Overview
- Kickoff at Villanova Stadium is Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET with television coverage on ESPN2.
- Villanova (12-2) enters off a 26-21 comeback at No. 4 Tarleton State, with QB Pat McQuaide steadying an offense powered by RB Ja’briel Mace and freshman WR Braden Reed’s late heroics.
- Illinois State (11-4) arrives with three straight road playoff wins, highlighted by a 29-28 upset of No. 1 North Dakota State on a late two-point conversion, led by QB Tommy Rittenhouse and record-setting WR Daniel Sobkowicz.
- Turnovers and discipline loom large, as Villanova has only six giveaways this season while Illinois State has committed 19, and the Redbirds rank among the nation’s least penalized teams.
- To boost attendance, Villanova is extending student housing to Sunday, offering $2 select beers and hot dogs through the first quarter, staging holiday activities and free food trucks, and hosting a 4 p.m. pregame Mass led by Rev. Peter M. Donohue.