Missouri State is preparing for its final season in the Missouri Valley Football Conference before transitioning to Conference USA, with head coach Ryan Beard aiming for a conference championship despite being ineligible for the playoffs. High school football across various regions is gearing up for the 2024 season, with several storylines to watch. Lincoln-Way East looks strong with the addition of quarterback Jonas Williams and three Division I commits. The Kane County area will see new quarterbacks for most teams, except for St. Charles North, which retains Ethan Plumb. Valley City and Barnes County North are exploring football options due to reclassification impacts, with a co-op arrangement being a likely solution. In Illinois, notable stories include Nazareth's potential for another deep playoff run and York's adaptation to a new head coach following consecutive Class 8A semifinal appearances.