Joplin, Mo. - Earlier this year at the NCAA Convention, a proposal that permits schools to play their first permissible contest one week earlier than the current legislative date was approved. This contest has been referred to as "week zero".

The Missouri Southern football team has announced that their week zero opponent will be Midwestern State University, an NCAA Division II member of the Lone Star Conference. For the 2024 season, the Lions will travel to Wichita Falls, Texas to take on the Mustangs on their home turf. That season-opening contest is scheduled for Thursday, August 29 at 7:00pm. Last season, Midwestern State finished with a 4-6 (3-5 conference) record. Their 2023 season results can be found here. 

Following week zero, the Lions will play in Joplin, hosting the Pittsburg State Gorillas on Saturday, September 7. They will alternate home and road contests every week except for the month of October, playing back-to-back home games on the 5th and 12th, and hitting the road two games in a row on the 19th and 26th. To close out the regular season, Missouri Southern will travel to Warrensburg, Missouri to play Central Missouri. That game will take place on November 16. The full Missouri Southern football schedule can be found here.