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.
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, who has led Minnesota State to NCAA playoff appearances 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.
1987QuarterfinalsPortland StateL, 21–27
1991First Round
Quarterfinals
North Dakota State
Portland State
W, 27–7
L, 27–37
1993First Round
Quarterfinals
Missouri Southern State
North Dakota
W, 34–13
L, 21–54
2008First RoundAshlandL, 16–27
2009First RoundHillsdaleL, 24–27
2012Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Northwest Missouri State
Missouri Western
Valdosta State
W, 38–35
W, 17–10
L, 19–35
2013Second RoundSt. Cloud StateL, 48–54
2014Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship
Pittsburg State
Minnesota–Duluth
Concord
CSU Pueblo
W, 24–21
W, 44–17
W, 47–13
L, 0–13
2015First RoundEmporia StateL, 49–51
2017First Round
Second Round
Regional Finals
CSU Pueblo
Midwestern State
Texas A&M–Commerce
W, 16–13
W, 63–21
L, 21–31
2018Second Round
Regional Finals
Semifinals
CSU Pueblo
Tarleton State
Ferris State
W, 24–10
W, 13–10
L, 25–42
2019Second 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
2022First Round
Second Round
Wayne State (NE)
Colorado Mines
W, 26–9
L, 45–48
2023First RoundAugustana (SD)L, 24–51
2024First Round
Second Round
Regional Finals
Semifinals
Augustana
CSU Pueblo
Bemidji State
Valdosta State
W, 20–19
W, 26–23
W, 27–23
L, 21–35
2025First 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.
YearBowlCoachOpponentResultRecord
2011Mineral Water BowlTodd HoffnerNortheastern StateW, 28–149–3

Notable former players

Notable alumni who played in the NFL include:
Other Notable Pro Players:

Facilities

From 1966 to 2017 the university hosted the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League for their preseason training camp. The Vikings eventually left Mankato after a new training facility was built in Eagan, MN. Five other NFL teams used campuses across Wisconsin and Minnesota for training camp, in what was known as the Cheese League.