NAIA-CFB Game Preview: Saint Francis (IN) Cougars (3-1) vs. Taylor (IN) Trojans (3-1)

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Venue & Logistics

  • Stadium: Turner Stadium, Upland, Indiana (home of the Taylor Trojans).
  • Kickoff Time: 1:00 PM EDT.
  • Capacity: ~4,000.
  • Surface: Artificial turf.
  • Conference: Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League.

Weather Forecast (Upland, IN)

  • Conditions: Partly sunny, mild fall afternoon.
  • Temperature at kickoff: ~21°C (70°F).
  • Winds: 10–15 km/h from the west.
  • Chance of rain: 10%.
  • Impact: Excellent football weather — no disruptions expected.

Injury Report

  • Saint Francis Cougars (3–1):
    • QB1 healthy, averaging 240 passing yards/game.
    • RB1 probable after minor ankle tweak.
    • Defense missing one starting linebacker (out for season).
  • Taylor Trojans (3–1):
  • QB1 healthy, dual‑threat weapon with 8 total TDs this season.
  • WR1 questionable with hamstring tightness.
  • OL depth thin after losing a starter in Week 3.

Key Player Matchups

  • Saint Francis QB vs. Taylor Secondary:
    USF’s QB has been efficient (9 TDs, 2 INTs). Taylor’s secondary has allowed 230+ passing yards in 2 of 4 games.
  • Taylor QB Mobility vs. USF Front Seven:
    Taylor’s QB has rushed for 200+ yards this season. USF must contain him to avoid broken plays.
  • USF RB vs. Taylor Run Defense:
    USF averages 160 rushing yards/game. Taylor has allowed 150+ rushing yards in 3 of 4 games.
  • WR Battle:
    USF’s WR1 (averaging 85 yards/game) vs. Taylor’s CB1 — a matchup that could swing momentum.

Recent Team Form

  • Saint Francis (IN) Cougars (3–1):
    • W vs. Siena Heights (42–28).
    • W vs. Lawrence Tech (56–7).
    • W vs. Defiance (64–36).
    • L vs. Campbellsville (31–28).
    • Trend: Explosive offense, averaging 47 PPG in wins.
  • Taylor Trojans (3–1):
  • W vs. Anderson (non‑conference).
  • W vs. Judson (49–20).
  • W vs. Olivet Nazarene (close battle).
  • L vs. Indiana Wesleyan (52–14).
  • Trend: Strong start, but struggled against nationally ranked IWU.

Series History

  • All‑Time Head‑to‑Head: Saint Francis leads the series comfortably.
  • Recent Meetings:
    • 2024: USF 44, Taylor 31.
    • 2023: Taylor 58, USF 36 (upset win).
    • 2022: USF 38, Taylor 21.
  • Trend: USF has won 7 of the last 9, but Taylor proved in 2023 they can pull an upset at home.

Betting Trends

  • Saint Francis Cougars:
    • 3–1 ATS this season.
    • 3 of last 4 games have gone over due to offensive firepower.
  • Taylor Trojans:
  • 2–2 ATS this season.
  • 4 of last 5 games have gone over due to defensive lapses.

Historical Betting Results

  • 2024: USF –10, won 44–31 → Cover, Over.
  • 2023: USF –14, lost 58–36 → No cover, Over.
  • 2022: USF –7, won 38–21 → Cover, Under.

Game Odds

Saint Francis (IN) Cougars            – 7.5

Taylor (IN) Trojans                           59

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, October 3, 2025