D3-CFB Game Preview: #14 DePauw Tigers (0-0) vs. Rose‑Hulman Fightin’ Engineers (0-0)

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Venue & Game Details

Location: Cook Stadium at Phil Brown Field – Terre Haute, Indiana

Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET

Broadcast: Rose‑Hulman Sports Network (video), WGRE 91.5 FM (DePauw radio), live stats via Rose‑Hulman Athletics

Capacity: ~3,500

Weather Forecast (Terre Haute, IN – Kickoff)

Conditions: Showers tapering off by late afternoon, partly cloudy by kickoff

Temperature: ~71°F (22°C) at kickoff, dropping into the mid‑60s by the fourth quarter

Wind: NW at 5–10 mph

Precipitation: ~60% chance earlier in the day,

Impact: Slightly damp turf early; otherwise ideal football weather

 Injury Report

#14 DePauw

No major preseason injuries reported.

Returning four D3football.com Preseason All‑Americans: WR Robby Ballentine, K Matthew Berry, OL Zach Kerr, LB Joey Roland.

RB Caden Whitehead (929 yds, 13 TD in 2024) healthy and ready.

Rose‑Hulman

No significant absences; five returning All‑HCAC selections: RB Jay Smith, WR Kolton Nanko, OL Ben Klein, DL Marshall Koch, LB Antonio Barnes.

Smith set school single‑season rushing record in 2024 (1,297 yds, 16 TD).

Team Records & 2024 Recap

#14 DePauw: 11‑1 overall, NCAC champions, reached NCAA Third Round (lost 14‑9 to Johns Hopkins).

Rose‑Hulman: 5‑5 overall, 4‑2 HCAC (3rd place).

Recent Form (Last 5 Games – 2024 Season)

DePauw

L @ Johns Hopkins 14‑9 (NCAA Third Round)

W vs. Alma 33‑17 (NCAA Second Round)

W vs. Wabash 33‑30

W @ Wooster 53‑7

W vs. Oberlin 66‑7

Rose‑Hulman

W @ Manchester 45‑7

W vs. Bluffton 52‑28

W @ Defiance 78‑54

L vs. Mount St. Joseph 69‑20

W @ Hanover 40‑35

Key Player Matchups

RB Caden Whitehead (DPU) vs. LB Antonio Barnes (RHIT)

Whitehead’s vision and burst vs. Barnes’ tackling and gap discipline.

WR Robby Ballentine (DPU) vs. CB1 (RHIT)

Ballentine’s 20 TDs in 2024 make him a constant deep threat.

RB Jay Smith (RHIT) vs. LB Joey Roland (DPU)

Smith’s record‑setting power running vs. Roland’s All‑American instincts.

QB Nathan McCahill (DPU) vs. RHIT Secondary

McCahill threw 4 TDs in last year’s meeting; RHIT must generate pressure.

Special Teams:

K Matthew Berry (DPU) is one of D‑III’s most reliable; field position could be key if weather lingers.

Series History

All-Time: DePauw leads 45‑12‑1

Current Streak: DePauw has won 8 straight

Last Meeting: Sept. 7, 2024 — DePauw 57‑14 in Greencastle

Tigers scored on all six first‑half possessions; Whitehead rushed for 110 yds, McCahill threw 4 TDs.

At Terre Haute: DePauw 16‑8 all‑time

Betting Trends

DePauw: 9‑3 ATS in 2024; 5‑1 ATS on road; OVER in 4 of last 6.

Rose‑Hulman: 4‑6 ATS in 2024; 1‑3 ATS vs. ranked opponents; OVER in 7 of last 9.

Head‑to‑Head: DePauw has covered in 6 of last 8; OVER in 3 of last 4.

Game Odds

DePauw Tigers                                                  – 16

Rose‑Hulman Fightin’ Engineers               53.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 5, 2025

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