Missouri State Bears and Lady Bears
| Missouri State Bears and Lady Bears | |
|---|---|
| University | Missouri State University |
| Conference | Missouri Valley (primary) MVFC (football) CUSA (beach volleyball; primary on July 1, 2025) The American (men's soccer, from 2025) |
| NCAA | Division I (FCS) |
| Athletic director | Patrick Ransdell |
| Location | Springfield, Missouri |
| Varsity teams | 19 |
| Football stadium | Robert W. Plaster Stadium |
| Basketball arena | Great Southern Bank Arena |
| Baseball stadium | Hammons Field |
| Soccer stadium | Allison South Stadium |
| Mascot | Boomer the Bear and Growl the Bear |
| Nickname | Bears and Lady Bears Beach Bears (beach volleyball) |
| Fight song | The Scotsman |
| Colors | Maroon and white |
| Website | missouristatebears |
The Missouri State Bears and Lady Bears are the athletic teams representing Missouri State University (formerly Southwest Missouri State University). Missouri State's athletics programs date back to 1908. Missouri State competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, but started a transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision on July 1, 2024. The majority of sports play in the Division I Missouri Valley Conference.
Missouri State football competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and the women's beach volleyball team, nicknamed Beach Bears instead of "Bears" or "Lady Bears", competes in Conference USA (CUSA), having moved from the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association after the spring 2023 season.
Men's swimming & diving had competed in the Mid-American Conference through the 2023–24 season, but sponsorship of that sport transferred from that conference to the MVC in July 2024. Missouri State will become a full member of CUSA on July 1, 2025. With CUSA sponsoring soccer only for women, the men's soccer team will join the American Athletic Conference.
Missouri State athletics are frequently abbreviated as "MOST" when televised.