VILLANOVA, Pa.—Winners of three straight games to start the 2024 season and ranked No. 5 in the nation in both of this week's FCS polls, Villanova (3-0) will play its annual game against an FBS opponent on Saturday when it meets Big Ten member Maryland (3-0) for a 12 p.m. kickoff at SECU Stadium in College Park, Md. The game will be the first between the teams since the 2007 season opener and the Wildcats first contest against a Big Ten foe since it faced Penn State in 2021.
 
Saturday's game can be seen on the B1G Network and the radio broadcast will air on the Villanova Sports Radio Network with Ryan Fannon and Kevin Reilly on the call. This is the 17^th time in the last 19 years that Villanova is matching up with an FBS opponent. The Wildcats have played 26 games in all versus FBS competition since 1985 and have had 10 of those 26 contests decided by a touchdown or less. Entering this season, CAA Football programs had defeated an FBS opponent at least once in 12 of the past 16 seasons.
 
Villanova will have one more regular season non-conference game remaining after this week's contest and it occurs next week when the Wildcats host LIU on September 28 at 6 p.m. during Family Weekend.
 
Below is this week's Villanova notebook.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
Villanova plays its annual game against an FBS opponent this week when it travels to Big Ten member Maryland on Saturday afternoon. It will be the 12th meeting all-time between the teams but only the second matchup in the Wildcats FCS era (since 1985). The teams last met at SECU Stadium in 2007. Saturday's game can be seen live on the B1G Network with Mark Followill, Anthony Herron and Dannie Rogers on the call. Fans can hear the radio broadcast on the Villanova Sports Radio Network which can be accessed the easiest with the iHeart Radio mobile app. Ryan Fannon and Kevin Reilly will call the action.
 
VILLANOVA UPDATE
Villanova is the only CAA Football team with a 3-0 record on the year and is coming off a 14-13 win over Towson in its conference opener last week. This is the first time since 2021 that the Wildcats are off to a 3-0 start.
 
POLLING PLACES
Villanova has been ranked in both the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll in each of the last 11 weeks dating back to last season and including this year's preseason polls. Currently, the Wildcats sit at No. 5 in the country in both polls. This week's Stats Perform FCS Top 25 features a troika of CAA Football teams in the Wildcats, William & Mary (No. 12) and UAlbany (No. 20). Six other league members are receiving votes.
 
MEETING MARYLAND
Villanova and Maryland were frequent opponents of each other in the 1970's and played each other nine times in 10 years during that decade. The all-time series favors the Terps by a 9-2 margin and all 11 games have been played in the venue now known as SECU Stadium. After the Wildcats won the first two meetings in the series in 1970 (21-3) and 1971 (28-13), Maryland got their first win over Villanova in 1972 (37-7) and went on to defeat the Wildcats every year from 1972-77 as well as in 1979 and 1980.
 
In the only meeting between Villanova and Maryland since the Wildcats became an FCS program, the Terrapins posted a 31-14 victory in the 2007 season opener. The game was a close one at halftime with Maryland holding a slim 10-7 advantage before scoring two touchdowns in the third quarter to start pulling away.
 
THEY SHOULD FEEL AT HOME
Seven members of the Wildcats 2024 roster are Maryland natives, including six defensive players. Starting safeties Ty Trinh (Owings Mills) and Ethan Potter (Chesapeake City) each hail from the Old Line State, as does long snapper and backup linebacker Timmy Furgeson (Gaithersburg). There are also four true freshmen on the Villanova roster from Maryland, including running back David Avit (Potomac) and a trio of defensive backs in Anthony Hawkins (Arnold), Damill Bostic (Hyattsville) and Newton Essiem (Frederick).
 
FAMILY CONNECTION
Villanova freshman running back David Avit will play against his older brother Ezequiel Avit this week. Ezequiel is a redshirt freshman wide receiver on the Terps roster, while David has 17 carries for 102 yards in his first three career games for the Wildcats.
 
FBS FODDER
Villanova is playing an FBS opponent this season for the 17th time in the last 19 years. The contest between the Wildcats and Maryland will be the 27th overall against an FBS foe since Villanova became an FCS program in 1985.
 
The games between the Wildcats and FBS opponents have frequently been close affairs over the years, with 10 of the previous 26 matchups being decided by a touchdown or less. In recent years, Villanova has suffered close defeats against such teams as Temple (16-13 in 2017), Connecticut (20-15 in 2015) and Syracuse (27-26 in double overtime). The Wildcats last win against an FBS foe was a 19-17 decision over Temple in the 2018 season opener.
 
Villanova is 4-22 overall in its previous games against FBS competition. The four wins were against Rutgers in 2002 (37-19), Temple in 2003 (23-20 in overtime), Temple in 2009 (27-24) and the aforementioned game against Temple in 2018 (19-17).
 
Entering this season, CAA Football programs had defeated an FBS opponent at least once in 12 of the past 16 seasons. The two most recent wins came in 2022 when William & Mary defeated Charlotte and Delaware knocked off Navy.
 
WINNING AT HOME
Last week's win over Towson was Villanova's 11th consecutive home win. During the streak, the Wildcats have an average margin of victory of 15.6 points. The streak started after a loss to Monmouth (49-42) on September 24, 2022 and includes both a playoff win in last year's second round over Youngstown State and a pair of victories this year over Youngstown State again in the season opener as well as the Towson game last week. This is the 98th year that the Wildcats are calling Villanova Stadium their home. The team is 265-112-5 (.700) all-time in the venerable campus landmark.
 
FIVE AND DIME
Villanova is the only current CAA Football member to have won at least a share of two league titles over the last five seasons. Over these last five years (2020-24) the Wildcats have the highest winning percentage among the current CAA membership with a 31-13 (.705) mark, including a 21-8 record in regular season league games.
 
Expanding the snapshot to the last 10 seasons (2015-24), Villanova is still one of just three CAA Football members (Richmond and William & Mary are the others) to have won at least a share of two league championships. Over the last 10 seasons the Wildcats have the highest win total of any current leage member and have posted an overall record of 65-38 (.631). Villanova has gone 42-27 in regular season CAA Football contests over the last 10 seasons.
 
CURRENT CAA FOOTBALL MEMBERSHIP
 
Last 5 Years: Winning Pct. (2020-24)
Villanova (31-13, .705)
Delaware (31-16, .660)
Richmond (28-16, .636)
William & Mary (26-15, .634)
Rhode Island (24-15, .615)
 
Last 10 Years: Winning Pct. (2015-24)
North Carolina A&T (64-32, .667)
Villanova (65-38, .631)
Richmond (63-43, .594)
Monmouth (57-42, .576)
Delaware (58-46, .558)
 
HONORS AND AWARDS
Redshirt freshman running back Isaiah Ragland was named the CAA Football Rookie of the Week for the second time this season and the third time in his career after he ran for a career-high 141 yards in the Towson win. Ragland carried the ball a career-high 17 times and averaged better than eight yards per carry for the second time in three games to open the 2024 campaign. His career-long 65-yard burst late in the third quarter set up the go-ahead Villanova touchdown two players later.
 
Ragland played in four games as a true freshman last season and retained his rookie eligibility for this season. He made an impact in those four contests however, including in a 21-0 win over Elon in which he rushed 15 times for 126 yards. That earned him his first career Rookie of the Week nod. The second came after this year's season opener against Youngstown State when Ragland had seven carries for 58 yards and his first careet touchdown.
 
DEFENSIVE DOINGS
Villanova enters play this week ranked third in the FCS in both scoring defense and red zone defense. In their three games played on the year, the Wildcats have allowed just 33 total points (11.0 points per game allowed) and have given up points on just four of eight defensive possessions in the red zone. The play on defense has been especially strong over the past two weeks with Villanova giving up just one total touchdown in wins over Colgate (28-3) and Towson (14-13).
 
In addition to being a top-three defense in the two above categories, the Wildcats also rank 11th nationally in defensive passing efficiency (104.66) and 18th in the country in third down defense (29.3%). Villanova's defensive success this season looks even more impressive considering that the opposition has run 32 more offensive plays than the Wildcats have (202 to 170).
 
BLOCK THAT KICK!
Prior to Saturday's game against Towson, it had been nearly six years since Villanova blocked an opposing team's field goal try. The feat happened twice in the second half alone in the win over the Tigers. In the third quarter, sophomore JR Strauss blocked a 31-yard field goal attempt which would have given Towson a 13-7 lead with 3:47 to play in the period. The second block came as time expired at the end of the game, as senior Obinna Nwobodo got his hands on a potental game-winning and walk-off 37-yard try. The last blocked field goal attempt by Villanova prior to last week came on October 6, 2018 when Jafonta Johnson blocked a 40-yard attempt in a 13-10 loss at Maine. Ironically, Johnson's block came with the score tied 10-10 in the fourth quarter but the Black Bears later kicked a 52-yard game-winner as time expired. That game stands as the last time that the Wildcats suffered a walk-off loss.
 
1,000 YARD MILESTONE
In last week's win over Towson, sixth year quarterback Connor Watkins became the 43rd player in school history and the sixth quarterback to top 1,000 career rushing yards. Watkins' career totals are 212 carries for 1,016 yards and 22 touchdowns. The other VU quarterbacks with over 1,000 rushing yards are Richie Richman (1,001 yards; 1960-62); Pat O'Brien (1,792 yards; 1977-80); Chris Whitney (2,160 yards; 2007-10); John Robertson (3,643 yards; 2011-15); and Zach Bednarczyk (1,225 yards; 2015-18).
 
TAKE IT ON THE RUN
Villanova leads CAA Football and ranks 13th in the country in rushing offense with an average of 204.3 yards per game this season. That figure includes topping the 200-yard mark in two of three games, most recently this past weekend when the Wildcats rushed for 235 yards in the Towson win. Dating back to the start of the 2019 season, Villanova has topped 200 rushing yards in a game 28 times in 57 outings.
 
Redshirt freshman running back Isaiah Ragland has been the top threat in the Wildcats backfield thus far and has run 36 times for 264 yards (7.33 yards per carry) and two scores. He is followed by sixth year quarterback Connor Watkins who has run for 190 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries, while true freshman David Avit has run 17 times for 102 yards.
 
GETTING INTO THE END ZONE
Junior wide receiver Jaylan Sanchez scored his first two touchdowns of the season in the Towson win, accounting for both of the Wildcats scores in a 14-13 victory. Sanchez hauled in a 28-yard pass at the 12:10 mark of the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7 and later caught a six-yard touchdown pass with 1:16 to play in the third quarter which accounted for the difference in the final score. Sanchez finished the day with four catches for 59 yards and the two scores. In 26 career games played, Sanchez has 45 receptions for 890 yards and eight touchdowns.
 
BRINGING IT BACK
Fifth year collegian Devin Smith returned a punt 19 yards in the Towson game last week. It was noteworthy because it was technically Smith's first career punt return. In the first two games of the season he had called for a fair catch or let a punt be downed each time the opponent punted. In Saturday's game versus the Tigers, Smith called for a fair catch on Towson's first punt but then fielded each of the next two attempts. The first resulted in a zero-yard return when Smith caught the ball but immediately fell on it. It was in the second quarter that he had a chance for a return and he gained 19 yards after fielding the punt at the 11-yard line and returning it to the VU 30-yard line.
 
Smith is a graduate transfer from North Carolina Central and had recorded 14 kickoff returns for the Eagles, but never a punt return. In his first year with the Wildcats, Smith is the team's leading receiver with nine catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns in addition to handling punt return duties.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS ON DEFENSE
Sophomore defensive lineman Capri Martin was named Villanova's defensive player of the game in the Towson win. His five tackles on the day included his first career solo sack while he also added a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry to his stat line. Martin sacked Tigers quarterback Sean Brown in the second quarter on a 3rd-and-4 play from the Towson 37-yard line and forced the Tigers to punt in what was then a 7-7 tie game. Martin played in 11 games as a true freshman last season and has emerged as a starter on the Wildcats defensive line this year.
 
Martin wasn't the only member of the defensive line to stand out in Saturday's win, as redshirt freshman Nigel McSween had a career-high three tackles and — like Martin — registered his first career solo sack.
 
LOW-SCORING WIN
Villanova's 14-13 win over Towson on Saturday was the fewest points scored in a victory since the Wildcats posted a 13-3 win over Maine on October 31, 2015. Villanova has won just four of its last 23 games when it its held below 20 points.
 
TREND BUSTERS
Villanova's win over Towson on Saturday was an unusual one when you consider the following circumstances: the Tigers scored the first points of the game and the Wildcats trailed at the end of the first quarter; Villanova went into halftime without the lead (the game was tied 7-7); Towson finished the day with more yards of total offense; the Wildcats were held below 20 points and did not force a turnover while committing two of their own. The following are Villanova's records since 2017 in each of those scenarios:
 
Villanova Record Since 2017 When… (all scenarios occurred in last Saturday's WIN over Towson)
Trailing at the end of the first quarter (4-14)
Tied or trailing at halftime (6-24)
Opponent scores first (7-19)
Villanova held below 20 points (4-13)
Opponent gains more yards (7-23)
Villanova loses turnover margin (8-15)
 
CONFERENCE OPENER
Villanova is 27-10 in league openers in its FCS era. The successful trend continued last week when the Wildcats tallied a 14-13 win over Towson. It marked the 10th time in the last 13 years that Villanova won its CAA Football opener. The team has posted a .500 or better record in 27 of its 36 seasons as a member of the Yankee Conference, Atlantic 10 and CAA Football.
 
HANG ON TO THAT BALL
Villanova played turnover-free football in each of its first two games of the season before turning the ball over twice on a pair of lost fumbles in the Towson game. Regardless, the trends have been encouraging for the Wildcats in the first three games of the season after Villanova committed at least one turnover in all 13 games it played last season.
 
BIG PLAY POTENTIAL
Sixth year quarterback Connor Watkins has thrown seven careet touchdown passes of 75 yards or longer. No previous quarterback in school history had more than four such passes. Watkins has made 27 career starts under center and has tallied 34 completions for 40 yards or longer. He has...

• Seven career TD passes for 70+ yards (no previous Villanova QB had more than four)
• 13 career completions for 40-49 yards
• 6 career completions for 50-59 yards
• 8 career completions for 60-69 yards
• 5 career completions for 70-79 yards
• 2 career completions for 80-89 yards 

5,000 AND 300
Connor Watkins reached a pair of career milestones in the win over Youngstown State. He became the ninth quarterback in school history to reach 5,000 career passing yards and he also became the quarterback in Villanova history with at least 300 career completions. Watkins' current career passing totals are 5,275 yards (319-566) with 39 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
 
TRIPLE THREAT
Not only did Villanova rush for a total of 246 yards in the season opener against Youngstown State, its top three rushers all averaged better than eight yards per carry. Quarterback Connor Watkins led the way with 107 yards on 10 carries (10.7 average), while running backs Isaiah Ragland and David Avit averaged 9.3 yards (seven carries, 65 yards) and 8.4 yards (five carries, 42 yards), respectively. The last time the Wildcats had three rushers average 8.0+ yards per carry was on October 25, 2014 against Morgan State.
 
HERE'S THE KICKER
Fifth year kicker Ethan Gettman has been effective in all facets of the kicking game in the first three weeks of the season. The graduate transfer from Bryant is a perfect 9-of-9 PATs for the Wildcats. He made his eighth career field goal from 40+ yards when he drilled a 42-yarder in the first quarter of the season opener. Gettman is also averaging 42.1 yards on 14 punts this season. He kicked a 62-yard punt in the season opener and is coming off a performance against Towson in which he amassed a career-high 232 yards on six attempts (38.7 yards per punt).
 
FIRST TIME STARTERS
Villanova had four starters on both sides of the ball who were making their first career starts in this year's season opener.
 
Players Who Made Their First Career Start in Season Opener (Career Games Played)
RB Isaiah Ragland (5)
WR Kenyon Miles (10)
LG Tommy Broderick (5)
RG Chris McCullers (5)
 
DT Obinna Nwobodo (17)
DE Capri Martin (12)
LB Richie Kimmel (27)
CB Zahmir Dawud (4)
 
MAKING THEIR DEBUT
In addition to the first time starters against Youngstown State, the Wildcats also had six players appear in their first collegiate game during the 24-17 victory.
 
Villanova Players Who Made Collegiate Debut in Season Opener
#16 Jack Ryder
#24 David Avit
#38 Newton Essiem
#56 Christian Caballero
#80 Chris Colby
#85 Nolan Clayton
 
EXPERIENCE WINS
Villanova is an experienced group in 2024, with the 93 members of the roster having combined to play in 1,125 career games with 435 starts entering play against Maryland this week.
 
 
LAST YEAR, RIGHT HERE
This year's season opener was Youngstown State's second straight game at Villanova Stadium after the Wildcats and Penguins faced each other in a second round playoff game last season. Villanova won that game, 45-28, on December 2, 2023 and advanced to the quarterfinals by posting its first victory over Youngstown State since 1978. The Penguins had not played a regular season game at Villanova Stadium since 1999 prior to this year's lidlifter.
 
THAT HASN'T HAPPENED IN A WHILE
The last time Villanova played its home opener against the same opponent as it hosted in the final home game of the previous season was in 1968 and 1969 against West Chester. The Wildcats tallied a 63-3 win over their local foes in the final home game of the 1968 campaign and defeated the Golden Rams, 41-14, in the 1969 home opener.
 
CAA FAVORITES
Villanova is the defending CAA Football co-champion and earned last season's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. In a preseason poll of league head coaches, the Wildcats are considered the favorite to finish atop the league standings once again in 2024. Villanova received nine first-place votes and a total of 217 points in the preseason poll to finish ahead of Richmond (one first-place vote, 189 points) and UAlbany (three first-place votes, 179 points). 
 
CAA PRESEASON HONORS
Starting quarterback Connor Watkins was named the CAA Football Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and was one of a league-high six Wildcats who were selected to the CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team. The other preseason league honorees are offensive lineman Temi Ajirotutu, linebackers Brendan Bell and Shane Hartzell, cornerback Isas Waxter and safety Ty Trinh. Wide receiver Jaylan Sanchez was an honorable mention preseason pick. 
 
PRESEASON NATIONAL HONORS
Villanova quarterback Connor Watkins and cornerback Isas Waxter were named to the preseason watch lists for the Walter Payton Award and the Buck Buchanan Award which are presented to the top FCS offensive and defensive player each year. Waxter was also named to the Senior Bowl Watch List, while he and linebacker Shane Hartzell earned preseason All-America honors from both Stats Perform and Phil Steele.
 
ENTERING WITH EXPERIENCE
Villanova began the 2024 season with a veteran roster that had combined for 971 career games played in college football prior to this year. The Wildcats returned a total of 11 starters from last year's team which went 10-3 overall and 7-1 against league competition along the way to claiming a share of the CAA Football championship and advancing to the quarterfinal round of the FCS playoffs.
 
REGULAR SEASON SUCCESS
Villanova compiled a 9-2 regular season record last year for the second time in the past three seasons. Prior to 2021 the Wildcats had not had a two-loss regular season since posting a 10-2 mark in 2014. Last year marked the eighth season overall with no more than two regular season losses since Villanova joined a conference in 1988.
 
VILLANOVA FOOTBALL HISTORY
Villanova is playing its 127th season of varsity football this year and its 40th season as an FCS program since reinstating football in 1985 after a four-year absence. During the program's history the Wildcats have an overall record of 661-502-41 (.566). Prior to the FCS era, Villanova played in college football bowl games in 1937, 1947, 1949, 1961 and 1962 and went 2-2-1 in those games. The wins came against Nevada (27-7) in the 1949 Harbor Bowl in San Diego, Calif. and against Wichita State (17-9) in the 1961 Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
 
Since becoming an FCS program in 1985, the Wildcats have made 15 appearances in the FCS playoffs and have advanced to at least the semifinals on three occasions (2002, 2009 and 2010). Former head coach Andy Talley guided Villanova to its first national title with a 23-21 victory over Montana in 2009. The Wildcats have also won at least a share of eight league championships in the Yankee Conference (1988-1996), the Atlantic 10 Conference (1997-2006) and CAA Football (2007-present).