Time: 1:00 PM ET (12:00 PM CT) – ESPN+
Venue: Drake Stadium, 2719 Forest Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50311
Capacity: 14,557
Weather Forecast (Des Moines, IA)
Kickoff: 80°F, partly cloudy
Rain Chance: <10%
Wind: SSW 12–14 mph
Impact: Light wind could affect deep passing and special teams, otherwise excellent conditions
Injury Report
Valparaiso: No reported injuries
Drake: No reported injuries
Key Player Matchups
Quarterbacks:
Valparaiso: Rowan Keefe – 374 yds, 2 TD, 5 INT (62.3% comp)
Drake: Logan Inagawa – 304 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT; also 131 rush yds, 3 TD
Running Backs:
Valparaiso: Michael Mansaray – 166 yds, 3 TD
Drake: Jaden Meizinger – 95 yds, 1 TD
Receivers:
Valparaiso: Chris Gundy – 144 yds, 1 TD
Drake: Jackson Voth – 204 yds; Hank Foley – 190 yds, 3 TD
Defensive Leaders:
Valparaiso: Micah Markley – 13 tackles vs North Dakota
Drake: Finn Claypool – 10 sacks in 2024; Ryan Hawk – 49 kicking pts
Recent Team Form
Valparaiso (1-3):
L 58-7 @ North Dakota
L 51-30 @ Western Illinois
L 10-7 vs Adrian
W 67-10 vs Virginia Lynchburg
Drake (1-2):
L 42-21 @ South Dakota
L 37-21 @ South Dakota State
W 41-7 vs Upper Iowa
Team Records
Valparaiso Beacons: 1-3 overall, 0-0 PFL
Drake Bulldogs: 1-2 overall, 0-0 PFL
Series History
All-Time: Drake leads 19–2 since 2005
Last Meeting (2024): Drake 27, Valparaiso 3 (Brown Field)
Trend: Drake has won 3 straight; Valpo’s last win came in 2021 (24-21 in Des Moines)
Betting Trends
Valparaiso: 0-2 ATS in 2025; 2-0 O/U
Drake: 1-1 ATS; 2-0 O/U
Head-to-Head: Drake 8-2 SU last 10 vs Valpo
Situational: Valpo averaging 15.5 PPG; Drake averaging 25.5 PPG
Historical Betting Results
2024: Drake 27, Valpo 3 (Drake -7 covered, Under 44 hit)
2023: Drake 20, Valpo 14 (Valpo +7 covered, Under 40 hit)
2022: Drake 24, Valpo 0 (Drake -6 covered, Under 41 hit)
2021: Valpo 24, Drake 21 (Valpo +3 covered, Over 42 hit)
Projected Score: Drake 34, Valparaiso 13
Game Odds
Valparaiso Beacons 51
Drake Bulldogs – 24
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, October 3, 2025
