Penn State looks to remain undefeated this week with a home game against the Villanova Wildcats. Penn State hasn’t played an in-state FCS opponent since the split in football subdivisions, and it’s been a long time since Penn State has gotten together with Villanova.
Penn State fans may not be too familiar with Villanova or their history. The Villanova football program has a good history and remains one of the better FCS programs in college football. Villanova has a national championship and a head coach in the College Football Hall of Fame, and you may have heard of a few former standouts who made a living in the NFL like Howie Long and Brian Westbrook.
If you are unfamiliar with the opponent Penn State is playing this weekend, here are five quick things to know about the Villanova Wildcats.
Villanova has a three-game winning streak vs. Penn State
Probably my favorite schedule tidbit this college football season; Penn State looking to snap a three-game losing streak to Villanova. Via @NittanyLionWire https://t.co/lbNknTGa4m pic.twitter.com/9xleZPb3zM
— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) August 12, 2021
Don’t get it twisted, but the Wildcats are looking to extend their winning ways against the Nittany Lions this weekend. But the last time this series was played, Penn State wasn’t the Penn State it is today, nor is Villanova what it was either. Penn State and Villanova have not played since 1951, and the programs have certainly gone their different paths since being much more on the same level. But regardless, it is still a fun fact to keep in mind as this weekend’s matchup approaches.
Villanova has four all-time wins against FBS opponents
FCS teams have been having some success this season against FBS opponents, and Villanova has a few wins against FBS opponents in their program history as well. Villanova has won three games against Temple (2003, 2009, and 2018) and one against Rutgers (2002). To date, Villanova has never beaten a team from a power conference since classifying as a 1-AA/FCS program in 1985 (to be fair, Rutgers was a member of the Big East at a time the conference could be considered a power conference).
This will be Villanova’s second game against a ranked FBS opponent. The last one before this weekend was played against No. 8 West Virginia in 2008. West Virginia won that game 48-21.