Villanova aims for fourth straight over LIU despite recent slide

Villanova has never lost to LIU, taking all three meetings since 2019 and winning the last three in a row, with the Sharks winless against them since that November 2019 matchup. That history sets the stage for a non-conference game between Villanova of the Patriot League and LIU of the Northeast Conference, one that has no bearing on either team's conference standings.

Versus still likes Villanova to keep the streak alive, projecting a 30-22 win and giving the Wildcats a 69 percent chance to cover the eight-point margin. That comes even though Villanova has fallen 13 spots in the FCS rankings this season, from No. 9 down to No. 22, though it remains the No. 2 team in the Patriot League with a B grade on both sides of the ball.

LIU enters at 0-3, having dropped back-to-back games for the first time since October 2025, and sits at No. 106 in FCS with a D+ overall grade. The Sharks do carry a stronger strength-of-schedule rank at 19th, but their offense and defense both rank well below Villanova's, leaving them projected as clear underdogs to snap the series skid.