Venue & Game Details
Conference: Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), NCAA Division II
Kickoff Time: 11:00 AM CT (12:00 PM ET)
Venue: Francis G. Welch Stadium, Emporia, Kansas (Capacity ~7,000, turf surface)
Broadcast: MIAA Digital Network / ESPN+ (regional)
Weather Forecast (Emporia, KS)
Temperature: ~76°F (24°C) at kickoff
Conditions: Mostly sunny, light winds (6–9 mph)
Precipitation:
Impact: Ideal fall football weather; no disruptions expected
Injury Report (Projected)
(Note: D-II programs rarely release official injury reports; this is based on recent availability trends)
Pittsburg State Gorillas:
QB healthy, coming off 3-TD performance vs Fort Hays State.
RB rotation intact.
Secondary missing one CB (questionable).
Emporia State Hornets:
QB healthy, averaging 200+ YPG passing.
WR1 probable (hamstring).
Defensive line thin after Week 2 injury.
Key Player Matchups
Pittsburg State QB vs. Emporia Secondary
Pitt State’s QB has been efficient in recent wins, including a 17–14 victory over Grand Valley State. Emporia’s DBs must limit explosive plays.
Emporia QB vs. Pitt State Front Seven
Emporia’s offense has been inconsistent (20 points vs Nebraska-Kearney, 20 vs Angelo State). Pitt’s pass rush will look to disrupt rhythm.
Running Game Battle
Both teams rely on balanced attacks. Emporia’s RBs must establish tempo to keep Pitt’s offense off the field.
Recent Team Form
Pittsburg State (2025 Season so far):
Record: 2–2 overall
Results:
L @ Ferris State (34–17)
L @ Central Oklahoma (27–24)
W vs Grand Valley State (17–14)
W vs Fort Hays State (31–16)
Strength: Defense tightened in last two games, allowing just 15 PPG.
Weakness: Slow offensive starts in losses.
Emporia State (2025 Season so far):
Record: 1–2 overall
Results:
W vs Minot State (27–7)
L @ Angelo State (41–20)
L @ Nebraska-Kearney (34–20)
Strength: Passing game can be explosive.
Weakness: Defense allowing 30+ in back-to-back losses.
Conference vs. Conference
Both teams are MIAA rivals.
Pittsburg State: A perennial contender, looking to climb back into playoff contention.
Emporia State: Fighting to avoid a 1–3 start and stay relevant in the MIAA race.
Series History
All-time series: Pittsburg State leads comfortably.
Recent meetings:
2024: Emporia State 24, Pittsburg State 21
2023: Pittsburg State 33, Emporia State 25
2022: Pittsburg State 14, Emporia State 13
Trend: Last three meetings have all been decided by 8 points or fewer, with Emporia snapping Pitt’s streak in 2024.
Betting Trends:
Pittsburg State is 2–2 ATS this season (modeled).
Emporia State is 1–2 ATS this season.
Pitt games have gone Under in 2 of 4 due to defensive strength.
Emporia games have gone Over in 2 of 3 due to defensive struggles.
Historical Betting Results (Modeled)
2024: Emporia State +7.5 (covered, won 24–21)
2023: Pittsburg State -6.5 (covered, won 33–25)
2022: Pittsburg State -3.5 (covered, won 14–13)
2021: Pittsburg State -4.5 (covered, won 30–17)
Game Odds
Pittsburg State Gorillas – 6.5
Emporia State Hornets 52
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 26, 2025
