Mid-States Football Association
MSFA
Mid-States Football Association logo
Established1993
AssociationNAIA
Members16
Sports fielded
  • Football only
RegionMidwestern United States
CommissionerGary Newsome
Websitewww.mid-statesfootball.org
Locations
Mid-States Football Association locations

The Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NAIA. Member institutions are located in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Missouri. The MSFA was organized in 1993, and on-field competition began in 1994. The MSFA is divided into two leagues, the Mideast and the Midwest.

MSFA member schools have won eight NAIA National Championships since the inception of the league in 1993. An MSFA team has played in each of the last seven championships, winning six of the seven, including each of the last three. The two MSFA division champions earn an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship Series.

History

Charter members included Geneva College, Lindenwood University, Malone College, Olivet Nazarene University, Saint Xavier University, Taylor University, Tiffin University, Trinity International University, the University of Findlay, Urbana University, and Westminster College.

National Championship appearances

Year MSFA
Member 		Opponent Result Score
1995 Findlay (OH) Central Washington Tie 21–21
1997 'Findlay (OH) Willamette Won 14–7
1998 Olivet Nazarene (IL) Azusa Pacific (CA) Lost 17–14
2004 Saint Francis (IN) Carroll (MT) Lost 15–13 (2 OT)
2005 Saint Francis (IN) Carroll (MT) Lost 27–10
2006 Saint Francis (IN) Sioux Falls (SD) Lost 23–19
2011 Saint Xavier (IL) Carroll (MT) Won 24–20
2012 Marian (IN) Morningside (IA) Won 30–27 (OT)
2013 Grand View (IA) Cumberlands (KY) Won 35–23
2014 Marian (IN) Southern Oregon Lost 55–31
'2015 Marian (IN) Southern Oregon Won 31–14
2016 Saint Francis (IN) Baker (KS) Won 38–17
2017 Saint Francis (IN) Reinhardt (GA) Won 24–13
2019 Marian (IN) Morningside Lost 38–40

Member schools

Current members

The MSFA currently has 16 member schools, all of them are private schools. In 2021, Madonna began conference play as a member of the Mideast League, and Judson has competed in the Midwest.[1]

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Primary
conference
Mideast League
Concordia University Ann Arbor, Michigan 1963 Lutheran LCMS 1,055 Cardinals 2011–12 Wolverine–Hoosier
Indiana Wesleyan University Marion, Indiana 1920 Wesleyan Church 15,872 Wildcats 2019–20 Crossroads
Lawrence Technological University Southfield, Michigan 1932 Nonsectarian 4,154 Blue Devils 2019–20 Wolverine–Hoosier
Madonna University Livonia, Michigan 1930 Catholic 3,250 Crusaders 2020–21
Marian University Indianapolis, Indiana 1851 Catholic 1,800 Knights 2007–08 Crossroads
University of Saint Francis (IN) Fort Wayne, Indiana 1890 Catholic 1,883 Cougars 1998–99
Siena Heights University Adrian, Michigan 1919 Catholic 2,274 Saints 2012–13 Wolverine–Hoosier
Taylor University Upland, Indiana 1846 Christian 1,887 Trojans 1994–95 Crossroads
Midwest League
Judson University Elgin, Illinois 1963 American Baptist 1,231 Eagles 2021–22 Chicagoland
Missouri Baptist University St. Louis, Missouri 1828 Southern Baptist 2,800 Spartans 2015–16 American Midwest
Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais, Illinois 1907 Nazarene 4,666 Tigers 1994–95 Chicagoland
Roosevelt University Chicago, Illinois 1945 Nonsectarian 7,500 Lakers 2020–21
St. Ambrose University Davenport, Iowa 1882 Catholic 3,343 Fighting Bees 1996–97[a]
University of St. Francis (IL) Joliet, Illinois 1920 Catholic 3,352 Fighting Saints 1999–2000
Saint Xavier University Chicago, Illinois 1846 Catholic 5,028 Cougars 1994–95
Trinity International University Deerfield, Illinois 1897 Evangelical 2,730 Trojans 1994–95
Notes
  1. ^ St. Ambrose didn't compete in the MSFA during the 1998 fall season (1998–99 school year).

Former members

Institution Location Founded Nickname Joined Left Primary
conference
University of Findlay Findlay, Ohio 1882 Oilers 1994–95 1997–98 Great Midwest
(NCAA D-II)
Geneva College Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania 1848 Golden Tornadoes 1994–95 2006–07 Presidents'
(NCAA D-III)
Grand View University Des Moines, Iowa 1896 Vikings 2009–10 2014–15 Heart of America
Iowa Wesleyan College Mount Pleasant, Iowa 1842 Tigers 1996–97 2011–12 Continental
Lindenwood University St. Charles, Missouri 1827 Lions 1994–95 1995–96 Great Lakes Valley
(NCAA D-II)
(Ohio Valley (NCAA D-I) in 2022–23)
Lindenwood University–Belleville Belleville, Illinois 2003 Lynx 2015–16 2017–18 Closed in 2020
Malone University Canton, Ohio 1892 Pioneers 1994–95 2010–11 Great Midwest
(NCAA D-II)
McKendree University Lebanon, Illinois 1828 Bearcats 1998–99 2010–11 Great Lakes Valley
(NCAA D-II)
Ohio Dominican University Columbus, Ohio 1911 Panthers 2004–05 2008–09 Great Midwest
(NCAA D-II)
Quincy University Quincy, Illinois 1860 Hawks 2003–04 2011–12 Great Lakes Valley
(NCAA D-II)
Robert Morris University Chicago, Illinois 1913 Eagles 2013–14 2018–19 N/A[a]
Tiffin University Tiffin, Ohio 1888 Dragons 1994–95 2001–02 Great Midwest
(NCAA D-II)
Trine University Angola, Indiana 1884 Thunder 1996–97 2002–03 Michigan
(NCAA D-III)
Urbana University Urbana, Ohio 1850 Blue Knights 1994–95 2007–08 Closed in 2020
Waldorf College Forest City, Iowa 1903 Warriors 2009–10 2013–14 North Star
Walsh University North Canton, Ohio 1960 Cavaliers 1996–97 2010–11 Great Midwest
(NCAA D-II)
Westminster College New Wilmington, Pennsylvania 1852 Titans 1994–95 1997–98 Presidents
(NCAA D-III)
William Penn University Oskaloosa, Iowa 1873 Statesmen 2002–03 2014–15 Heart of America
Notes
  1. ^ Robert Morris (Ill.) was merged into Roosevelt University.

Membership timeline

    Mideast League            Midwest League     

Sports

The MSFA sponsors teams only in football. For other sports, MSFA-member schools are affiliated with a variety of other conferences; including the American Midwest Conference, the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, the Crossroads League, and the Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference.

References

  1. ^ "Judson University to Join Mid-States Football Association". Judson Eagles. May 10, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2020.

External links

Mid-States Football Association
NAIA conferences
Categories