VMI football visits Chattanooga on Saturday looking for its first win

The VMI Keydets (0-8, 0-4 in the conference) travel to Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to face the Mocs (5-3, 4-1) on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET. The game streams on ESPN+.

Where the Keydets stand

VMI is still looking for its first win. The Keydets' closest game of the year was a 27-24 overtime loss at Davidson on Sept. 19. Since then they have lost 45-7 at Samford, 54-3 to Mercer at home, 41-14 at Wofford and, most recently, 38-0 to East Tennessee State at home on Oct. 24.

Quarterback Ian Reynolds leads the team in passing at 33 of 83 for 466 yards, one touchdown and five interceptions. Leo Boehling leads the rushing attack with 346 yards and a touchdown on 109 carries. Halim Hardnett has 8 catches for 135 yards and a score to lead VMI in receiving yards.

On defense, Nic Land leads the Keydets with 64 tackles, and Jacob Moore has 5 sacks.

What Chattanooga brings

The Mocs have won four of their last five. They beat Wofford 41-7 on Sept. 19, The Citadel 27-8 on Sept. 26, Samford 19-3 on Oct. 10 and Western Carolina 41-18 on Oct. 24. Their one loss in that stretch was 14-3 at East Tennessee State on Oct. 3.

Kevin Lalin leads the ground game with 825 yards and eight touchdowns on 154 carries. Battle Alberson has thrown for 705 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions, completing 56 of 116 passes. Ashton Schumann leads the receivers with 24 catches for 366 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Zion Rutledge has 79 tackles and Orlando Daniels has 5 sacks.

Common opponents

Both teams have played Wofford and East Tennessee State this season. Chattanooga beat Wofford by 34 points at home, while VMI lost to the Terriers by 27 on the road. Against East Tennessee State, the Mocs lost 14-3 on the road, and the Keydets were shut out 38-0 at home.