Nova Nation,
The past two months have been exhilarating for our Fall sports teams and for all of Villanova Athletics and I am excited by our continued momentum, on the field and off. Thank you once again for all that you do in support of the Wildcats. I wanted to share several updates with you as we get ready for postseason competition for our Fall sports and as we tip off the start of our men’s and women’s basketball and winter sport seasons.
Fall Sports Update
Our Fall sports teams have given us a lot to be proud of, led by a historic start from Women’s Soccer which was unbeaten through their first 14 games and currently sits in second place in the BIG EAST. Volleyball opened its home season with five straight victories and is coming off a weekend sweep of two conference matches. Field Hockey has surpassed last year’s win total and is on the cusp of clinching a spot in the BIG EAST Championship heading into the final week of the regular season. Men’s and Women’s Cross Country have each been nationally ranked during the season with both teams tallying top 10 finishes at Pre-Nationals and are gearing up for the BIG EAST Championships this week.
Football is playing its first season in the Patriot League and has continued its success with eight straight road wins over FCS opponents dating back to last season. The race for the Patriot League regular season title is wide open, and we are in the thick of that race after a huge win on Homecoming Weekend over Lehigh, which was previously unbeaten in the conference! More than ever, we need you to keep showing up at Villanova Stadium for our remaining home games and cheer on the team as we make a playoff push. Our home attendance through the first half of the season has increased by more than 20 percent over the same period last year, and single game tickets remain on sale for our remaining games.
Men’s and Women’s Basketball
After months of planning, Villanova University will embark on a one-of-a-kind international experience this week as our Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams travel to Rome for the Eternal City Tipoff. This unique celebration of our Catholic mission and heritage, inspired by the election of Pope Leo XIV, includes a robust schedule of events that bring together academics, athletics and spirituality. We will be joined by the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams from Notre Dame for a doubleheader to open the college basketball season on Sunday, November 1, with the men’s game slated for 9:30 AM Eastern time on FOX and the women’s game following at 12:00 PM Eastern time on FS1.
Single game tickets are available for all Men’s Basketball and Women’s Basketball home games at Finneran Pavilion and Xfinity Mobile Arena this season. In addition, we recently announced a four-game mini plan which includes lower-level seating at Xfinity Mobile Arena, for our matchup against defending national champion Michigan on Saturday, November 21, along with tickets to three non-conference home games of your choice at Finneran Pavilion. Our staff has continued to put an emphasis on the fan experience and in-arena amenities, and I encourage you to visit our tickets site for details of all the ways that you can be part of the action this season.
Big 5 Update
As you may have heard last week, 2026-27 will be the last season of the current Big 5 scheduling format for both Men’s and Women’s Basketball. Beginning in 2027-28, the other five Big 5 schools will compete in a full round robin scheduling format without Villanova Men’s Basketball. We are still working with the other schools on what the future women’s basketball scheduling format will look like. Villanova University has great respect for the history and tradition of the Big 5 and of Philadelphia basketball, and we value the longstanding relationships we have with our peer schools in the Big 5 which spans competition across many sports as well as collaboration on many initiatives which transcend sports. With respect to men’s basketball, over the past year, we engaged in lengthy discussions with our Big 5 partners about strategies to move forward in the years ahead. Together, we explored several models and were close to an agreement at one point but could not get unanimity on a new scheduling format beginning in 2027. Villanova remains committed to supporting college basketball in Philadelphia and we look forward to hosting La Salle this November at the Finneran Pavilion and competing in the Big 5 tripleheader at Xfinity Mobile Arena in December. Ultimately, Villanova must consider what is in the best interests of our basketball program for success in the modern landscape of college athletics moving forward.
1842 Day Recap
Like so many of us, I was filled with pride in the strength and generosity of Nova Nation in making our 10th annual day of giving a record-breaking one on all fronts. Simply put, the numbers were staggering university-wide and for Villanova Athletics in particular. There were nearly 6,000 donors to Athletics and collectively, you helped us raise more than $2.6 million. I especially want to recognize Women’s Lacrosse and Rowing for ranking first and third in total number of donors across all different giving categories spanning the university.
Espiritus Nova
The future of college athletics is evolving rapidly, and Villanova is committed to meeting the moment while remaining true to our Augustinian Catholic values. Through Espiritus Nova: The Campaign for Villanova University, donor support strengthens all 24 varsity programs, enhances the student-athlete experience and creates opportunities for today’s Wildcats and generations to come!
Capital Project Updates
This past weekend during Homecoming we officially opened the Cavanaugh Family Boathouse in Conshohocken with a dedication ceremony attended by more than 300 people. The state-of-the-art facility houses our Women’s Varsity and Men’s Club Rowing programs, and its opening is a proud moment for us to celebrate after years of planning and construction.
Other capital projects in progress this Fall include the construction of our new field hockey facility on the Cabrini campus and the renovations of the West Campus Tennis Complex. In addition, we are in the planning stages of updates and enhancements to the Davis Center in support of our Men’s and Women’s Basketball programs, the replacement of the Villanova Stadium turf, and are studying the development of a multi-sport indoor practice facility which is a critical need for our 24-sport athletic program. These projects represent an opportunity to strengthen the resources available to our student-athletes and are reflective of our continued commitment to their long-term success.
Day of Service
Our student-athletes have continued to embody the University’s commitment to service to the community this Fall semester, including 22 teams who participated in our Day of Service event. Our teams coming together to serve others beyond practice and competitions is at the root of our Augustinian values and reflect the effort of not just our student-athletes but also of our coaches and Villanova Athletics staff who devote their time and energy to serving others.
Protect College Sports Act Update
Last month, the United States Senate passed the “Protect College Sports Act” advancing the bill to the House. The legislation aims to create uniformity across the college sports landscape and addresses topics including Name, Image & Likeness, transfer rules, eligibility, revenue sharing, protection of women’s and Olympic sports, conference realignment and agent fees. The House of Representatives may consider the bill when it returns from its current recess. If passed, this bill will bring important legal protection to the NCAA while providing student-athletes with the ability to maximize their opportunities and would enable us to develop the enforceable rules and structure necessary to effectively move college athletics into the future.
Thank you, Nova Nation, for all that you do to support us. We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming game or athletic-related event soon.
