Jul. 21—SIOUX FALLS — The Missouri Valley Football Conference has built its reputation on physical defenses, tough rushing attacks and championship-caliber football.
But entering the 2026 season, the conversation can't happen without the quarterbacks.
With powerhouse North Dakota State no longer part of the conference, the race for the Valley title appears to be open. While every championship contender will rely on stout defenses and balanced rosters, the MVFC teams expected to contend all have one thing in common: elite quarterback play.
The Valley welcomes back four of the most productive signal-callers in the FCS, each entering the season with aspirations of capturing conference offensive player of the year honors while leading their respective teams toward a conference championship and a deep postseason run.
Reigning Missouri Valley offensive player of the year Beau Brungard returns to Youngstown State after one of the most strongest individual seasons in FCS history. South Dakota State welcomes back veteran Chase Mason healthy after an injury-plagued finish to an otherwise stellar campaign last year. Southern Illinois has one of the country's most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in DJ Williams for one final season. Meanwhile, North Dakota's Jerry Kaminski enters his second year as the Fighting Hawks' starter looking to transform promise into results.
As the 2026 football season approaches, quarterback play could very well determine who emerges as the next team to rule the FCS' toughest conference.
Brungard returns with unfinished business at Youngstown State
Few players in the FCS enjoyed a season like Beau Brungard did in 2025. The senior quarterback enters the new campaign as the reigning Missouri Valley offensive player of the year after accounting for 54 total touchdowns.
Brungard threw for a conference-best 3,234 yards with 26 touchdown passes against only three interceptions while adding another 1,468 rushing yards, second most in the Valley, and a conference-leading 27 rushing touchdowns. Brungard's dominant season earned unanimous first team All-American honors and transformed him into one of the top players in the FCS.
Yet, despite all the individual accolades, Brungard isn't interested in reliving last season. Youngstown State finished 8-5 before suffering a tough 43-42 opening-round playoff loss to Yale, leaving Brungard and the Penguins believing they left plenty on the table. Now entering his senior season after choosing to remain in Youngstown despite transfer portal opportunities, Brungard believes the program is close to taking the next step.
"Most importantly, I just have to leave last year as last year and look forward to this upcoming season and not let last year's success bleed into this year," Brungard said. "I am not going to try to ride the emotional rollercoaster of what last year was. I am going to have zero complacency, and I need to make the little details second nature so I can play quicker and change games."
That mentality has become the driving force behind Youngstown State's offseason. The Penguins were selected third in the Missouri Valley preseason poll, a reflection of both the talent returning and the expectations surrounding a roster that believes it can compete for a conference championship.
Last season marked Brungard's first year working alongside offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, and after a year learning the offense, the quarterback expects the partnership to produce even more this upcoming season.
"Last year was my first year with a new offensive coordinator, and so I am eager to continue to master that new playbook and grow with him by my side," Brungard said. "I have incredible teammates. I have the best offensive line in the country, I believe, and we're just going to continue to build that brotherhood and find ways to win games."
Healthy Mason hopes to return SDSU to the top
For much of last season, South Dakota State looked every bit like a championship contender whenever Chase Mason was on the field.
The senior quarterback guided the Jackrabbits to a perfect 7-0 regular-season record as the starter before an injury against Murray State changed the trajectory of the Jackrabbits' season. Without Mason, SDSU stumbled to a 1-4 finish over its final five regular-season games before he returned for the postseason less than fully healthy.
Even so, Mason still helped lead the Jackrabbits to a first-round playoff victory over New Hampshire before the season ended with a second-round loss to Montana. Overall, South Dakota State went 8-1 in games Mason started, including a 7-0 regular-season mark and a 1-1 playoff record.
His numbers reflected the steady leadership he provided. Mason threw for 2,005 yards while completing 64.9% of his passes with 15 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He also added six rushing touchdowns and 174 rushing yards, showcasing the mobility that makes him a difficult matchup.
Now, after an offseason of getting to 100% healthy, Mason says he feels better than ever heading into what will be his final collegiate season.
"I feel as healthy as I have ever been, and I am as big as I've ever been and as fast as I have ever been," Mason said about his health heading into fall camp. "I don't feel a single bit of what injuries have lingered in the past and I am just ready to get back out there."
His return has helped make SDSU the preseason favorite to capture the Missouri Valley championship. For Mason, though, the decision to return wasn't simply about improving his NFL Draft stock. It was about finishing what he started with a veteran group capable of chasing both a conference title and an FCS national championship.
"Making the decision to come back and play at SDSU is what I have been thinking about, and I have not looked back ever since I came here," Mason said. "I love our team and our seniors that we have this year, and it would be awesome to finish it out on top."
Williams brings explosive playmaking back to Southern Illinois
Few quarterbacks in the country can stress a defense quite like Southern Illinois' DJ Williams. The senior enters his final collegiate season after producing 40 total touchdowns a year ago while finishing third in the Missouri Valley offensive player of the year race.
Williams threw for 2,846 yards and 22 touchdowns while limiting mistakes with only five interceptions. His ability to create with his legs made him one of the nation's premier dual-threat quarterbacks as he rushed for another 847 yards and 18 touchdowns, finishing eighth nationally in rushing touchdowns among FCS players.
Those numbers nearly carried Southern Illinois into the FCS playoffs. The Salukis narrowly missed the postseason after finishing 7-5, but with Williams back under center, expectations remain high despite being selected sixth in the conference preseason poll.
His explosive style gives Southern Illinois the ability to score from anywhere on the field and keeps opposing defenses on their toes. Williams knows this season represents one final opportunity to showcase his talents while helping elevate the Salukis.
"We have a lot of great quarterbacks in this league, but I am just trying to put the stamp on it that I am the best in the country," Williams said. "It might be my last year ever playing football and I don't want it to end right now. So, just putting myself in the best position possible to hopefully get me to the next level is exactly what I am going to do."
If Southern Illinois can pair Williams' playmaking ability with improved consistency across the roster, especially defensively, the Salukis could emerge as one of the conference's biggest surprises.
Kaminski ready for Year 2 leap at North Dakota
Experience often becomes a quarterback's greatest asset, and Jerry Kaminski believes one full season as North Dakota's starter has prepared him for a significant leap.
The junior started all 14 games for the Fighting Hawks last season while accounting for 34 total touchdowns. Kaminski threw for 2,570 yards and 26 touchdowns while adding another 607 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground. Although his 12 interceptions reflected some of the growing pains that accompany a first-year starter, the season also showcased his ability and athleticism that make him one of the conference's rising quarterbacks.
North Dakota finished 8-6 last year, highlighted by a first-round playoff victory over Tennessee Tech before its season ended against Tarleton State in the second round. Now, with nearly every meaningful situation already experienced, Kaminski believes the game has slowed down entering Year 2.
"I feel like I really have learned and grown a lot from last year, and I learned a ton about situations and how to manage the game a little bit," Kaminski said. "I am still understanding the game and when to take risks and when not to, and when to push the ball down the field. Also, I think I am going to continue to use my legs and make plays with my feet but I am excited to show what I have been working on."
Those lessons have North Dakota entering the season picked at No. 4 in the preseason conference poll. Kaminski's continued development could ultimately determine whether the Fighting Hawks simply remain a playoff team or become a true contender.
As the race for the Missouri Valley title begins this fall, the conference once again has one of the deepest collections of quarterback talent anywhere in the FCS, ensuring every Saturday will be one to watch.
"That's what you want when you come into a conference like the Missouri Valley, you know that we're known for having a good quarterback conference and that's exactly what you want," Kaminski said. "Every quarterback in this conference loves to compete, and I can't wait to see what this season has in store for not only myself but for them as well."
