CFB Zeitgeist
June 22, 2026 · Dead Period · Heritage Window · 2026 Outlook

Valparaiso

2-10 2025 final

Valparaiso is the Indiana program that competed for FCS playoff bids in the 2000s and 2010s but went 2–10 in 2025 — now rebuilding under new coach Andy Waddle with the Hoosier Helmet Trophy rivalry against Butler anchoring the annual conversation.

Quiet weeks in Beacons country.

Record
2-10
win% .166
FCS Top 25
—
Conf Standing
—
Playoff Path
Building résumé
Dead PeriodOffseasonPatientPost-loss — reckoning
The Long Wait·Offseason

Valparaiso is the Indiana program that competed for FCS playoff bids in the 2000s and 2010s but went 2–10 in 2025 — now rebuilding under new coach Andy Waddle with the Hoosier Helmet Trophy rivalry against Butler anchoring the annual conversation.

Standard GapThree playoff runs in 2008–2010 vs a down 2025 season and a 407–552–27 a…

Valparaiso went 2–10 (1–7 PFL) in 2025 under new coach Andy Waddle, who arrived after the program spent years in rebuilding mode. Waddle's inaugural season was rough, reflecting the program's competitive position after 15 years re…

low signal
Read the full program story ↓

Offseason

69 days

until kickoff · Sun Aug 30 · 17:00 UTC

Act I

The 2026 Outlook

The Pulse on Valparaiso

Quiet · dead period heritage · signal ramps back in camp
—
Quiet weeks in Beacons country.

What moved it — offseason · last 30 days

June Dead-period quiet — official-visit + heritage window —
Camp Fall camp ~40 days out
"Go Beacons." — Valparaiso fanbase · recurring line
3 mentions · awaiting signal

Aspiration Ladder

Brief Part III §33.4 · Valparaiso

Winning record—

The baseline expectation.

Conference title—

The annual recruiting proof point.

Playoff bid (24-team bracket)—

Conference qualifier or at-large.

Championship gameLocked—

Championship weekend. Top-4 in the country.

Valparaiso · Next-Season Outcome Band

Floor / Base / Ceiling

floor0-12Sub-.500 season. Playoff bid out of reach.
base2-10Mid-table finish. Conference title a stretch.
ceiling5-7Conference title race. Playoff bid in play.

Variance assumed at ±2 wins from last-season record. Replace with the season-path projection once preview data is built.

Act II

Who We Are

FCS Program Prestige · Valparaiso

Mid-Major Contender

FCS Playoff Contender — consistent bracket participant, regional force.

T1Regional
T2Mid-Major
T3Power
T4National
T5Blue Blood
T6Dynasty
T7All-Time

Fanbase Health Index · Valparaiso · medium confidence

Stable (39)

DecliningStableGrowingSurging
On-Field — 2-10 (17% win rate)39
Volume — 3 effective signal-N40

Home-Field Advantage · Valparaiso · 2018-present

Strong

44% home win rate vs 20% on the road. margin runs +12.4 better at home.

Home12-15Away6-23
Act III

Last Season Reviewed

2025 season · tap to expand

Recent Form · last 10 games

Cold

One of five. The film room is busy this week.

Streak L1Last 5 · 1-4Last 10 · 1-9

Pioneer Standing · 2025

11th in the Pioneer

Valparaiso is 11th of 11 in the Pioneer at 2-10. The path to the title is steep — the focus is on playoff positioning and rivalry wins.

#ProgramRecord
1Presbyterian10-2
2Drake8-4
3San Diego8-4
4Dayton7-4
5St. Thomas (MN)7-5
6Butler6-6
7Morehead State6-6
8Marist5-7
9Stetson3-9
10Davidson2-10
11Valparaiso2-10

Schedule Strength · Valparaiso · 2025

Balanced

Average opponent win rate 52% across 12 finalized games. No top-25 opponents, but mid-tier slate kept the schedule honest.

Opp Win %0.528
Top-250
Top-100

Moment of the Year · Valparaiso · 2025

Won 67-10 vs Virginia University Of Lynchburg

Week 1 of 2025. A statement margin. Recruiting boards re-rendered overnight.

Decisive Margin

From the Archive — Valparaiso

2021: Lost 10-28 at Indiana Wesleyan

In 2021, the program lost 10-28 at Indiana Wesleyan — a one to file away road result, 18 points either way.

Go Beacons.