Bison Head Back to Virginia to Face VMI in Non-Conference Game

Saturday, September 12

Lexington, Va.

1:30 p.m.

Bucknell University

VMI

Bison Head Back to Virginia to Face VMI in Non-Conference Game

9/8/2026 2:04:00 PM | Football

Bucknell Football at VMI

Football

at VMI

Sep 12, 2026 at 1:30 p.m.

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Bucknell football is back on the road to Virginia this week as it will play its first non-conference game of the season against VMI on Saturday, Sep. 12 at 1:30 p.m. in Lexington, Va.

This will be the 10th time in program history that the Keydets and Bison will face off. Bucknell currently holds the overall series 6-3 over VMI and are 3-2 when playing in Lexington. The Bison are on a three-game winning streak over the Keydets with their 2025 contest in Lewisburg ending 35-28 in favor of Bucknell. The last time VMI defeated Bucknell was in 2022, when the Keydets took a 24-14 overtime victory.

Bucknell and VMI share many connections and the 2026 VMI football staff is home to three previous Bison football coaches. VMI’s head coach Ashley Ingram served as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Bucknell from 2006-07. Their offensive coordinator Brent Thompson served as an assistant coach for the Bison from 2003-2008 before becoming the offensive coordinator for the 2009 season. Jared Backus, the Keydets defensive coordinator and safeties coach, served as the defensive coordinator in 2006 with Ingram by his side.

MEDIA LINKS

Watch: ESPN+ | Radio: 1070 AM (WKOK) | Internet Radio: BucknellBison.com

Live Stats: vmikeydets.com | Media Notes: Bucknell | Follow on X: @Bucknell_FB

Gallery: Bucknell vs #17/18 Villanova

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BUCKNELL AT A GLANCE

Bucknell is back on the road for its first non-conference game of the season against VMI in Lexington. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sep. 12.
The Bison are coming off of a narrow 17-16 home loss to #17/18 Villanova. The Bison came back from a 14-0 deficit in the second half to take a 16-14 lead, but after Nova took a one-point lead, a missed field goal sealed the loss for Bucknell.
Sam Milligan (WR) and Brandon Biagiarelli (LB) earned 2026 Preseason All-Patriot League Team honors.
Ahead of the 2026 season, Milligan was named to the Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List and the 2026 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Second Team.
The Bison were picked to finish 10th in the 2026 Preseason All-Patriot League Poll.
Bucknell returns just one of their four 2025 All-Patriot League players as Sam Milligan, who earned First Team All-Patriot League Special Teams Non-Specialist and Second Team All-Patriot League Wide Receiver returns for his senior season in 2026.
The Bison are entering their first season under head coach Jeff Behrman. This new era of Bison football also comes with a mostly new coaching staff under Behrman with the lone returner to the staff being safeties coach McNeil Parker.
Rounding out the coaching staff are new additions to the Bison family; Travis James (OC/OL), Jeffrey Long Jr. (DC), Rex Rover (WR/Recruiting Coordinator), Mac Austin (TE), Joe Collins (QB), Joseph Torok (RB), Anthony Trotta (DL), Jason Nelson (CB), Tyler Hughes (DOFO/Video Operations) and Kendrick O’Mary (strength & conditioning coach).
Bucknell returned a total of 65 players from the 2025 season and lost 32 athletes from the roster. The Bison rounded out the roster with 35 newcomers ahead of the 2026 season.
Patriot League Football, much like Bucknell Football, are entering a new era this season. With the additions of Villanova and William & Mary, the league has announced a new slogan; “The Power of 10”.

VMI AT A GLANCE

VMI is currently 0-2 overall and 0-0 in the SoCon after dropping consecutive non-league contests to Idaho State and Virginia Tech on the road.
The contest with Bucknell will serve as VMI’s home opener.
In their last time out, VMI fell to Virginia Tech 73-3. In the loss, Virginia Tech running back Jeffrey Overton, Jr. ran for 104 yards on the night with two touchdowns while Marcellous Hawkins, Jr. ran for 69 yards and three touchdowns. VT quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer went 17-20 passing for 224 yards and two touchdown passes. Backup Bryce Baker went 10-12 for 127 yards and a 40-yard touchdown pass.
The Keydets offense is led by quarterback JoJo Crump. In two games played, Crump is 7 for 15 for 70 yards and an interception. VMI is yet to score a receiving touchdown in 2026.
Trevin Simon leads the team's rushing efforts with six attempts for 49 yards. Leo Boehling has recorded 27 attempts for 47 yards and Chandler Wilson has had 15 attempts for 46 yards.
Halim Hardnett leads VMI in receiving with three catches for 36 yards.
Nic Land leads the Keydets defensive efforts with 14 total tackles including 11 solo, three assisted. He has also recorded one interception in two games played.
Ben Shrewsbury is handling punting duties for VMI with 13 punts for 627 yards. He averaged 48.23 yards per punt with one touchback and six 50 yard+ punts including his longest of 2026, 61 yards.
Jack Joyce is kicking field goals for the Keydets. He is 2-for-3 on the season with one made from 20-29 yards and one made from 50 yards.
Joyce also handles kickoff duties and has had five for 310 yards this season. He averages 62 yards per kickoff and has had four touchbacks.

BUCKNELL / VMI SERIES HISTORY

This will be the 10th meeting between the two teams since 1978, when they first met.

Bucknell leads the overall series 6-3 and is 3-2 when playing in Lexington.

The Bison are currently on a three-game winning streak over the Keydets.

ON RECORD WATCH

Sam Milligan is one touchdown catch away from holding sole custody of the career receiving touchdowns record. (Currently tied with Tom Mitchell’65, Lester Erb ‘90 and Will Carter ‘16 with 18.)

MILESTONE WATCH

Brandon Biagiarelli is 7 tackles away from 150 career total tackles
Nick Hoying is five solo tackles away from 100 career solo tackles
Sam Milligan is six receptions away from 100 career receptions
Sam Milligan is 39 receiving yards away from 1,500 career receiving yards.

INSIDE THE RECORD BOOK

Sam Milligan is tied for first in career receiving touchdowns with 18.
Milligan ranks first in touchdown catches in a single game with four against VMI on Saturday, Sept. 13.
Milligan ranks sixth all-time in receiving yards in a single game with 192 yards in that VMI win for Bucknell.
Milligan is currently tied for third in career touchdown catches with 15 and is tied for second in season touchdown catches with 10 in 2025.
TJ Cadden tied for the longest kickoff return (100 yds) and holds the records for most punt return touchdowns in a season (2) and most total return touchdowns (3; two punt returns and one kickoff return).

2026 BISON AWARD WINNERS

Sam Milligan was named to the 2026 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Second Team and the Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List.
Milligan was named to the 2026 Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Brandon Biagiarelli was named to the 2026 Preseason All-Patriot League Team

INSIDE THE 2026 SCHEDULE

This is the 141st season of football at Bucknell. The Bison played their first-ever game in 1883 and have been playing a consistent schedule since 1887.
Bucknell is scheduled to play 12 games for just the fifth time in program history. With the additions of Villanova and William & Mary to the Patriot League, the Bison have a record-high nine conference games in 2026, with just five home games.
The Bison opened the 2026 season with back-to-back Patriot League night games. First up was Richmond on the road on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. and then Bucknell held its home opener in Christy on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 6 p.m.
Week three features VMI on the road on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 1:30 before heading home to face Penn on Saturday Sept. 19 at 3 p.m. in Christy.
Bucknell then faces an ACC opponent in Pitt for the first time since 1945, the last time these two teams met. They then have a bye week before getting back on the road to face Patriot League opponent Georgetown on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 12:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. Bucknell hosts Lafayette at 3 p.m. in Christy before taking on Holy Cross and Lehigh on the road.
The Bison then host Fordham on November 7, take to the road on November 14 against newly added Patriot League member William & Mary and end the season at home on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 1 p.m. against Colgate.

How to Follow the Bison

All of Bucknell's games this season will be broadcast on ESPN+ with the exception of the Pitt game.
All of the Bison's games will be broadcast on 1070 AM (WKOK). The broadcast will also be available for internet streaming on BucknellBison.com.
Bucknell is active on X (@Bucknell_FB) and Instagram (Bucknell_FB).
Interact with the team using the hashtags #ThunderOn and #rayBucknell.