Sports

Villanova Already Suffered The Worst Loss Of The 2026 College Football Season Despite Fielding Potentially Ineligible QB

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Villanova vs. William & Mary College Football

ESPN+

A pair of photos show two different moments from the 2026 Villanova vs. William & Mary College Football Game


The 2026 college football season has only just begun, and yet we may already have the worst loss of the year at the expense of the Villanova Wildcats.

Not only that, but in what some fans may call a karmic twist, the Wildcats suffered the brutal defeat at the hands of William & Mary while potentially fielding a quarterback who ends up being ruled ineligible.

Now, Villanova must deal with the fact that it blew a 10-point lead with under a minute to go only to lose in regulation, 35-32, and the fact that playing quarterback Pat McQuaide could derail its entire season at some point down the line.

What’s The Deal With Villanova And QB Pat McQuaide

McQuiade joined the Wildcats prior to the 2025 season after previous stints at Kent State, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, and Nicholls State.

He redshirted at a walk-on at Kent State and then led the NJCAA in passing at Mississippi Gulf Coast. In 2024, he threw for 2,218 yards at Nicholls before signing with the Wildcats.

Last season, McQuaide threw for 3,123 yards and 25 touchdowns as Villanova’s starter, leading the ‘Cats to a 12-win season and a run to the FCS playoff semifinals.

That should have been his final year of eligibility. BUT. As we well know, the NCAA enacted a five-for-five rule, and players have been testing the bounds of that rule through numerous lawsuits.

McQuaide is one of those players. He received a preliminary injunction to return to Villanova for another year of eligibility. However, the Patriot League, in which Villanova plays, recently shut that down by informing the school that it would forfeit any league game that McQuaide plays in.

What Happened Against William & Mary

It’s easy to understand why Villanova would want McQuaide back. Not only did he have a stellar 2025 season, but with him at QB, the Wildcats began the season ranked No. 7 in the FCS Coaches Poll.

Prior to Friday night’s game against William & Mary, an Ohio judge granted McQuaide a separate preliminary injunction that specifially named the Patriot League as a defendant.

In doing so, the judge empowered the Wildcats to ignore the potential consequences and move forward with McQuaide as their signal caller.

It didn’t matter.

Villanova looked in control of the season-opening contest, leading 32-22 with under a minute to play. But that’s when things unraveled.

First, the Tribe hit a 40-yard field goal to make it 32-25. But no matter, all ‘Nova had to do was recover an onside kick, and the game would be over.

…About that

The Wildcats bungled the onside kick, allowing William & Mary to recover deep in ‘Nova territory, and Winston Watkins hit Kai Austin for a 37-yard touchdown to tie the game at 32-32 with 22 seconds remaining.

Rather than steadying themselves and taking the game to overtime, Villanova then tried to win the game in regulation. But McQuaide threw an interception that was returned back to the Wildcats’ 28-yard-line, setting up a walk-off, 45-yard field goal by Max Lipinski.

McQuaide finished the game 17-of-30 with 270 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions, and one brutal loss.