beat them this week.
A win against Murray State would be program-defining for Mississippi Valley State. The Delta Devils are among the most moribund programs in the SWAC and arguably, the FCS. Losses to the likes of Central State and Delta State have been black eyes for the program lately. However, the program can step in the right direction with a win against Murray State.
When casual fans think of the FCS, they think of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Sure, Murray State is in just its second year in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, but they are still in the FCS’ most powerful league. Still, the Delta Devils are 0-2 all-time against the Racers and have never scored against them. A win over an MVFC team gives the Delta Devils the attention they lack in a SWAC loaded with HBCU brands.
The Mississippi Valley State-Murray State game looked like another non-conference blowout at the start of the season. However, Murray State’s misfortunes and Mississippi Valley State’s improvement could bring the Delta Devils one of the most monumental wins in the FCS this year.
