ODU adds Norfolk State, William & Mary to upcoming football schedules; will face Virginia Tech 9 times over next 11 seasons
Old Dominion will welcome a pair of local football rivals back to S.B. Ballard Stadium, with Norfolk State visiting the Monarchs in 2026 and William & Mary coming to Norfolk in 2029, ODU announced Thursday.
ODU also announced the addition of two opponents to future schedules: Texas A&M-Commerce and North Carolina Central. Texas A&M-Commerce replaces a game originally scheduled at home against Buffalo on Sept. 23, 2023, while N.C. Central will play in Norfolk in 2025.
Over the next 11 seasons ODU’s schedule includes nine games against Virginia Tech, five against ECU, four against Army, three against Liberty and single games with Virginia, Wake Forest, Indiana and South Carolina.
ODU opens next season at Virginia Tech on Sept. 2, hosts Wake Forest on Sept 16, and plays at Liberty on Nov. 11 in a game originally scheduled for Sept. 30.
“When we get the opportunity to play Virginia Tech and Virginia, it helps the whole state,” ODU coach Ricky Rahne said in a statement. “And just like that, when we play Norfolk State or William and Mary, I think it helps the region, all of the 757.”
Norfolk State plays at ODU on Sept. 5, 2026 in the teams’ fifth meeting. ODU has won the previous four, including a 24-21 victory to open Ballard Stadium in 2019 before a sellout crowd of 21,944. ODU also has games scheduled that season at Virginia Tech on Sept. 12 and at home against UConn on Oct. 31.
In 2029, William & Mary visits ODU on Sept. 1 in a fourth meeting between the schools. ODU is 2-1 against the Tribe. The Monarchs’ schedule that season also includes games at Army (Sept. 8) and at East Carolina (Sept. 15) and a home game against Virginia Tech on Sept. 22.
“The football landscape continues to evolve and we’re trying to align our program in the most favorable light for bowl games and ultimately, the expanded College Football Playoff,” Bruce Stewart, deputy athletic director and chief operating officer who oversees football and football scheduling, said in a statement. “We’re always excited about the challenge of playing our schedule [against Power 5 schools] and the fact that we get to play some of these teams at home. But I also think it’s great for our kids to play some different teams.”
Jami Frankenberry, 757-446-2376, jami.frankenberry@pilotonline.com. Twitter @JamiVP
