VILLANOVA, Pa.—Despite their campuses being located less than 70 miles from each other, Villanova (4-4, 3-2 Patriot League) and Lafayette (3-4, 2-2 Patriot League) will meet on the gridiron this week for only the seventh time since 1898 when they first matched up in Easton. Saturday's game will be televised live in the local area on NBC Sports Philadelphia and can be streamed on ESPN+. Villanova has won eight straight road games against FCS opponents since last season, and one more win would match the program's longest ever road winning streak versus FCS foes.
In addition to the television broadcast, fans can tune in to the Villanova Radio Sports Network and hear
Ryan Fannon and
Michael Marcantonini on the call. Radio coverage, including the pregame and postgame shows with Fannon and Marcantonini, can most easily be accessed with the iHeart Radio mobile app.
Villanova has rounded into form over its last three games and has averaged 32.3 points per contest while scoring 11 rushing touchdowns and committing only one turnover in that span. In the first five games of the season prior to this stretch, the Wildcats averaged 20.6 points per game, had scored only five rushing touchdowns and had committed nine turnovers. Villanova enters play this week coming off consecutive wins over Fordham (38-17) on the road and Lehigh (24-18) at home during Homecoming Weekend.
ABOUT VILLANOVA
Villanova won its Homecoming Weekend game for the sixth straight year and tallied its first Top 25 win of the season with a 24-18 win over then-No. 11 Lehigh last week. The win moved the Wildcats into a tie for third place in the Patriot League standings with four conference games remaining: two each at home and on the road. The other wins for Villanova this season have come against Bucknell (17-16) and Fordham (38-17) in league action as well as at LIU (20-16) in a non-conference matchup. Last week's contest was a rematch of a second round playoff game from last season and the Wildcats built a 21-0 first half lead en route to their 13th straight win in the all-time series against Lehigh.
ABOUT LAFAYETTE
Lafayette enters play this week with three wins, four losses and one scheduling quirk. On the opening night of the season, the Leopards traveled to Georgetown for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Thursday, August 27. The game was played through the end of the first half before being suspended due to prolonged lightning strikes. After a delay of more than two hours, the game was declared a no-contest with no resumption. The Leopards have found their stride over the last two weeks with consecutive Patriot League road wins over Bucknell (20-7) and Fordham (31-17) to even their conference record at 2-2. Senior kicker Jack Simonetta has been the Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week in each of the last two weeks. Simonetta leads the league with 9-of-10 accuracy on field goals this season and has made all 19 of his PAT attempts on the year.
SERIES HISTORY
Villanova trails the all-time series with Lafayette by a 4-2 margin, although the record itself shouldn't cause immediate alarm for Wildcats fans. The last win by the Leopards was more than a century ago in 1920 — albeit a 34-0 shutout — and, in the modern era, Villanova has won two relatively recent meetings in 2016 at Lafayette (31-14) and in 2017 on the Main Line (59-0). Another note of intrigue is that despite the limited series history, the teams did first play each other in the 19th century when the Leopards posted a 16-0 win in Easton on October 1, 1898. The game was not televised.
ROAD WARRIORS
Villanova has won eight straight road games against FCS opponents dating back to the middle of last season. If the Wildcats were to defeat Lafayette this week, it would match the Spring 2021 and Fall 2021 seasons for the program's longest-ever road winning streak versus FCS foes since Villanova became an FCS program in 1985. Prior to the FCS era, the Wildcats longest unbeaten streak on the road was 12 games (10-0-2) spanning the 1936 to 1938 seasons.
Going back further than the current streak, Villanova has a 29-12 record in road games against FCS opponents dating back to the start of the 2019 season. For an even longer viewpoint, the Wildcats are 66-35 away from home against FCS foes since the start of the 2008 campaign.
Mark Ferrante is 34-24 on the road in his head coaching career. When Villanova defeated Fordham in the Bronx two weeks ago, it extended Ferrante's record to 7-2 in his home state of New York.
TURNING THE CORNER
There has been a noticeable turnaround in the Wildcats level of play over the past three games, including a close loss to Morgan State (38-35) on October 3 before a bye week along with wins over Fordham (38-17) and Lehigh (24-18) since the bye. The numbers below show the side-by-side comparison from Villanova's first five games to its last three outings.
| VILLANOVA: FIRST FIVE GAMES AND LAST THREE GAMES |
| Category |
First Five Games |
Last Three Games |
| Scoring Offense |
20.3 |
32.3 |
| Total Offense |
327.6 |
425.0 |
| Yards Per Play |
5.7 |
7.1 |
| Passing Efficiency |
138.0 |
151.4 |
| Rushing Offense |
111.4 |
191.0 |
| Rushing Touchdowns |
5 |
11 |
| Turnovers |
9 |
1 |
| Total Defense |
393.4 |
391.7 |
| Passing Defense |
233.4 |
212.7 |
| Sacks (Yards) |
5 (22) |
9 (54) |
MAKING THEIR FINAL STAND
Last week's 24-18 thriller against Lehigh ended with the Villanova defense making three straight outstanding plays from the two-yard line in the final 16 seconds. It was a true team effort to stop the Mountain Hawks on the doorstep, with big plays by sophomore safety
Brenden Toppin, senior safety
Josh Oluremi, junior safety
Jayvont Williams and fifth year linebacker
Garrett Rogan sealing the win. The following sequence shows how the closing seconds unfolded.
The pass breakup by
Brenden Toppin on first down and the quarterback hurry by
Josh Oluremi on second down were each the first of their respective careers. The second pass breakup by
Jayvont Williams was his fifth this season, while the sack by
Garrett Rogan which ended the game was the second of his career and first this season.
GREAT GARRETT
Fifth year linebacker
Garrett Rogan is a former recruited walk-on to the Villanova roster who has earned a scholarship and, just this year, transitioned from playing mostly safety to helping the Wildcats at linebacker. Rogan recorded his first career INT at Fordham two weeks ago, then had a career-high 13 total tackles against Lehigh last week. His 13 total stops included 11 solo tackles, among them the game-ending sack at the two-yard line. Rogan's previous career high for tackles had been seven on two occasions earlier this season. He ranks third on the team with 39 tackles (5.5 TFL) this season.
MCQUAIDE LEADS THE WAY
Sixth year collegiate quarterback
Pat McQuaide has thrown for 1,771 yards this season with nine touchdowns and a 144.24 passing efficiency rating. He has been at his best over the past three games against Morgan State, Fordham and Lehigh. In the three-game stretch, McQuaide is 56-of-78 through the air for 702 yards with a 71.8 percent completion percentage and a 153.3 efficiency rating. McQuaide enters the Lafayette game this week leading the Patriot League in six offensive categories and ranked in the top 20 nationally in yards per pass attempt and completion percentage.
| MCQUAIDE LEADS THE WAY |
| Category |
Statistic |
PL Rank |
FCS Rank |
| Yards/Pass Attempt |
8.47 |
1 |
13 |
| Completion Percentage |
64.6 |
1 |
20 |
| Passing Efficiency |
144.24 |
1 |
25 |
| Passing Yards |
1,771 |
1 |
28 |
| Passing Yards/Game |
221.4 |
1 |
32 |
| Total Offense/Game |
227.8 |
1 |
45 |
| Completions/Game |
16.88 |
3 |
45 |
| Passing Touchdowns |
9 |
3 |
64 |
DYNAMIC DUO
Senior running backs
Isaiah Ragland and
Ja'briel Mace have each scored touchdowns in four consecutive games, including rushing touchdowns in the first half of the last two outings against Fordham and Lehigh. In the last three games is where the duo has really been at their best, combining for 75 carries, 487 rushing yards and nine rushing TDs to go along with a combined 11 receptions for another 144 yards. Mace rushed 17 times for 91 yards and a touchdown against Lehigh last week, while Ragland carried 10 times for 44 yards and a score.
For the second straight season, the combination of Ragland and Mace in the backfield has been an excellent one for the Wildcats. Mace is leading the team with 100 carries for 559 yards on the season and Ragland has nearly equaled those numbers with 89 rushes for 483 yards. Ragland has eight rushing touchdowns and Mace six on the year. They each rank in the top 20 in school history in career rushing yards.
| ISAIAH RAGLAND AND JA'BRIEL MACE IN THE VU RECORD BOOK |
| Isaiah Ragland |
Statistic |
VU Rank |
Within Reach |
| Career Rushing Yards |
1,910 |
16th |
15th (1,950) |
| Career Rushing Attempts |
386 |
18th |
14th (401) |
| Career Yards Per Carry |
4.95 |
-- |
23rd (5.01) |
| Career Rushing TDs |
13 |
-- |
-- |
| 100-Yard Rushing Games |
3 |
-- |
tie-10th (6) |
| Ja'briel Mace |
Statistic |
VU Rank |
Within Reach |
| Career Rushing Yards |
1,788 |
20th |
16th (1,815) |
| Career Rushing Attempts |
286 |
-- |
25th (300) |
| Career Yards Per Carry |
6.25 |
3rd |
2nd (6.35) |
| Career Rushing TDs |
18 |
-- |
tie-7th (25) |
| 100-Yard Rushing Games |
4 |
-- |
tie-10th (6) |
BURSEY ONTO THE SCENE
Junior linebacker
Omari Bursey has not only had a breakout season in his first year as a full-time starter on the Villanova defense, he has emerged as one of the top defensive players in the entire country. After eight games played, Bursey leads the FCS with 55 solo tackles and ranks fourth nationally with 90 total tackles (11.25 tackles per game). Both of those figures lead the Patriot League, and his season stat line includes nine tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks to go along with three quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and a pass breakup.
Bursey had 13 total tackles in the game against Lehigh last week, including eight solo stops and five assisted tackles. It was the fifth time this season he made 10+ total stops and marked his fourth game of the year with at least a baker's dozen or more tackles. The last Villanova player to average double digits in tackles over a full season is Bursey's positional coach
Forrest Rhyne who averaged 11.7 tackles per game in 13 games played during the 2021 season. Bursey led the FCS in tackles through the first two weeks of this season with 29 stops through the first two games of the year against William & Mary and Bucknell.
PUNT RETURNS APLENTY
Sophomore wide receiver
Braden Reed has been Villanova's top punt returner during his career and has already ascended to seventh place in school history with 402 career punt return yards. He needs another 47 yards to move into a tie for sixth place in school history and match Varsity Club Hall of Famer Murle Sango with 449 career punt return yards. Reed leads the Patriot League and ranks 25th nationally this season with his 10.4 punt return average. His career average of 13.4 yards per return is third in school history.
HERE'S THE KICKER
Junior kicker
Dominic LeBlanc made his eighth field goal of the season from a distance of 27 yards in the Lehigh game last week. He also added three PATs to finish the day with six points.
LeBlanc has been an instant success story in his first season with the Wildcats as a transfer from Tennessee Tech. He has scored 48 points on the season while making all 24 of his PAT attempts and hitting on 8-of-10 field goal attempts. He ranks second in the Patriot League with his 80 percent accuracy on field goals and is third in the league with his average of one made field goal per game. LeBlanc kicked his fourth career field goal from 40+ yards in the season opener against William & Mary and connected on two attempts in consecutive games against Louisville and LIU. This week's matchup against Lafayette features the league's top two kickers this season in LeBlanc and Jack Simonetta.
HOMECOMING WEEKEND
Villanova improved to 40-21 (.656) all-time on Homecoming Weekend with its 24-18 win over Lehigh on October 24. This is the sixth straight year that the Wildcats have won their Homecoming game. THe streak began in 2021 against Rhode Island (44-0) and also includes wins in 2022 over UAlbany (31-29), 2023 against Stony Brook (48-13), 2024 against New Hampshire (14-6) and 2025 versus UAlbany (29-16) prior to this year's Lehigh game. The first "Homecoming' game recognized by the Wildcats was a 7-0 victory over Detroit Mercy in 1958.
400
The game against Lehigh was Villanova's 400th game at Villanova Stadium since the venerable old venue opened in 1927. This is the 100th season of intercollegiate sporting events inside the venue, and a 100th birthday celebration is being planned for next year. With their win over Lehigh, the Wildcats improved their all-time record at Villanova Stadium to 279-116-5 (.704).
BACK FROM THE BYE
Villanova improved to 20-7 in its last 27 games coming off a bye week with the 38-17 win at Fordham. The Wildcats looked rejuvenated from the start against the Rams with four first half touchdowns pacing the way to a strong performance on both sides of the ball.
REED IN RARE TERRITORY WITH 3+ RECEPTIONS
Sophomore wide receiver
Braden Reed had a streak of 11 consecutive games with three or more catches which spanned the last four games of the 2025 campaign and the first seven games this year. The streak is the longest by a Villanova player since Poppy Livers had three or more catches in 17 straight games spanning the last nine games of the 2013 campaign and the first eight games of the 2014 season.
Given the streak mentioned above, it is no surprise that Reed has emerged as Villanova's top receiver this season. He has caught 36 passes on the year for 474 yards and three touchdowns. Reed ranks third in the Patriot League in receiving yards in addition to leading the league in punt return average. He is one of two Wildcats — along with
Jake Hilton — who has caught at least one pass in every game this season.
THROWING TO THE TIGHT ENDS
In his two years as the Wildcats starter under center quarterback
Pat McQuaide has had at least one completion to a tight end in 19 of 23 games played, including seven of eight games played this season. Senior
Nolan Clayton has 11 catches for 98 yards on the year, while sophomore
Sean Welde has two receptions for 23 yards and junior
Brody Eaton has made three catches for 15 yards.
PLAYING WITH EXPERIENCE
The members of this year's Villanova roster have played a total of 1,346 games in their college football careers. There are 22 members of the roster who have appeared in 30 games or more and six who have appeared in 40 or more games. The team leaders in games played are the trio of running back
Julian Glantz, defensive end
Capri Martin and quarterback
Pat McQuaide who have each played in 47 career games.
POLLING PLACES
This season is the 34th time in the last 39 years that the Wildcats have been nationally ranked at some point during the season. Villanova ranks fourth among all teams in FCS history (since 1978) in number of weeks ranked in the national media poll (344 weeks).
DOUBLE DIGIT WINS
Villanova is coming off a 12-3 season in 2025 which tied the second-most wins in a season in school history. It was the fourth time in the last five years that the Wildcats have won 10 or more games. The only two FCS teams with 10+ wins in four of the last five seasons are Villanova and defending national champion Montana State.
SUPER SIX
Villanova has been one of the dominant teams in the FCS over the last six seasons and has a 52-22 (.703) overall record in that span (2021-26). The .703 winning percentage ranks ninth among current FCS teams during this stretch.
YOU WILL REMEMBER ME (FOR A CENTURY)
The 2026 season is the 100th year of hosting intercollegiate athletic events in venerable old Villanova Stadium, which was officially dedicated on October 8, 1927. Villanova has an all-time record of 278-116-5 (.703) in the stadium, including a 29-5 home record the last five years. A 100th birthday celebration for the venue is being planned for next year.
THE POWER OF 10
In July, the Patriot League unveiled its football-specific brand identity and slogan, "The Power of 10," marking the beginning of A New Era of Patriot League Football as the League enters the 2026 season with 10 football-playing institutions for the first time in its 41-year history.
"The Power of 10" campaign reflects both the strength coming with expansion and the collective success that has long defined Patriot League football, creating one of the nation's premier FCS conferences.
Collectively, the Patriot League's 10 football members have won two FCS national championships, advanced to 12 FCS national semifinals and reached the quarterfinal round 22 times, earning 42 FCS postseason wins.
PATRIOT LEAGUE DEBUT
A transformational new chapter of Villanova football begins this season as the Wildcats make their highly anticipated debut as an associate member of the Patriot League. The match between Villaova and the Patriot League is a natural one both on and off the field, and the Wildcats were picked to finish atop the league standings in a preseason poll of league head coaches.
PLAYING THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
Villanova may be new to the Patriot League this season, but it has played eight of the other nine teams in the conference at least once since 2015. The only member of the conference that the Wildcats have not faced in a long time is Georgetown, who will visit Villanova Stadium in the regular season finale later this year. Despite their memorable matchups on the hardwood, the Wildcats and the Hoyas have not faced each other in football since 1950.
Villanova began the year having won its previous 20 games against the Patriot League since a 2013 loss to Fordham. The streak did not include games that the Wildcats played against Richmond and William & Mary when the teams were CAA Football opponents.
PRESEASON PATRIOT LEAGUE POLL
Villanova was picked to finish atop the Patriot League standings in its inaugural season in the league in a preseason poll of league head coaches. The Wildcats received seven first-place votes (Lehigh received the other three) and a total of 79 points in the poll to come in four points ahead of defending league champion Lehigh. Villanova defeated Lehigh, 14-7, in the second round of last year's playoffs.
PRESEASON ALL-PATRIOT LEAGUE
Villanova had five selections to the Preseason All-Patriot League team in the poll of league head coaches. The selections on offense include running back
Ja'briel Mace, wide receiver
Braden Reed and right guard
Chris McCullers, while the defensive selections are linebacker
Omari Bursey and defensive end
Capri Martin.
WALTER PAYTON AWARD WATCH LIST
Junior running back and kick returner
Ja'briel Mace is among 30 offensive players nationwide, including three from the Patriot League, who were named to the Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List on Tuesday morning. The watch list was announced by Stats Perform for the annual award which is presented to the national offensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football. This is the third straight year that Villanova has had a player named to the initial watch list for the Walter Payton Award.
NATIONAL PRESEASON ACCOLADES FOR MACE
In addition to being named to the Watch List for the Walter Payton Award, running back and kick returner
Ja'briel Mace was named a Stats Perform Preseason All-American and landed a spot on the 2027 East-West Shrine Bowl 1000. Last season Mace became the second player in Villanova history to average more than 30 yards on kickoff returns over a full season. He had 23 returns for 735 yards and an average of 31.96 yards per return, with both his total return yards and his average return ranking him second among all FCS players. Mace also was the first player in the country last season to return two kickoffs for touchdowns, a feat he accomplished twice in a three-game span with a 100-yard return against William & Mary on September 27 followed two weeks later by a 97-yard return for a score at Elon.
An explosive runner in any role on the field, Mace was the Wildcats leading rusher in a deep corps of running backs last season. He ran for 946 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 7.39 yards per carry, including three games with over 100 yards and three with two or more rushing touchdowns. Mace had a historic performance against Towson on November 8 last season when he broke Brian Westbrook's single game record for rushing yards. Mace had 291 yards and scored all four Villanova touchdowns in a 28-10 victory. He followed that performance two weeks later with 165 yards and two scores in the regular season finale against Sacred Heart, then had 151 rushing yards and a touchdown in an FCS playoff quarterfinal win at Tarleton State.
DID YOU KNOW?
Villanova has played 1,239 games in its history and those contests have yielded 674 unique scores. It isn't hard to tell how much the game of football has changed over the years. The most commonly repeated score in school history is 6-0 which has occurred 23 times, including 11 Villanova wins by that score and 12 losses.
