Winless VMI hosts 5-2 East Tennessee State at Foster Stadium

The VMI Keydets (0-7, 0-3 conference) host the East Tennessee State Buccaneers (5-2, 3-0 conference) on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. ET at Foster Stadium in Lexington, Va. The game streams on ESPN+.

How VMI got here

The Keydets have lost all seven games this season. Their last five results: a 14-3 loss to Bucknell at home on Sep. 12, a 27-24 overtime loss at Davidson on Sep. 19, a 45-7 loss at Samford on Sep. 26, a 54-3 loss to Mercer at home on Oct. 3, and a 41-14 loss at Wofford on Oct. 17.

The overtime game at Davidson was the closest of the stretch, a three-point margin.

VMI's leaders

Ian Reynolds leads the Keydets in passing, going 31 of 78 for 453 yards with one touchdown and five interceptions. Leo Boehling leads the rushing attack with 327 yards and a touchdown on 102 carries. Halim Hardnett has the most receiving yards, with seven catches for 134 yards and a score.

On defense, Nic Land has 55 tackles and Jacob Moore has three sacks.

East Tennessee State's form

The Buccaneers have won four straight. They beat West Georgia 35-27 on Sep. 19, Western Carolina 58-31 on Sep. 26, Chattanooga 14-3 on Oct. 3 and The Citadel 34-16 on Oct. 10 on the road. Their other recent game was a 35-3 loss at North Carolina on Sep. 12.

Quarterback Mason Mims has completed 133 of 190 passes for 1,551 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. TJ Peyton leads the ground game with 616 yards and six touchdowns on 96 carries. Suderian Harrison has 25 catches for 374 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Dre Delinois has 61 tackles and Charles Woodard has 2.5 sacks.