Youngstown State has been affiliated with the Missouri Valley Football Conference, known as the Gateway until 2008, since joining in 1997. Under the guidance of Jim Tressel, YSU was a blueprint of stability and consistent success at the FCS level. Subsequent to Tressel's departure, YSU has plummeted to mediocrity and inconsistency. With trends suggesting YSU isn't in a position to move the needle in the near future, is it time to break away from the Valley?
The Numbers
Decade of Supremacy
Since YSU's dominant run in the 90s, the program has struggled to sustain success and consistently compete for national titles. As an independent Division I-AA school (1988-96), YSU brought home three national championships, appearing in four.
After joining the Gateway Conference (now the Missouri Valley Football Conference) in 1997, YSU found immediate success, winning its fourth national title by defeating McNeese State. Under the leadership of Jim Tressel, YSU won 24 playoff games and experienced 12 winning seasons. When Tressel was presented with the opportunity to coach at Ohio State in January of 2001, he accepted the job, leaving a legendary legacy behind him.
Concerning Trends
YSU has only made the playoffs three times since that point and can't seem to find the solution for returning a historic program to its rightful place. Over the past 24 seasons (2001-2024), YSU holds an overall record of 147-128, 87-97 in Gateway/MVFC play. In comparison, Jim Tressel's overall record at YSU was 135-57-2, featuring the creation of a dynasty.
This statistical trend shows that YSU has regressed significantly since Tressel's departure, and the standard of a once highly touted program has dropped dramatically. The conference numbers are especially a cause for concern, as Jon Heacock is the only coach during this window to hold a winning record in Gateway/MVFC play.
To make matters worse, North Dakota State and South Dakota State, both perennial FCS powers, didn't join the conference until 2008. YSU has a winning percentage of just 16.13% against those two Dakota schools combined since they joined the MVFC. Northern Iowa, another strong program, has also reigned terror on YSU. Since YSU joined the Gateway conference in 1997, they are 4-14 against UNI and haven't won in Cedar Falls since 1999.
With all of these numbers suggesting YSU hasn't been able to find success in a tough conference, it begs the question: should a conference change be considered?
Reasons Why YSU Should Change Their Conference
Recruiting Contention
YSU just hasn't been the same since Tressel departed following the conclusion of the 2000 season. The standard of the program has dipped substantially, and the numbers suggest that a change is necessary to propel YSU back to the top of the FCS.
Geographically, YSU is in a tough position compared to other MVFC schools due to the amount of recruiting competition found in a state like Ohio. YSU has to worry about FBS brands and G5 forces spoiling their recruiting footprint and throwing NIL deals at coveted players. In the Dakotas, you don't even have to think about Ohio State or Toledo coming after your high school recruits.
While it's true that the Dakota schools over the years have started to expand their recruiting profile into states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois, they became nationally relevant due to the amount of homegrown talent in their regions. This is not an excuse for YSU's lack of success, but it is something that is problematic for a program that hasn't been relevant since 2016.
### Separation of Powers
Another reason why YSU should at least consider switching conference affiliation is the fact that the MVFC has been top-heavy ever since the turn of the decade. The gap between the kings of the MVFC and the second-tier programs appears to grow every single year.
With the introduction of the transfer portal and NIL, programs that based their prior success on recruiting local talent and developing young individuals struggle to retain student-athletes for more than 2-3 years. NDSU and SDSU are rare examples of schools capable of holding onto high school recruits for an extended period of time, although both schools have recently experienced losses to the portal.
Teams like SIU, Illinois State, UNI, and YSU don't seem poised to break through to the top of the Valley anytime soon just based on the modern landscape of college football. Something else that's important to point out is the amount of investment and commitment the Dakota schools receive from donors and others engaged with the programs.
In South and North Dakota, there are no NFL teams or P4 programs. NDSU, SDSU, USD, and UND draw all the interest from the people who reside in the region, and there is absolutely nobody to compete with them. YSU isn't in a position to close this gap anytime soon and needs a spark to generate excitement within the program and attract high-level talent.
Reason Why YSU Shouldn't Change Their Conference
Valley Pride
The MVFC proves year in and year out that it is among the upper echelon of FCS football conferences. Many regard the Valley as the best conference in all of the FCS, and some even consider it better than some G5 leagues.
If you can make it through a grueling conference slate and earn a playoff bid, then you can compete for a national title as a dark horse contender or as a seed. It has been said by many that the MVFC prepares you for playoff football and ensures that you are competitive in the postseason.
While this is not always factual, it is fair to point out the numerous runs Valley teams have made over the years as a result of playing the best of the best. In 2014, Illinois State made a run to the National Championship game following a dominant 7-1 record in MVFC play. During the 2016 season, YSU made a run to the national title following a 9-3 regular season record and a 6-2 mark in conference contests.
UNI has been a consistent playoff participant and advanced to the quarterfinals in both the 2015 and 2019 seasons. NDSU has been a perennial FCS power since Craig Bohl started their monumental dynasty in 2011. SDSU is fresh off back-to-back championship campaigns, knocking their rivals off their thrones.
These are just some examples of the success the MVFC has seen in critical postseason matchups. Yes, it is challenging to make it to the playoffs with a Valley schedule, but the reward for making it through a draining schedule is well worth it. Being associated with one of, if not the best, conferences in FCS football certainly has its benefits.
