The Fall Lineup -- Missouri State

MISSOURI STATE BEARS

Conference: Missouri Valley

2012 record: 3-8 (3-5 MVC)

Returning offensive starters (7): QB Ashton Glaser/Kierra Harris, RB Vernon Scott, WR Dorian Buford, WR Julian Burton, T Zack Cooley, G Richard Galbierz, G Kurt Kutter

Projected starting offense: QB Kierra Harris, jr., 6-0, 195; RB Ryan Heaston, so., 5-10, 179; WR Julian Burton, jr., 5-10, 185; WR Dorian Buford, sr., 6-0, 184; Eric Christophel, so., 5-10, 170; TE Matt Swan, sr., 6-3, 245; LT Zach Cooley, jr., 6-5, 293; LG Kurt Kutter, sr., 6-3, 297; C Robert Booker, so., 6-3, 315; RG Richard Galbierz, jr., 6-3, 295; RT Patrick Blanar, jr., 6-3, 303

Returning defensive starters (10): NT Eric Pearce, DE Anthony Grady, DE Martin Montgomery, LB Andrew Beisel, LB Nick Canavan, LB Christian Hoffmann, CB Sybhrian Berry, CB Howard Scarborough, S Caleb Schaffitzel, S Mike Crutcher

Projected starting defense: DE Anthony Grady, sr., 6-7, 289; NT Eric Pearce, sr., 6-2, 306; DE Martin Montgomery, sr., 6-3, 267; ILB Andrew Beisel, jr., 6-2, 238; ILB Tim Piccarreto, sr., 6-2, 235; OLB Nick Canavan, sr., 6-0, 211; OLB Dylan Cole, fr., 6-0, 220; CB Sybhrian Berry, sr., 5-9, 174; CB Howard Scarborough, sr., 5-9, 171; S Caleb Schaffitzel, jr., 6-0, 214; S Mike Crutcher, jr., 6-2, 210

Return specialists: (2): K Austin Witmer, sr., 6-5, 188; P Chris Sullens, so., 6-0, 181

Key losses: LB Nate Davis, CB James Caine, TE Matt Thayer, C Harrison Menke, T Randy Richards, WR Cadarrius Dotson

Key additions: DL Cecil Bratton, OL Alex Cooley, TE Gannon Sinclair, OL Cameron McClain, LB Jeremy Springer

2012 review: No FCS team faced a more difficult opening than Missouri State, and it likely wounded the Bears for the rest of the 2012 season. Missouri State opened at Kansas State, the eventual Big 12 champion, and was beaten 51-9. That result was hardly surprising. The Bears then traveled to eventual Big East and Sugar Bowl champion Louisville and lost 35-7. It's rare for any FBS team to face two BCS-bowl opponents in non-conference play, and the Bears played them back-to-back last year.

Then Missouri State suffered a heartbreaking 28-23 loss to Murray State and stumbled to Southern Illinois 14-6. The Bears lost their first six games before before beating South Dakota, then upsetting No. 11 Illinois State on the road and routing Western Illinois 42-3. Missouri State put up its best game in the home finale against No. 1 North Dakota State in a 21-17 home loss. In all, Missouri State finished the season 3-8.

2013 schedule: A29 Northwestern State; S7 at Iowa; S14 at Murray State; S21 Central Arkansas; S28 Illinois State; O5 at South Dakota; O12 at North Dakota State; O19 South Dakota State; O26 at Western Illinois; N2 Indiana State; N9 at Southern Illinois; N16 Northern Iowa

Key stretch: Missouri State's best chances for a rebound season start the week after its game at Iowa. If the Bears can gain revenge against Murray State, they've got a pair of home games against Central Arkansas and Illinois State. Counting the home opener against Northwestern State and a road trip to South Dakota, it's possible Missouri State could start 5-1 entering a road contest at defending champion North Dakota State.

Trap game: Northwestern State. A home night game against a 4-7 opponent to open the season is just what a program like Missouri State needs to gain a little confidence. However, a loss could cripple a team's mindset. That's a disastrous scenario entering a road game at a Big Ten opponent like Iowa.

Glass half-full: It all starts with defense for the Bears. They return 10 starters, including safety Caleb Schaffitzel, an FCS preseason All-American candidate. Schaffitzel, who led the Bears with 109 tackles and also had six pass breakups and 3.5 tackles from loss, was named to the Buck Buchanan Award preseason watch list as the nation's best FCS defensive player. Defensive end Anthony Grady was an honorable mention all-MVFC selection last year.

Missouri State also returns two quarterbacks with playing experience. Junior Kierra Harris has the edge on senior Ashton Glaser entering fall camp. Harris played in nine games last year and threw for 997 yards, seven touchdowns and eight interceptions. Glaser passed for 1,221 passes but only two touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Wide receiver Dorian Buford, a first-team all-MVFC selection last year, is one of FCS' top returnees after catching 59 passes for 642 yards and two scores. Kicker Austin Witmer was 12-of-16 on field-goal attempts and 20-of-22 on extra points.

Should the Bears leave Iowa City without any major injuries and rebound on the road at Murray State, the team has a chance at a nice season. A split against North Dakota State and South Dakota State could vault Missouri State into playoff contention. It could be a highly competitive three weeks for a playoff spot with the Bears closing against Indiana State, Southern Illinois and then Northern Iowa.

Glass half-empty: Missouri State's early schedule is full of potential potholes. The week four game against Central Arkansas, which was 9-3 last year, could cause problems. Should the Bears stumble to, say, a 3-3 start, it's not far-fetched to see another tough season ahead.

Coach Terry Allen enters his eighth season as coach but has had only two winning seasons and no playoff berths. His highest league finish was a third-place tie in 2010 with a 5-6 overall record. Another subpar campaign could end his tenure as head coach.

The Iowa angle: There's really two people historically with Iowa and Missouri State athletic ties. Allen is an Iowa City native and coached Northern Iowa to seven straight Division I-AA playoff berths. He took over at Kansas in 1997 and was discussed by many as a possible successor to Hayden Fry after the 1998 season. But five years at Kansas produced nary a winning season and Allen was fired midway through the 2001 campaign.

The other notable coach connecting Missouri State with Iowa was men's basketball coach Steve Alford. He led the Bears to the Sweet 16 in 1999 and left Iowa for New Mexico in 2007.

Iowa and Missouri State have never had played before and likely won't again, unless Missouri State makes the jump to the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Quotable: “We have some guys who can make plays offensively, and I still like the potential of our defense.” - Missouri State Coach Terry Allen