The Morningside Mustangs from Sioux City, Iowa are one of the top NAIA Football teams in the Nation every year, winning the NAIA Football National Championships in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
They are led by Head Coach Steve Ryan, with a 228-45 record (including 10 semifinal appearances and 3 national titles) Having the NAIA’s active wins leader leading your program, means the Mustangs are likely never in rebuild model, and in position to contend for the national title every year.
The Mustangs compete in the rugged Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) which has been one of the most exciting leagues in the NAIA in recent years.
Last year’s defending GPAC champion Morningside University is once again in the spotlight in 2025, and picked to defend their crown in the coaches’ preseason poll.
The Mustangs return nine starters on offense, including all of their key skill players. Morningside All-American quarterback Zach Chevalier returns along with his top receivers.
Morningside returns six starters on defense including defensive lineman Cale Pittenger (Sioux City East) defensive back Malik Hampton, and linebacker Landry Phipps.
Morningside and Northwestern College have led the conference with Dordt making the playoffs consistently.
When you look at the stats, the dominance of the 2021 jumps off the page, 14-0 without a single one-score game.
2022 was dominant statistically until they ran into Keiser in the playoffs and lost a close one-point game. 2023 was a reload year, and 2024 was a strong year, ending with a loss to the eventual National Champions Grandview Vikings in the playoffs.
Morningside has a high powered offense and a defense that has not given more than an average of more than 18 points a game. They are a top ten team every year for a reason.
Morningside is preseason ranked #4 in the Victory Sports Network preseason poll. and has a big week one match-up down the Missouri River with #3 Benedictine. That 3 vs. 4 clash will be a very big NAIA game to start the season.
October 18th in Orange City, Iowa, on the road against arch-rival Northwestern College (#10) will be a big test. The other circle the calendar game is to close the season at home against the Dordt defenders.
Morningside has 94 players on the 2025 roster – including 41 Former Iowa High School Players
When we look at the schedule and set a floor it is hard to get below 9 wins. The Benedictine game is a tough toss-up game, as is going to Orange City to face Northwestern, but the ceiling has to be 11 games.
I know every coach says we are 0-0 each and every week. That one game at a time, next week mantra is in every coaches verbal toolbox, but it would be shocking to not see Morningside with a stellar record and in the NAIA Playoffs.
The NAIA Championship game is in Ft. Worth Texas this year. The Mustangs have a chance to be very popular in that cowboy town as their mascot is perfect. They have a legitimate shot at taking the trip to Texas this fall.
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