2016 Valparaiso Crusaders football team

The 2016 Valparaiso Crusaders football team represented Valparaiso University in the 2016 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by third-year head coach Dave Cecchini and played their home games at Brown Field. They were members of the Pioneer Football League. They finished the season 4–7, 3–5 in PFL play to finish in a two-way tie for seventh place.

2016 Valparaiso Crusaders football
Conference	Pioneer Football League
Record	4–7 (3–5 PFL)
Head coach	Dave Cecchini (3rd season)
Offensive coordinator	Jason Miran (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Ernest Moore (3rd season)
Home stadium	Brown Field

2016 Pioneer Football League standings

	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 19 San Diego $^		8	–	0					10	–	2
Dayton		7	–	1					9	–	2
Drake		6	–	2					7	–	4
Marist		5	–	3					5	–	6
Jacksonville		4	–	3					5	–	5
Campbell		3	–	4					5	–	5
Morehead State		3	–	5					4	–	7
Valparaiso		3	–	5					4	–	7
Butler		2	–	6					4	–	7
Stetson		2	–	6					4	–	7
Davidson		0	–	8					2	–	9
$ – Conference champion ^ – FCS playoff participant Rankings from STATS Poll

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 3	6:00 pm	at No. 10 Illinois State*	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	ESPN3	L 13–50	10,026
September 10	12:00 pm	at Sacred Heart*	Campus Field Fairfield, CT	NECFR	L 14–42	2,406
September 17	1:00 pm	Trinity International*	Brown Field Valparaiso, IN	ESPN3	W 49–24	1,232
September 24	1:00 pm	Davidson	Brown Field Valparaiso, IN	ESPN3	W 24–20	2,897
October 1	12:00 pm	at Morehead State	Jayne Stadium Morehead, KY	OVCDN	L 26–29	3,453
October 8	1:00 pm	Drake	Brown Field Valparaiso, IN	ESPN3	L 21–35	2,521
October 15	12:00 pm	at Stetson	Spec Martin Stadium DeLand, FL	ESPN3	W 21–18	2,590
October 22	3:00 pm	at San Diego	Torero Stadium San Diego, CA	W.TV	L 10–49	2,222
October 29	1:00 pm	Butler	Brown Field Valparaiso, IN (Hoosier Helmet Trophy)	ESPN3	L 12–23	2,141
November 5	12:00 pm	at Dayton	Welcome Stadium Dayton, OH	TWCS	L 21–37	4,193
November 12	1:00 pm	Jacksonville	Brown Field Valparaiso, IN	WVUR	W 42–39	1,380
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS FCS Poll released prior to game Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

• Source: Schedule

Game summaries

At Illinois State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Crusaders	3	7	0	3	13
#10 Redbirds	7	27	9	7	50

See also: 2016 Illinois State Redbirds football team

At Sacred Heart

	1	2	3	4	Total
Crusaders	7	7	0	0	14
Pioneers	7	28	7	0	42

See also: 2016 Sacred Heart Pioneers football team

Trinity International

	1	2	3	4	Total
Trojans	0	17	7	0	24
Crusaders	14	7	21	7	49

Davidson

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	6	7	0	7	20
Crusaders	7	10	7	0	24

See also: 2016 Davidson Wildcats football team

At Morehead State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Crusaders	7	10	3	6	26
Eagles	14	0	7	8	29

See also: 2016 Morehead State Eagles football team

Drake

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	7	21	0	7	35
Crusaders	0	14	7	0	21

See also: 2016 Drake Bulldogs football team

At Stetson

	1	2	3	4	Total
Crusaders	0	14	7	0	21
Hatters	5	7	6	0	18

See also: 2016 Stetson Hatters football team

San Diego

	1	2	3	4	Total
Crusaders	3	0	0	7	10
Toreros	14	14	14	7	49

See also: 2016 San Diego Toreros football team

Butler

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	10	3	0	10	23
Crusaders	6	6	0	0	12

See also: 2016 Butler Bulldogs football team

At Dayton

	1	2	3	4	Total
Crusaders	7	0	0	14	21
Flyers	14	10	13	0	37

See also: 2016 Dayton Flyers football team

Jacksonville

	1	2	3	4	Total
Dolphins	3	14	7	15	39
Crusaders	28	7	7	0	42

See also: 2016 Jacksonville Dolphins football team