SMSU opens camp after seventh-place NSIC South prediction
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MARSHALL -- Despite being picked to finish seventh in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) South Division and 14th overall in the preseason coaches’ poll, the Southwest Minnesota State University football team is back on the field with a new season underway.
The Mustangs reported for training camp on Aug. 2 and held their first official practice Monday as preparations continue for the 2026 campaign.
Photo by Daniel Lins.
SMSU is expected to bring back a talented group of players with plenty of experience.
For the second straight season, the NSIC will feature North and South divisions. Each team will play a 10-game conference schedule that counts toward the overall NSIC championship, while six divisional contests will determine the North and South Division champions. In total, the conference will award three championships: the overall title, North Division title and South Division title.
Minnesota State was selected to win both the NSIC South Division and the overall conference championship after receiving 10 first-place votes and 166 total points in the preseason poll.
Minnesota Duluth was picked to finish second overall, followed by Augustana, Sioux Falls and Wayne State. Northern State was selected sixth, while Bemidji State, MSU Moorhead, Winona State and Minot State rounded out the top 10.
UMary was picked 11th with 51 points, followed by Concordia-St. Paul, Jamestown and SMSU.
Photo by Daniel Lins.
Mustangs football head coach Scott Underwood is entering his fifth season with the program.
The Mustangs also had two players recognized as NSIC Players to Watch in senior quarterback Macloud Crowton and senior defensive end Avery Johnson.
Crowton started 10 games in his first season with SMSU last fall, completing 171 of 324 passes (52.8%) for 10 touchdowns. He threw for at least 250 yards in four games, including a season-high 453 yards and three touchdowns against Augustana.
Johnson enters his sixth season with the Mustangs after overcoming injuries earlier in his career. Last season, he appeared in all 11 games and led SMSU with 5.5 sacks while ranking second on the team with 7.5 tackles for loss.
SMSU opens the regular season on Thursday, Aug. 27, when it hosts Valley City State (N.D.) in a nonconference matchup at the Schwan Regional Event Center. The Mustangs begin NSIC play on Saturday, Sept. 3, with a road game against Bemidji State.
Fans can also follow the team throughout the season by tuning into a weekly SMSU football podcast hosted by Marshall Independent Sports Editor Daniel Lins. Additional details about the podcast will be announced at a later date.