Venue & Kickoff
Location: Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium, Lexington, Virginia
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Time: 1:30 PM ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
Capacity: 10,000
Special Note: VMI’s 2025 home opener, featuring community engagement events and a pregame surplus gear sale.
Weather Forecast (Lexington, VA – Kickoff)
Conditions: Mostly sunny, warm
Temperature: ~82°F at kickoff
Wind: SSW at 5–7 mph
Precipitation: <10%
Impact: Minimal; warm temps could test depth in the second half
Injury Report
VMI Keydets
No major injuries reported after Week 1 loss to Navy.
Ferrum Panthers
No significant injuries reported after Week 1 loss to Catawba.
Recent Form
VMI: QB Collin Shannon threw for 197 yds (16/25) and 1 TD vs. Navy; WR Owen Sweeney had 5 rec for 126 yds — first 100-yard receiving game for VMI since 2023. Defense surrendered 497 total yds.
Ferrum: Outgained 495–249 by Catawba; QB play inconsistent; defense allowed 6.8 yards per play.
Key Player Matchups
QB Collin Shannon (VMI) vs. Ferrum Secondary
Shannon: 64% comp., 197 yds, 1 TD in opener
Ferrum allowed multiple explosive pass plays vs. Catawba
WR Owen Sweeney (VMI) vs. CB Ferrum Coverage Unit
Sweeney: Deep-threat target; averaged 25.2 YPC in Week 1
RB Korey Bridy (VMI) vs. Ferrum Front Seven
Bridy: Veteran back; key for establishing balance
Ferrum QB Rotation vs. VMI Pass Rush
Ferrum QBs: Struggled with efficiency in opener
VMI: Needs to generate pressure to force turnovers
Series History
All-Time: VMI leads 2–1–2
First Meeting: 1955 — Ferrum 18, VMI 13
Last Meeting: 1961 — 20–20 tie in Ferrum, VA
Note: First meeting in 64 years; series dates back to when Ferrum was a junior college program.
Betting Trends
VMI: 1–4 ATS in last 5 overall; OVER in 3 of last 4 home openers
Ferrum: 2–3 ATS in last 5 vs. D-I opponents; UNDER in 4 of last 5 road games
VMI has scored 30+ in 3 of last 4 home openers
Game Odds
Ferrum Panthers 54.5
Virginia Military Institute Keydets – 27.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 5, 2025
