The Missouri Valley Conference (MVC or The Valley) is the nation's second-oldest NCAA Division I conference, celebrating its 119th season in 2025-26. As one of the nation's most progressive conferences, The Valley brand remains strong both regionally and nationally, with a compelling athletic tradition that continues to attract student-athletes and enhance program marketing.

Despite challenges in the collegiate athletics landscape, the Conference maintains its core philosophy of providing robust opportunities for student-athletes while member institutions continue investing in athletic programs to compete at the highest level.

All-Sports Championship
Illinois State won the 2024-25 Missouri Valley Conference All-Sports Championship, marking their fifth title in the last six years. The Redbirds earned regular-season team titles in both men's and women's golf—the first time since 2019 that both teams from the same school won their respective titles, and the first time Illinois State achieved this feat since 2005. Additionally, Illinois State finished in the top five in 11 other MVC-sponsored sports.

Academic Excellence
Belmont earned the 2024-25 Missouri Valley Conference All-Academic Award with a 3.573 grade-point average among student-athletes, finishing ahead of Drake and Indiana State. This marks Belmont's 13th consecutive academic crown and their 22nd academic achievement award in the last 24 years.

Sports Highlights
Men's Basketball -- Men's basketball continues as the engine driving Valley athletic programs. In 2024-25, four MVC teams (Bradley, Drake, Illinois State, and UNI) competed in postseason play:

• Drake (31-4): Regular-season and State Farm MVC Tournament champion, earning a first-round NCAA Tournament victory over No. 6-seeded Missouri
• Illinois State: Won the CBI championship, defeating Presbyterian (78-70), UIW (78-73), and Cleveland State (79-68) in the title game
• Bradley: Advanced in the NIT with two wins

Tournament Success: MVC teams are 12-4 in their first NCAA Tournament game since 2013. The Valley has produced 21 NCAA Tournament wins in the past 12 championships, with multiple bids earned 16 times since 1994. Since 1985, MVC teams have reached the Sweet 16 twelve times, with two Final Four appearances since 2013.

Arch Madness: The State Farm MVC Men's Basketball Championship will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026 and continues at Enterprise Center in St. Louis through at least 2028. This marks the 32nd anniversary at Enterprise Center and the 36th consecutive season in St. Louis—only the Big East has had a longer continuous run at a single site.

Women's Basketball
For the second consecutive year, the MVC sent a record-tying seven teams to postseason play: Murray State (NCAA), Belmont (WBIT), Drake (WBIT), Missouri State (WBIT), UNI (WBIT), UIC (WNIT), and Illinois State (WNIT).

Notable Achievements:

• Belmont reached the WBIT championship game—its deepest national postseason run in program history
• Murray State finished with a program-record 25 wins and made their second NCAA appearance
• The MVC will conduct its championship tournament in Coralville, Iowa, in March 2026

Baseball
Murray State's Dan Skirka was named NCBWA National Coach of the Year after leading the Racers to their first NCAA Division I Baseball World Series appearance. Murray State became only the fourth No. 4 seed to reach the College World Series and the first MVC program in Omaha since 2003.

Conference Strength: The MVC has had Super Regional qualifiers in four of the past five seasons and nine Super Regional appearances since 1999. Since 2011, the conference has ranked among the top 10 leagues nationally in RPI in nine of 14 seasons.

• Volleyball: UNI won their 20th MVC tournament title and made their 26th NCAA Tournament appearance.  UNI beat Illinois in the first round then fell to No. 4 seeded Louisville in five sets.
• Men's Soccer: Three-bid league for the first time since 2004, sending Western Michigan, Evansville, and Missouri State to the NCAA Tournament
• Track & Field: Four student-athletes participated in NCAA Outdoor Championships, with two competing at the indoor event

Media and Broadcasting
In 2023, the Conference brought its marketing and media-rights operation in-house after 13 years with Learfield Sports.  The MVC Television Network has become a significant revenue generator and marketing tool. Key partnerships include:

• ESPN: Extended agreement through 2028-29, continuing a relationship that began in 1986
• CBS Sports: Multi-year deal through 2026-27 for basketball games on CBS Television Network and CBS Sports Network
• Gray Media: Partnership for regular-season basketball games across 22 markets
• State Farm: Title sponsor since 1984

Founding
The MVC was founded on January 12, 1907, when administrators from five institutions met at the Midland Hotel in Kansas City, Mo. The founding schools were:

• Washington University of St. Louis
• University of Iowa
• University of Kansas
• University of Missouri
• University of Nebraska

Drake University and Iowa State College joined two months later. Basketball became the first competitive sport in fall 1907.

Women's Athletics Integration
The Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference, which began in 1982, merged with the Missouri Valley Conference on July 1, 1992, bringing women's sports under the MVC banner. The conference celebrated the 25th anniversary of women's competition during 2017-18 and honored the 50th anniversary of Title IX during 2022-23.

Sponsored Sports
Baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country and track & field (indoor and outdoor), men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, women's tennis, and women's volleyball.

Member Institutions
Full Members: Belmont, Bradley, Drake, Evansville, UIC, Illinois State, Indiana State, Murray State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, and Valparaiso
Affiliate Members:

• Women's Swimming & Diving: Little Rock, Missouri State
• Men's Soccer: Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan
• Men's Swimming & Diving: Ball State, Miami (Ohio), Missouri State, UMass

Football
While the MVC no longer sponsors football (1907-85), seven members compete at the FCS level in the Missouri Valley Football Conference: Illinois State, Indiana State, Murray State, UNI, Southern Illinois, North Dakota, North Dakota State, South Dakota, South Dakota State, and Youngstown State. Drake and Valparaiso compete in the Pioneer Football League.

Historic Achievements
Team Championships

• Four NCAA national basketball championships
• 18 NCAA Final Four appearances
• 1989 national baseball championship
• 20 Men's College World Series qualifiers
• 33 total post-season national team championships

Individual Honors

• 275+ players drafted to the NBA, including 2023 first-round pick Ben Sheppard (Belmont)
• Nearly 800 MLB Draft picks since 1965, with 31 first-round selections
• 73 NCAA individual champions in conference history
• 50 National Players or Coaches of the Year

Hall of Fame
The MVC Athletics Hall of Fame, established in 1997, includes more than 150 former players, coaches, and alumni. Inaugural inductees included Hersey Hawkins (Bradley), Larry Bird (Indiana State), Wes Unseld (Louisville), Coach Henry Iba (Oklahoma State), Dave Stallworth (Wichita State), Ed Macauley (Saint Louis), and Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati).


The Missouri Valley Conference continues to build on its rich tradition while adapting to the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics, maintaining its commitment to excellence in competition, academics, and student-athlete development.