GRAND FORKS, ND — When Bobby Petrino talked to his players after Saturday afternoon's blowout loss, he told them that they can't let the disappointment affect them.
For all the history the Bears made, one bad loss shouldn't impact how they feel about themselves going forward, he said.
"I hate to end it this way after having such a good season," Petrino said.
Missouri State's historic 2020-21 season ended in a 44-10 loss to North Dakota at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in the first round of the FCS Playoffs.
The game was the Bears' first postseason appearance since 1990 after they went 5-1 in the fall and clinched a share of the Missouri Valley Football Conference title since the same season 31 years ago.