The Northwest Missouri State–Truman football rivalry, also known as the Hickory Stick, is a college football rivalry between NCAA Division II teams Northwest Missouri State University and Truman State University.

Northwest Missouri State University is a public university in Maryville, Missouri. It has an enrollment of about 8,505 students. Founded in 1905 as a teachers college, its campus is based on the design for Forest Park at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair and is the official Missouri State Arboretum. The school is governed by a state-appointed Board of Regents and headed by President Lance Tatum.