The Youngstown State football team advanced to the FCS Playoffs for the first time in seven years in 2023. YSU finished with a 8-5 overall record while posting a 5-3 record in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Guins won at least five MVFC contests in consecutive years for the first time since 2005-2006.

2023 Individual Notes

• Senior wide receiver Bryce Oliver broke the school record for career receiving touchdowns. Oliver finished his three-year career with 26 touchdowns in 33 games at YSU. He tied the record against Murray State and broke it in the first round of the NCAA playoffs against Duquesne. The previous mark of 25 had been held by Jim Ferranti since 1979.
• For his YSU career, Oliver had 147 receptions for 2,065 yards and 26 scores. He averaged 14 yards per catch and 62 yards a game. In 2023, Oliver had 64 receptions for 978 yards and eight touchdowns. He had at least eight touchdowns in each of his three years at YSU.
• Quarterback Mitch Davidson had one of the most productive seasons in school history. Davidson passed for 3,088 yards completing 256-of-368 attempts (69.6 percent) and throwing for 24 touchdowns. His 234.8 yards per game were just behind the record set by Ron Jaworski in 1972 (235.8). Davidson set school season records for completions, yards, attempts and completion percentage while ranking second in TD passes. He tied the school record for 200-yard passing games in a season (eight) and set a record with four 300-yard games. His 3,156 total offensive yards in 2023 were 54 shy of the school mark set by Jeff Ryan in 1999.
• In his YSU career, Davidson was 391-of-598 (65.3 pct.) for 4,978 yards and 40 touchdowns while appearing in 30 games. He passed for more than 200 yards on 13 occasions. He also rushed for nine touchdowns.
• Davidson became the first quarterback since Kurt Hess in 2013 to start every game in a season. Davidson started 20 straight contests to close out his career.
• Running back Tyshon King rushed for 1,011 yards on 187 carries and scored nine touchdowns in his first YSU season. Running back Dra Rushton ran for 664 yards on 163 and also scored nine touchdowns in his final YSU campaign.
• Placekicker Andrew Lastovka made 17-of-20 field-goal attempts (85 percent) and was 44-of-46 on PAT tries. He made a game-winning kick against Illinois State and kicked a long of 50 against Duquesne. He ended the season making his final six attempts. He made 12 of his first 14 FGs to open the year. His 17 FGs made tied for third most in a season in school history. His percentage also ranked third for a season in program history.
• Punter Brendon Kilpatrick averaged 43.4 yards per punt with 10 kicks of 50 yards or more. He also placed 16 inside the opposition's 20-yard line. His average ranked second-best in school history behind just a 44.2 mark set by Nick Liste in 2013.
• Cornerback Troy Jakubec intercepted a team-best four passes. It was the most interceptions in a season since LeRoy Alexander in 2016.
• Players who started every game in 2023: Davidson, Oliver, David Metzler, Ryan Johnson, Jaison Williams, Greg Benton Jr., Dylan Wudke, Desmeal Leigh, Alex Howard, C.J. Charleston, Chris Fitzgerald, Anthony Johnson, Andrew Lastovka.
• Career Games Played (30-plus): Hunter Allen (38), D'Marco Augustin (38), Jake Benio (37), C.J. Charleston (30), Mitch Davidson (30), Chris Fitzgerald (41), Alex Howard (39), Troy Jakubec (43), Anthony Johnson (36), Devin Johnson (38), Ryan Johnson (31), Tyjon Jones (37), Andres Lehrmann (40), Quincy Lenton (32), Sam Merryman (40), David Metzler (36), Bryce Oliver (33), Aidan Parker (37), Logan Pasco (34), Amarian Robinson (40), Dra Rushton (40), Brandan Serrano (32), Jaison Williams (40), Dylan Wudke (42).

2023 Team Notes

• YSU led the FCS in time of possession averaging 35:06 per game. The Guins finished ranked fourth in third-down conversions allowed (42), fourth in blocked punts (four), fifth in completion percentage (69.6 pct.), fifth in third-down percentage defense (29.4 pct.), sixth in net punting (41.24 ypa), 10^th in first downs offense (271), 10^th in passing efficiency (155.58), 10^th in rushing defense (102.2 ypg) and 11^th in fewest fumbles lost (four).
• The offense set a school record for 40-plus point games with six. YSU also set a new school record by scoring 30-or-more points in six straight games. The Penguins scored 28-plus points in all but two games.
• At home, the Penguins were 6-1 with conference wins over Missouri State, Southern Illinois and Illinois State. On the road, YSU won for the first time at Murray State in school history.
• The Penguins became the first team in MVFC history to have back-to-back games be decided on final-play field goals (at South Dakota and vs. Illinois State).
• YSU averaged a school-record 243.1 yards passing per game. The old mark was 235.8 set back in 1972. YSU set school records for completions (270) and attempts (388) as well as percentage (69.6).
• YSU averaged 32 points per game, its most in a season since 2013 and ranking tied for fifth in school history.
• YSU scored 27 rushing touchdowns, its most since 2017.
• The time of possession average of 35:06 was the second best in school history – 36:39 in 1989.
• The Guins lost just four fumbles during the year, tying for the second fewest in school history.
• In 13 contests, the offensive line allowed just 18 sacks.
• Nine different players caught touchdown passes and 16 players had receptions
• The Penguins ran 65-or-more plays in 10 games. YSU forced a turnover in 10 contests. The Guins had just three turnovers in the last seven games and two came in the final game. YSU had the edge in time of possession in 11 games highlighted by a 42:27 performance against Duquesne. The Guins had 62 trips to the red zone while its opponents only had 31.
• YSU had more than 400 yards of total offense on seven occasions and rushed for more than 167 yards in seven games.
• YSU had eight 200-plus yard passing efforts for the year as well while throwing a touchdown pass in nine contests. The Guins had three-or-more passing TDs on five occasions.
• The Guins had one-or-less punts in three contests. YSU did not punt against Duquesne in the FCS playoffs.
• YSU held nine opponents to 111-or-fewer yards rushing in a game throughout the year. Four times YSU held an opponent to under 155 yards passing in a game.
• On seven occasions, the Guins held opponents to three-or-less third-down conversions and held Indiana State to no conversions on 10 tries. The Guins held Southern Illinois and Duquesne to under 100 yards passing.
• The defense allowed just 102.2 yards rushing per game. The lowest per game total since 2012 and the second lowest since 1998.
• The Penguins scored at least 99 points in each quarter. In the second half, YSU outscored the opposition 215-131.