Minnesota State Mavericks football

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.

Minnesota State Mavericks football
First season	1922; 103 years ago (1922)
Head coach	Todd Hoffner 13th season, 131–33 (.799)
Stadium	Blakeslee Stadium (capacity: 7,500)
Location	Mankato, Minnesota
NCAA division	Division II
Conference	Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC)
All-time record	487–394–27 (.551)
Bowl record	1–0–0 (1.000)
National finalist	2 (2014, 2019)
Playoff appearances	15
Conference titles	22 (most recent: 2022, NSIC)
Division titles	10
Consensus All-Americans	68
Colors	Purple and gold[1]
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

The Mavericks have made fifteen appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs, with a combined record of 17–15.

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

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:

• Larry Brown
• Bob Bruer^[4]
• Tywan Mitchell^[5]
• Chris Reed^[6]
• Adam Thielen^[7]
• Shane Zylstra^[8]

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.