Coming into the 2016 season, Truman Football was due for a breakout. Since joining the GLVC in 2013 the Bulldogs had a 14-9 record in the conference and had two winning seasons in three campaigns. Before moving to the GLVC, Truman had just two winning seasons in the previous ten. The last conference title for the Bulldogs came in 1988 when Truman finished 7-3 overall, 5-1 in the MIAA. Things were pointing up for the Bulldogs, and it all came together with a conference title in 2016.

The season opened at home against Midwestern State (Texas). Truman jumped out to a 3-0 lead as Nick Dolezal put a 22 yard field goal through the uprights. Before the first was over, MSU grabbed the lead at 7-3 with a six yard touchdown run. In the second, Dolezal made a 20 yard field goal and made it 7-6. Truman grabbed the lead with 5:17 left in the half when Jaden Barr hit Kyle Spratt for a ten yard touchdown pass to cap a 13 play, 76 yard drive. But in the final minute of the half MSU found the end zone and took a 14-13 lead into intermission.

In the second half MSU led by as many as 15 at 28-13. Jordan Salima found the end zone with 7:20 left in the game to make it 28-19 after the two point conversion failed. A field goal made it 31-19 MSU, which was the final score.

The next week, the Bulldogs hosted Malone. It would go down as one of the finest games of Barr's career, as he threw a career high five touchdown passes in the 35-3 win. Barr hit Joey Schenck for a 27 yarder in the first quarter, then in the second he hit CJ Brown for a 13 yard score and then Schenck hit pay dirt again with an eight yard strike to make it 21-0 heading into intermission. Barr hit Drew Slager for a 14 yard score in the third and then Kyle Spratt in the fourth to cap off his sterling performance.

The next week Truman took on old rival Missouri S&T in Rolla, looking to avenge a 10-7 loss from the previous season. After the first quarter Truman held a 10-0 lead, with Barr getting it done on the ground with a two yard score. The Miners eventually took a 14-10 lead, but Truman would answer quickly. Salima returned the ensuing kickoff 76 yards to the S&T 15 yard line, and from there Andy Satulla punched it on the next play. Truman led 17-14, but S&T was determined to get points before the half. With the ball on the Truman three, the Miners went for the touchdown but Ben Chaney reeled in the interception and returned it 97 yards for the Truman touchdown.

Truman scored first out of the break to make it 30-14 as Barr found the end zone again. S&T answered to make it 30-20, but Jordan Salima hit pay dirt in the fourth and then a scoop and score by Jordan Brown made it 44-20 Truman; which is how the game ended.

The Bulldogs returned home to face Lincoln University, and won handily 37-0. Salima scored three touchdowns, two on the ground and one through the air from Barr.

Truman welcomed Indianapolis to Kirksville the next week, and got their first victory over the Greyhounds in four games to that point. Barr hit Schenck and Jordan Jorgenson for first half touchdowns. UIndy got back in the game with a touchdown right before half to make it 14-7 headed into the intermission. Within the first five minutes of the third quarter, UIndy tied it up. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Truman took back the lead as Barr took it in from two yards out to make it 21-14 Truman. Dolezal made it 24-14 with a field goal a few minutes later. With 2:30 to go the Greyhounds were back in it with a field goal to make it 24-17, but Truman shut the door to get the seven point win in one of the strangest endings you'd ever see. On third and goal Brett Judkins picked up a sack which cost the Greyhounds five yards and pushed them back to the nine. Time was running out and UIndy spiked the ball not realizing it was fourth down. The turnover on downs gave Truman the ball and the win.

The next week Truman took on #20 Southwest Baptist, looking to pick up a statement win. In the first quarter Barr hit Schenck for a three yard touchdown pass and ran in a 17 yard score. With a 14-0 lead heading into the second, Truman cemented their edge with a safety and a second strike from Barr to Schenck to make it 23-0 heading into half. A field goal made it 26-0 Truman in the waning stages of the third quarter, and while SBU got on the board with two touchdowns and two successful two point conversions it was not enough as Truman won 26-16.

Truman followed with a trip to Grand Valley State and fell for their second loss of the season. Truman took on William Jewell the next week for Homecoming. It was an unceremonious opening for the Bulldogs as WJC took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown. But Barr rebounded with three first half touchdown passes--hitting Slager, Salima and Schenck, leading Truman to a 24-10 edge at half. After a touchdown by WJC made it 24-17, Barr punched it in from two yards out to make it 31-17. WJC made it 31-24 with a last minute touchdown, and that's how the game ended.

In their final home game of the year, Truman hosted Quincy the next week. Barr hit Dalton Powell for the first touchdown of the game and ran for three scores in the first half--making it 28-14 at the intermission. In the second half, Salima found the end zone from 34 yards out to make it 38-21 Truman, and from there the Bulldogs held on for a 38-28 win.

Truman picked up their eighth win the next week with a 23-3 win over Saint Joseph's (Ind.) but dropped their final game of the year at McKendree. At 8-3 overall (7-1 GLVC) the Bulldogs earned their first conference title in almost 30 years.

Freshman quarterback Jaden Barr finished the season with 17 touchdown passes and 10 touchdown runs. The redshirt freshman showed a glimpse of what his career would be as he led the Bulldogs to a scoring average just under 27 points per game. Jordan Salima, a true freshman, ran for 773 yards to lead the team. Joey Schenck, the senior receiver from Fenton, led the team with eight touchdown catches and was second with 438 receiving yards. 

Four Bulldogs were named first team all-conference that season: DB Austin Zoda, OL Brad Wellman, LB Ben Wellman and DL Sam Reeves. Barr was named Freshman of the Year and second team all-conference, along with RB Jordan Salima, WR Joey Schenck, OL Nick Verbeck, DL Kyle Leckrone, DB Jordan Brown and LB Bryan Edwards. Honorable mentions were given to WR Drew Slager, DL Isaiah Hinton, ST Brock Rohler and DB D'Anthony Knight.