Venue & Logistics
- Venue: Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field, Chicago, Illinois (home of Saint Xavier Cougars)
- Kickoff Time: 1:00 PM CDT
- Broadcast: SXU Athletics Live Stream, Mid-States Football Association Network
Weather Forecast (Chicago, IL)
- Conditions: Partly sunny with scattered clouds
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C) at kickoff, cooling to 70°F (21°C) by the fourth quarter
- Winds: 10–12 mph from the west
- Precipitation:
- Impact: Excellent football weather; minimal disruption expected
Injury Report
- Madonna Crusaders:
- QB1 (shoulder soreness) – Probable
- RB2 (ankle) – Questionable
- DB1 (hamstring) – Out
- Saint Xavier Cougars:
- QB1 (wrist) – Probable
- WR2 (groin) – Game-time decision
- LB1 (concussion protocol) – Out
Key Player Matchups
- QB1 (Saint Xavier) vs. Madonna Secondary – SXU’s veteran quarterback will test a Crusaders defense that has struggled against the pass.
- RB Committee (Madonna) vs. SXU Front Seven – Madonna must establish the run to avoid becoming one-dimensional.
- WR1 (SXU) vs. Madonna Corners – With WR2 questionable, WR1 will be the focal point; Madonna must double him to avoid explosive plays.
- Special Teams: SXU’s kicking game is reliable; Madonna must win the field position battle to stay competitive.
Recent Team Form (2025 Season to Date)
- Madonna Crusaders (0-2):
- L vs. Siena Heights 42-7 (Aug. 30)
- L at Concordia (Mich.) 38-10 (Sep. 6)
- Offense averaging 8.5 points per game; defense allowing 40.0.
- Saint Xavier Cougars (1-1):
- W vs. Roosevelt 31-14 (Aug. 30)
- L at Marian (Ind.) 41-20 (Sep. 6)
- Balanced attack; averaging 25.5 points per game, allowing 27.5.
Series History
- All-Time Meetings: Saint Xavier leads 2-0
- Most Recent: Saint Xavier 56, Madonna 7 (2024)
- Context: Madonna, a newer program, has yet to defeat SXU, which has been a perennial NAIA playoff contender.
Betting Trends
- Madonna is 1-9 ATS in last 10 MSFA games.
- Saint Xavier is 6-2 ATS in last 8 home games.
- The Over has hit in 5 of the last 7 SXU games.
- SXU is 2-0 straight up all-time vs. Madonna.
Historical Betting Results
- 2024: Saint Xavier -27.5, won 56-7 → Cover, Over
- 2023: Saint Xavier -24.5, won 49-10 → Cover, Over
Game Odds
Madonna Crusaders 55
Saint Xavier Cougars – 28
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 19, 2025
