The 1997 Villanova Wildcats football team represented
Villanova University during the
1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. It was the program's 100th season and they finished as
Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) champions after posting a perfect 8–0 record in conference play.[1][2] The Wildcats earned a berth as the #1 seed into the 16-team
Division I-AA playoffs, but lost in the quarterfinals to eventual national champion
Youngstown State, 34–37.[1] Villanova was led by 13th-year head coach
Andy Talley.[1] Villanova finished the year ranked #1 in the nation according to
The Sports Network's final poll, which was released prior to the playoffs starting.
The 1997 Villanova Wildcats football team represented
Villanova University during the
1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. It was the program's 100th season and they finished as
Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) champions after posting a perfect 8–0 record in conference play.[1][2] The Wildcats earned a berth as the #1 seed into the 16-team
Division I-AA playoffs, but lost in the quarterfinals to eventual national champion
Youngstown State, 34–37.[1] Villanova was led by 13th-year head coach
Andy Talley.[1] Villanova finished the year ranked #1 in the nation according to
The Sports Network's final poll, which was released prior to the playoffs starting.