Venue & Game Details
Kickoff Time: 12:00 PM ET
Venue: Campus Field, Fairfield, Connecticut
Capacity: ~3,300
Broadcast: ESPN+
Weather Forecast (Fairfield, CT)
Kickoff Temperature: ~71°F (22°C)
Conditions: Partly cloudy, mild
Wind: 6–10 mph from the southwest
Precipitation: ~15% chance of light showers
Impact: Comfortable fall football weather; no major disruptions expected.
Injury Report
Delaware State Hornets:
QB Kaiden Bennett – healthy, 493 passing yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; also 169 rushing yards and 5 rushing TDs.
RB Marquis Gillis – healthy, 299 rushing yards, 1 TD.
WR Phillippe Wesley – healthy, 71 receiving yards, 1 TD.
No major injuries reported.
Sacred Heart Pioneers:
QB Jack Snyder – healthy, 287 passing yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs; also 110 rushing yards.
RB Mitchell Summers – healthy, 126 rushing yards, 1 TD.
WR Kevin McGuire – healthy, 119 receiving yards.
No major injuries reported.
Key Player Matchups
Kaiden Bennett (DSU QB) vs. Sacred Heart Defense
Bennett is a true dual-threat with 8 total TDs.
Sacred Heart allows 18.7 ppg, but has struggled against mobile quarterbacks.
Jack Snyder (SHU QB) vs. Delaware State Secondary
Snyder has yet to throw a TD pass in 2025.
Delaware State allows 27 ppg but has been opportunistic with turnovers.
Marquis Gillis (DSU RB) vs. SHU Front Seven
Gillis averaging nearly 100 ypg.
Sacred Heart allows 174.7 rushing ypg (bottom third in FCS).
Kevin McGuire (SHU WR) vs. DSU Corners
McGuire is SHU’s top target.
Delaware State’s secondary has allowed 251.3 passing ypg.
Recent Team Form
Delaware State Hornets (3–1)
W 36–14 vs. Bowie State (Week 3)
W 37–32 vs. Albany (Week 2)
L 17–35 @ Delaware (Week 1)
Strengths: Elite rushing attack (282.3 ypg, 7th nationally).
Weaknesses: Penalties (most in FCS, 43 through 3 games).
Sacred Heart Pioneers (3–1)
W 24–21 @ LIU (Week 3)
L 10–28 @ Lehigh (Week 2)
W 12–7 vs. Stonehill (Week 1)
Strengths: Defense (18.7 ppg allowed).
Weaknesses: Passing offense (0 TDs through 3 games, fewest in FCS with 50+ attempts).
Conference vs. Conference
Delaware State: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
Sacred Heart: FCS Independent (formerly NEC).
This is a non-conference FCS matchup with playoff positioning implications.
Series History
All-time series: Tied 1–1.
Last meeting: Delaware State beat Sacred Heart 17–15 on Aug. 31, 2024.
Trend: Both games in the series have been decided by one score.
Betting Trends
Delaware State Hornets:
2–1 ATS in 2025.
4–1 ATS in last 5 September games.
2 of 3 games have gone Over.
Sacred Heart Pioneers:
2–1 ATS in 2025.
1–4 ATS in last 5 home games.
2 of 3 games have gone Under.
Historical Betting Results
2024: Delaware State +3 covered in 17–15 win (Under cashed).
2023: Sacred Heart -2.5 covered in 21–14 win (Under cashed).
Game Odds
Delaware State Hornets – 3.5
Sacred Heart Pioneers 47
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 26, 2025
