Kickoff: 4:00 PM ET
Venue: William “Dick” Price Stadium, Norfolk, Virginia (Capacity: ~30,000)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Weather Forecast (Norfolk, VA)
Temperature: ~82°F (28°C) at kickoff, cooling into the mid-70s by evening
Conditions: Mostly sunny, light winds (5–8 mph)
Impact: Warm and humid; stamina and depth could be factors in the second half.
Injury Report
Sacred Heart (NEC):
QB John Michalski – Healthy, dual-threat with 3 rushing TDs in 2024.
RB Mitchell Summers – Healthy, coming off a 112-yard game vs. LIU.
WR Kevin McGuire – Healthy, 5 catches for 88 yards last week.
Norfolk State (MEAC):
QB Otto Kuhns – Healthy, threw for 392 yards and 2 TDs vs. Virginia.
RB Kevin King – Healthy, 93 yards rushing in last outing.
WR Kendall Thomas – Healthy, 12 receptions for 187 yards vs. Virginia.
Key Player Matchups
QB John Michalski (SHU) vs. NSU Linebackers
Michalski’s rushing ability adds a wrinkle; Norfolk must contain him on designed runs and scrambles.
RB Mitchell Summers (SHU) vs. NSU Front Seven
Summers’ power running will test a Spartans defense that gave up 60 points to Rutgers earlier this season.
QB Otto Kuhns (NSU) vs. SHU Secondary
Kuhns is coming off a 392-yard performance; Sacred Heart’s defense ranks top-5 nationally in pass yards allowed per game.
WR Kendall Thomas (NSU) vs. SHU Corners
Thomas’ 187-yard game makes him the Spartans’ most dangerous weapon.
Recent Team Form
Sacred Heart Pioneers (2–1, NEC)
9/13: W 24–21 @ LIU (walk-off FG)
9/6: L 28–10 @ Lehigh
8/30: W 12–7 vs. Stonehill
Trend: Defense dominant, leading FCS in third-down defense (.133 conversion rate).
Norfolk State Spartans (1–2, MEAC)
9/13: L 60–10 @ Rutgers (FBS)
9/6: W 34–31 (OT) vs. Virginia-Lynchburg
8/28: L 27–7 vs. Towson
Trend: Offense explosive at times, but defense has struggled against stronger opponents.
Series History
All-time: Sacred Heart leads 2–0.
Last meeting (Oct. 5, 2024): Sacred Heart won 10–3 in a defensive battle.
Norfolk State has yet to defeat Sacred Heart.
Betting Trends
Sacred Heart:
3–2 SU in last 5 games.
4–1 ATS in last 5.
Unders hit in 3 of last 5.
Norfolk State:
1–4 SU in last 5 games.
2–3 ATS in last 5.
Overs hit in 3 of last 5.
Head-to-Head: Sacred Heart covered in both previous meetings.
Historical Betting Results
Sacred Heart: Profitable ATS in September non-conference games; unders common due to defensive strength.
Norfolk State: Struggles ATS as a home underdog; overs more frequent when offense is forced into shootouts.
NEC vs. MEAC Trends: NEC teams cover ~54% of the time in September cross-conference games.
Game Odds
Sacred Heart Pioneers – 2.5
Norfolk State Spartans 42.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 19, 2025
