Venue & Game Details
- Kickoff Time: 1:05 PM ET
- Venue: St. Vincent Field, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Capacity: ~3,500
- Conference: Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) crossover game
Weather Forecast (Indianapolis, IN)
- Kickoff Temperature: ~23°C (74°F), cooling into the upper 60s by evening
- Conditions: Mostly sunny with scattered clouds
- Wind: 10–15 km/h from the southwest
- Precipitation:
- Impact: Excellent football weather; minimal disruptions expected
Injury Report
- Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats:
- QB group healthy; starter led a narrow 28–27 win over Olivet Nazarene last week.
- RB rotation intact, with multiple backs averaging over 5 yards per carry.
- Secondary missing one rotational player (undisclosed).
- Marian Knights:
- QB group healthy after bye week.
- WR Jake Reichard chasing his 100th career reception milestone.
- DL Deon Pettiford recently became Marian’s all-time leader in tackles for loss and is climbing the sack leaderboard.
(Note: NAIA programs release limited injury info; updates closer to kickoff may adjust this.)
Key Player Matchups
- IWU QB vs. Marian Pass Rush
- Marian ranks 2nd nationally in sacks with 18 through three games.
- IWU’s QB has been efficient but will face constant pressure.
- Marian WR Jake Reichard vs. IWU Secondary
- Reichard needs 7 catches to reach 100 career receptions.
- IWU’s secondary has been opportunistic but gave up big plays vs. Keiser.
- IWU Ground Game vs. Marian Front Seven
- IWU averages 200+ rushing yards per game.
- Marian’s defensive front is led by Pettiford, who is a disruptive force.
Recent Team Form
- Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats (3–1)
- L 31–38 vs. #2 Keiser (Aug 30)
- W 31–3 vs. Saint Xavier (Sept 6)
- W 79–21 @ Judson (Sept 13)
- W 28–27 vs. Olivet Nazarene (Sept 20)
- Strengths: Balanced offense, explosive scoring (55 ppg in wins).
- Weaknesses: Secondary vulnerable to elite passing attacks.
- Marian Knights (2–1)
- L 21–45 vs. Indianapolis (Aug 28, exhibition)
- W 35–21 vs. Lawrence Tech (Sept 6)
- W 49–7 vs. Defiance (Sept 13)
- Bye week Sept 20
- Strengths: Elite pass rush, improving offense.
- Weaknesses: Struggled in recent years vs. IWU.
Conference vs. Conference
- Both teams are MSFA rivals.
- This is a crossover game that impacts national rankings and playoff positioning.
- Both programs are perennial NAIA Top-25 contenders.
Series History
- All-time series: Indiana Wesleyan leads recent matchups.
- Last 5 meetings: IWU has won 4 straight.
- 2024 season: IWU defeated Marian 77–21, setting program records for yards and points scored against the Knights.
- Trend: IWU has dominated the rivalry recently, but Marian is eager to end the skid.
Betting Trends
- Indiana Wesleyan:
- 3–1 ATS in 2025
- 4–0 ATS in last 4 vs. Marian
- 3 of last 4 games have gone Over
- Marian:
- 2–1 ATS in 2025
- 0–4 ATS in last 4 vs. IWU
- 3 of last 4 games have gone Under
Historical Betting Results
- 2024: IWU -7.5 covered in a 77–21 win (Over cashed).
- 2023: IWU -6.5 covered in a 35–21 win (Under cashed).
- 2022: IWU -3.5 covered in a 28–17 win (Under cashed).
Game Odds
Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats – 7
Marian Knights 59
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 26, 2025
