The Minnesota State Mavericks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the Minnesota State University, Mankato located in the U.S. state of Minnesota.
The team plays in NCAA Division II and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Since 1962, they have played in Blakeslee Stadium, with a natural grass field and a capacity of 7,000.
The current head coach is Todd Hoffner, who has led Minnesota State to NCAA playoff appearances (2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 & 2024) and two appearances at the NCAA Division II National Championship game in 2014 and 2019.
The Mavericks have made sixteen appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs, with a combined record of 19âÂÂ16.
The Mavericks have played in the Mineral Water Bowl one time, in 2011.
Notable alumni who played in the NFL include:
Other Notable Pro Players:
From 1966 to 2017 the university hosted the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League for their preseason training camp. The Vikings eventually left Mankato after a new training facility was built in Eagan, MN. Five other NFL teams used campuses across Wisconsin and Minnesota for training camp, in what was known as the Cheese League.