MAC’S RANTS: VMI Losing Streak Will End This Weekend

Last year, in September, we wrote about Austin Peay and how the Govs were about to snap the FCS' current longest losing streak (you can read it here) at 29 games. Well, we're about to make that case for VMI, too.

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The Keydets' 25-game losing streak — currently the longest in Division I football — will come to an end at home this weekend vs. Division II Tusculum. VMI is followed by FBS UTEP (20 losses in a row) as far as current streaks. 

Nobody wishes a streak like this on a team. I'm sure the Southern Conference opponents would like to see the streak end, and in four games this year — it nearly has. ETSU, Western Carolina, Chattanooga and The Citadel have all been losses by 7 points or less for the Keydets. Mercer was a 10-point loss. VMI has made some teams sweat, for sure.

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Last year, the games were rarely close at all, mostly blowouts. In 2016, there were early wins over fledgling ETSU and Bucknell in overtime — then the losses followed. This year, led by 6-foot-4 sophomore quarterback Reece Udinski (2,583 yards, 18 TDs), the Keydets have been a tough out. They've scrapped their way into several games in the fourth quarter, looking like they could end this nasty streak.

This Saturday, they face a pretty good D-II program in Tusculum, which is 5-3 coming in — but if you can play toe-to-toe with two potential FCS Playoff teams (ETSU & Chattanooga) you can beat a D-II opponent. And that's exactly what's going to happen on Saturday.

MCLAUGHLIN: Austin Peay's Streak Will End

Last year, we said the same thing about Austin Peay going into its game with Morehead State. The Govs just seemed ready to explode in a good way after two scrappy showings against FBS opponents to open the 2017 season. There just seemed to be a spark, and right now VMI seems like it has its own version of a spark.

Yes, they've been thumped a couple of times too (Wofford, Samford, FBS Toledo) but this year just seems different. Earlier this year, we also saw a long losing streak end for Portland State (15 losses) in the Big Sky, and now the Vikings are 4-4 and riding a three-game in conference winning streak.

All good .. and bad … things come to an end. This weekend it will be VMI's losing streak. The Keydets are due.[divider]

CURRENT FCS LOSING STREAKS

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