Villanova can’t keep up against FBS foe Louisville in 59-13 loss

Villanova’s annual David-vs.-Goliath game did not go its way on Friday night.

The Wildcats took on No. 24 Louisville at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium and kept it competitive for the first half. But the depth and physical size of the FBS foe wore them down in a 59-13 loss.

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The Wildcats (1-2) were outplayed in almost every category. Louisville (1-1) outgained Villanova, 636-253, in total yardage and scored on all but three of its drives. The Cardinals held Villanova to 75 rushing yards and 178 passing yards.

Despite the loss, Villanova came away with positives for the rest of its FCS slate.

Here is the good, bad, and ugly of Villanova’s 2026 FBS game:

Sometimes a team needs to take what it can get against an FBS opponent.

A big point of emphasis for Villanova was cleaning up its penalties. And against Louisville, it limited its penalties to just seven for 64 yards.

In its season-opening loss to William & Mary, Villanova committed 15 penalties for 107 yards before totaling five for 45 yards in last week’s win over Bucknell.

To open the season, Villanova totaled 15 penalties for 107 yards in its loss to William & Mary. Last week, the Wildcats shrank that number to five penalties for 45 yards in its win over Bucknell.

Villanova coach Mark Ferrante says that winning teams also win the turnover battle. The Wildcats on Friday gave up one turnover, a fourth-quarter fumble, after having zero vs. Bucknell and four against William & Mary.

After a wild offseason, graduate quarterback Pat McQuaide is starting to communicate efficiently with his receivers, which is making Villanova’s offense more efficient.

McQuaide left Villanova at the end of last season, expecting to be done with collegiate football. He returned home to Ohio and landed a role as St. Ignatius High School’s quarterbacks coach. Then, he was granted another year of collegiate eligibility.

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The abnormal offseason meant McQuaide was not with Villanova for spring practices and a majority of its summer offseason. McQuaide joined Villanova after its preseason started, missing a few practices.

“We didn’t have Pat at all in the spring or the summer, and we got him about halfway through camp,” sophomore receiver Braden Reed told The Inquirer before the Louisville game. “So it’s still just figuring out the timing, figuring everything out. But I think each week we’re improving and getting better, the more reps he gets and the more reps we get with him.”

McQuaide finished his game with 18 completions on 31 attempts for 166 passing yards, a touchdown — a 65-yard completion to Ja’briel Mace — and zero interceptions. It was McQuaide’s second consecutive interception-free game.

Louisville showed why there are levels to collegiate football.

While Villanova kept it close for most of the first half, Louisville’s depth finally showed as the game went on. Villanova was forced to punt on five consecutive drives, the last three of which were three-and-outs.

After three unanswered Louisville touchdowns in the second and third quarters, the Wildcats tacked on a 29-yard field by Dominic LeBlanc goal halfway through the third quarter for their lone second-half score.

Louisville played its backups for much of the fourth quarter and added a pair of touchdowns. The Wildcats also sat their starters for much of the final period.

Villanova will stay on the road for the third consecutive week. The Wildcats will return to FCS and Patriot League play against LIU (0-2) at noon on Sept. 19 in Brookville, N.Y.

The last time the programs played each other, Villanova won, 24-10, on Sept. 28, 2024 at Villanova Stadium.

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