The Official Newsletter of Villanova Athletics

Good Morning, Nova Nation. Let’s be honest, we’re all looking for a way to burn off the Thanksgiving calories.

No better way to do than cheering on the ‘Cats!

What all do we have in today’s edition? Check it out below!

🏈 The Dance Begins
🎥 Catch The Latest Episode of Inside Villanova Basketball
🏊 Accolade For Anna
🔷 And much more!

Tommy’s Tavern + Tap is proud to be an Official Partner of Villanova Athletics!

🔼 Now, We Dance. The regular season is over. Now, the real dance begins.

Riding its longest winning streak in 16 years, the Villanova football team is set to open up the 2025 FCS Playoffs with Harvard (9-1) coming into town for a Saturday afternoon showdown.

The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with kickoff slated for 12 pm at Villanova Stadium.

Villanova is making its 17^th FCS playoff appearance all-time, its third in a row and fifth in the last seven years under head coach Mark Ferrante.

🏈 More On The Playoff Selection
🎟️ Purchase Your Ticket NOW!

🔼 Must See TV. Don’t want to battle the shopping crowds today? Don’t worry, we’ve got you some viewing plans!

Episode 3 of Inside Villanova Basketball presented by Toyota premieres tonight! The latest episode will have a sit-down interview with Devin Askew, a film room breakdown with Coach Willard, a feature on Director of Athletics Eric Roedl, and more!

Here’s the full schedule of viewing opportunities for Episode 3. 

TONIGHT, Friday, November 28 – 8:00pm on NBC Sports Philadelphia+
Friday, November 28 – 11:00pm on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Saturday, November 29 – 9:30am on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Sunday, November 30 – 5:00pm on NBC Sports Philadelphia

🔼 Among The Elite. Senior linebacker Shane Hartzell is making sure he leaves it all on the field in his final season with the Wildcats.

This week, the Perkasie, Pa., native was named one of 30 national finalists for this year's Buck Buchanan Award . The award is presented each year to the top defensive player in the FCS, and Hartzell was initially named to this year's Watch List during the preseason.

Hartzell leads the Wildcats with 75 total tackles on the year, including 41 solo stops. He also has team highs of 12.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and eight quarterback hurries.

🏈 More On The Honor

🔼 Accolade For Anna. After helping the Wildcats to the top spot at the Navy Invitational last week, junior swimming standout Anna Farley was named BIG EAST Female Athlete of the Week.

The junior posted a personal-best 1:58.33 to secure second in the 200 fly and added two more runner-up finishes in the 200 IM (2:00.50) and 100 fly (53.84), both marking the fastest times in the BIG EAST this season.

🏊 More On Anna’s Recognition

What’s Ahead is brought to you by our friends at Visit Delco, the #1 source for information on all there is to see and do in Delaware County, PA. Find fantastic places to stay, incredible food and drink, and music and art—and you may even find a few surprises.

Friday, November 28
⛸️ Glice Skating Rink at Linvilla Orchards

Saturday, November 29
❄️ Winterfest at the Grange
🏈 Football vs. Harvard @ 12pm (FCS Playoff - First Round) l Tickets

Sunday, November 30
🛍️ Landsdowne Creative Collective Pop Up Shop at Kiosk Gallery
🏐 Volleyball - NCAA Tournament Selection Show @ 6 pm l ESPN

Monday, December 1
🎨 Brandywine Museum of Art: The Jerrell Gibbs Exhibit
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Temple @ 6:30 pm l Tickets
🏀 Women’s Basketball at West Virginia @ 7 pm

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Have a great one, Nova Nation!