If Missouri State beats Youngstown State on Saturday, the Bears will be Missouri Valley Football Conference champions.
That doesn't mean the Bears would make the playoffs.
Missouri State enters its final regular-season game tied atop the MVFC standings with North Dakota, North Dakota State and South Dakota State who all have conference records of 4-1.
Because Saturday is the Bears' final game of the regular season, a win would mean they would finish with one conference loss.
According to the criteria the MVFC decided on before the season, the league will recognize multiple champions if they have the same number of conference losses, even if teams finish with a different number of conference wins.