Minnesota State Mavericks football
Intercollegiate American football team for Minnesota State University
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The Minnesota State Mavericks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the Minnesota State University, Mankato located in the U.S. state of Minnesota.
13th season, 131–33 (.799)
(capacity: 7,500)
| Minnesota State Mavericks football | |
|---|---|
| |
| First season | 1922 |
| Head coach | Todd Hoffner 13th season, 131–33 (.799) |
| Location | Mankato, Minnesota |
| Stadium | Blakeslee Stadium (capacity: 7,500) |
| NCAA division | Division II |
| Conference | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) |
| Colors | Purple and gold[1] |
| All-time record | 487–394–27 (.551) |
| Bowl record | 1–0–0 (1.000) |
| Conference championships | |
| 22 (most recent: 2022, NSIC) | |
| Conference division championships | |
| 10 | |
| Consensus All-Americans | 68 |
| Website | msumavericks.com |
The team plays in NCAA Division II and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Since 1962, they have played in Blakeslee Stadium, with a natural grass field and a capacity of 7,000.
The current head coach is Todd Hoffner,[2][3] who has led Minnesota State to NCAA playoff appearances (2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 & 2024) and two appearances at the NCAA Division II National Championship game in 2014 and 2019.
Postseason
NCAA Division II playoffs
The Mavericks have made sixteen appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs, with a combined record of 19–16.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Quarterfinals | Portland State | L, 21–27 |
| 1991 | First Round Quarterfinals |
North Dakota State Portland State |
W, 27–7 L, 27–37 |
| 1993 | First Round Quarterfinals |
Missouri Southern State North Dakota |
W, 34–13 L, 21–54 |
| 2008 | First Round | Ashland | L, 16–27 |
| 2009 | First Round | Hillsdale | L, 24–27 OT |
| 2012 | Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals |
Northwest Missouri State Missouri Western Valdosta State |
W, 38–35 W, 17–10 L, 19–35 |
| 2013 | Second Round | St. Cloud State | L, 48–54 |
| 2014 | Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship |
Pittsburg State Minnesota–Duluth Concord CSU Pueblo |
W, 24–21 W, 44–17 W, 47–13 L, 0–13 |
| 2015 | First Round | Emporia State | L, 49–51 |
| 2017 | First Round Second Round Regional Finals |
CSU Pueblo Midwestern State Texas A&M–Commerce |
W, 16–13 OT W, 63–21 L, 21–31 |
| 2018 | Second Round Regional Finals Semifinals |
CSU Pueblo Tarleton State Ferris State |
W, 24–10 W, 13–10 L, 25–42 |
| 2019 | Second Round Regional Finals Semifinals National Championship |
CSU Pueblo Texas A&M–Commerce Slippery Rock West Florida |
W, 35–7 W, 42–21 W, 58–15 L, 40–48 |
| 2022 | First Round Second Round |
Wayne State (NE) Colorado Mines |
W, 26–9 L, 45–48 |
| 2023 | First Round | Augustana (SD) | L, 24–51 |
| 2024 | First Round Second Round Regional Finals Semifinals |
Augustana (SD) CSU Pueblo Bemidji State Valdosta State |
W, 20–19 W, 26–23 W, 27–23 L, 21–35 |
| 2025 | First Round Regional Semifinals Regional Finals |
Findlay Indianapolis Ferris State |
W, 37–14 W, 35–27 L, 29–52 |
Bowl Game
The Mavericks have played in the Mineral Water Bowl one time, in 2011.
| Year | Bowl | Coach | Opponent | Result | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Mineral Water Bowl | Todd Hoffner | Northeastern State | W, 28–14 | 9–3 |
Notable former players
Notable alumni who played in the NFL include:
Other Notable Pro Players:
- Zach Witt former Maverick quarterback played professionally in the German Football League (GFL) for the Franken Knights 2001-2002 and won the 2003 GFL German Bowl Championship playing for the Hamburg Blue Devils.
Facilities
From 1966 to 2017 the university hosted the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League for their preseason training camp.[9] The Vikings eventually left Mankato after a new training facility was built in Eagan, MN.[10] Five other NFL teams used campuses across Wisconsin and Minnesota for training camp, in what was known as the Cheese League.
