Steve Irvine’s Five Storylines for Samford vs VMI
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - September 25, 2026
VMI VS. SAMFORD
Day, site, kickoff time: Saturday, Pete Hanna Stadium, 2:30 p.m.
Records: VMI 0-4 overall, 0-0 SoCon; Samford 0-3 overall, 0-1 SoCon
Five storylines
Can Samford run the football with success?: Might be a good idea to leave this as the top question each week until the Bulldogs prove they can run the ball with success. Through three games Samford is averaging 33.7 rushing yards per game, which is 123rd out of 124 FCS teams. Drake, which is ranked 124th averages 32.7 rushing yards per game. “It makes the game easier when you can run the football,” said Samford head coach John Grass. VMI allows 160 rushing yards per game, which is 56th in FCS.
Will the problem with allowing explosive plays return for the Samford defense?: Explosive plays were a problem for the Samford defense in the Bulldogs most recent game. Will that trend continue? We’ll answer that question with a question of our own. Did Tennessee Tech wide receiver Tre’ Holloway transfer to VMI? You see, take away UNA’s 95-yard touchdown pass in the opener and explosive plays weren’t a problem for the Samford defense in the first two weeks. Then they got on the same field with the speedy Holloway, who had scoring plays of 48, 43, 76 and four yards in the win over the Bulldogs.
Did the week off solve some problems for Samford?: Grass liked what he saw from his team during the bye week following the loss to Tennessee Tech. He is confident that his team took a step forward with the extra work. We’ll see if that results in the Bulldogs first win since beating VMI last season. It is also helpful that Samford is rested and healthy heading into the game.
How will Samford handle the triple option? VMI is in its first season running the option under new head coach Ashley Ingram. While the Keydets offense has yet to click, the option is hard to defend for teams not used to seeing it on a regular basis. Fullback Leo Boehling, a 6-foot, 235-pound junior, is coming off his best game after rushing for 102 yards on 20 carries in an overtime loss to Davidson. VMI has just three rushing touchdowns in four games.
Can Samford’s offensive line take a step forward? This could be a chance for the offensive line to gain some much needed confidence. Grass still believes this can be a successful offensive line and they’ve shown it at times over the first three weeks. Saturday could be a chance to put an entire game together.