Looking to extend its best playoff run since advancing to the 2010 semifinals of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Villanova football will take on Illinois State on Saturday, Dec. 20, in the semifinal round of the FCS.
No. 12 Villanova will host unseeded Illinois State for its final home game of the 2025 season at Villanova Stadium. The semifinal marks the two teams’ first meeting in nearly 50 years, when Illinois State narrowly defeated Villanova, 19-17. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and will be nationally televised (ESPN2).
In Villanova’s previous FCS semi-final appearances, the Wildcats lost to McNeese in 2002, advanced to the championship and won the national title in 2009, and most recently lost to Eastern Washington in 2010.
In Illinois State’s two FCS semi-final appearances, the Redbirds lost to Georgia Southern in 1999 and advanced to the championship in 2014, where they were the National title runner-up.
After picking up two consecutive wins on the road against opponents ranked in the top 5, the Wildcats (12-2, 7-1 Coastal Athletic Association) ride a 23-game home win streak, the longest active streak in college football, coming into Saturday’s game. The Wildcats 11-game win streak is the second-largest active winning streak in the FCS, coming only one game behind Montana State’s 12-game win streak.
In last week’s quarterfinal game, the Wildcats pulled off a 26-21 upset over No. 4 Tarleton State, where Villanova totalled 426 yards of total offense, rushing for 219 yards.
On offense, the Wildcats are led by graduate quarterback Pat McQuaide. McQuaide currently averages completion of 60.5% of his passes this season and 208.86 yards per game. Sophomore running back Ja’briel Mace has also had an impact in the end zone, totaling 11 touchdowns this season. Mace has seven plays for 40 or more yards and has rushed for 100-plus yards in three games this season.
Senior linebacker Shane Hartzell anchors the relatively young Wildcat defense. Hartzell has racked up a team-high 94 tackles this season, averaging 6.71 tackles per game.
Villanova’s defense held the best scoring offense in the FCS, Tarleton St., to a season-low 21 points. Tarleton St. entered the game averaging 44.1 points per game.
Illinois State comes into the game coming off a hard-fought quarterfinal win against the University of California, Davis, 42-31.
The Redbird offense is led by senior quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, who averages 65.5% on pass completions and 200.4 yards per game. Senior wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz leads the Redbirds in touchdowns, with 16 this season. Senior running back Victor Dawson leads the team in rushing attempts, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
Defensively, junior linebacker Tye Niekamp is a backbone for the Redbirds, leading them in tackles with 150 this season. Niekamp’s 150 total tackles are second in the FCS. He currently averages 10 total tackles per game.
The Wildcats want all the support they can get on the Main Line as they attempt to punch a ticket to the 2025 title game. Villanova is offering promotions to students and fans who attend the game.
With a valid game ticket, all fans can receive 10% off all food and drink purchases at The Refectory, and enjoy the Rowen campus green for Christmas lights and free food trucks.
After stadium gates open at 6 p.m., fans can stop by the Christmas Village in the southwest corner of the stadium to enjoy holiday-themed activities such as a decorate-your-own-ornament station, letters to Santa, holiday inflatables, face paint with Villanova Cheer and photos with “Will D. Claws,” commonly known as Will D. Cat.
The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive Santa hats and rally towels. Hand warmers will also be available to the first 4,000 fans.
The first 100 students in attendance can stop by The Nation’s, Villanova’s official fan organization, table for a free chicken sandwich. Additionally, Students in attendance can enjoy 4th-quarter prize drawings, which are entered automatically by scanning into the game. The prizes offered include guaranteed tickets for the remainder of the regular men’s basketball seasons to 50 students, a pair of tickets to the Big East Men’s Basketball Tournament to one student and a $500 shopping spree to the Villanova Team Store.
A win would give Villanova its second national championship in program history. The Wildcats would face the winner of Montana and Montana State in Nashville on Monday, Jan. 5.
