Villanova gets back to winning ways on the gridiron behind a 21-point road rout of Fordham

A bye week for a football program can serve as a reset point, a time to restart the season and focus on what’s left down the stretch.

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For Villanova, a convincing 38-17 win over Fordham is what the Wildcats needed as they look to get their season back on track.

The Wildcats (3-4, 2-2 Patriot League) went back out on the road Saturday to take on the Rams at Moglia Stadium in the Bronx. Away from Villanova Stadium has been where the Wildcats have found success of late, as they improved to 3-1 on the road, a far cry from their 0-3 record at home games. Fordham fell to 2-6, 2-3).

Villanova’s offense was dominant, consistently driving the ball into Fordham territory. Graduate quarterback Pat McQuaide threw with confidence drive after drive, opening the day with an eight-play, 83-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown.

The sixth-year Ohio native finished his day with 235 passing yards going 18-for-24 on the day, with a pair of passing touchdowns and a rushing TD as well.

In all, the Wildcats finished with 481 total yards, and continued building on their offensive momentum from their last game against Morgan State, when they totaled 457 yards.

Despite a late bid for a comeback in the fourth by Fordham, Villanova’s defense held strong and forced a turnover on downs with 4 minutes and 29 seconds left to seal a much-needed win.

Perhaps the biggest positive for Villanova was its pass defense, which has been an issue in their four losses the season. Against the Rams, call it a Wildcats wave, as Fordham could not effectively set up their passing attack.

Fordham quarterback Gunnar Smith was held to just 60 yards on 11-for-26 passing. Smith was held without a complete pass from the 3:08 mark of the second quarter until the 8:19 mark of the fourth quarter.

Villanova’s secondary worked in tandem with its defensive line, which continually got pressure on Smith, sacking him five times and forcing him to throw bad passes, including one that was intercepted by fifth-year defensive back Garrett Rogan.

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However, the Wildcats’ run defense still struggled, giving up 222 yards.

The running game continues to be a positive constant for Villanova, led by their backfield combination of juniors Ja’briel Mace and Isaiah Ragland. The pair combined for 173 rushing yards,despite Mace departing the game in the third quarter with a noncontact ankle injury.

Both Mace and Ragland set the turn early for Villanova on offense, with Ragland punching it from 15 yards less than four minutes into action for the Wildcats’ first score and on their next drive, it was Mace finding paydirt on a 7-yard run.

Between the pair, they have carried the scoring workload this season with 12 combined rushing touchdowns (seven for Ragland, five for Mace) and have been solid targets out of the backfield for McQuaide, with Mace accounting for three receiving touchdowns.

The Wildcats’ 246 total yards on the ground were the most they’ve totaled all season.

Jumping into the No. 1 wideout role is easier said than done, but Braden Reed has done a solid through Villanova’s first seven games.

Reed and McQuaide have built quite the rapport across their two seasons and Reed has been the graduate quarterback’s favorite target by far in 2026, with 34 receptions, including four touchdowns

Reed’s fourth in the air arrived Saturday on a 14-yard strike to put the Wildcats up two scores as part of his four-reception, 88-yard day. His most notable play, however, came in the third quarter with a fourth-and-4 deep catch from McQuaide, setting up another Wildcat score on the following play and ultimately putting a pin on the day for Villanova.

Villanova will look to finally earn its first home win of the season against Lehigh (6-1, 4-1 Patriot League) on Saturday (3:30 p.m., ESPN+). The Mountain Hawks are coming off Saturday’s 48-38 loss at Cornell.

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