Harvard has Yale. Alabama has Auburn. Virginia has Virginia Tech. Who is the true rival of Old Dominion?

Since ODU began the transition to the FBS level in 2013, the Monarchs have hosted several teams more than three times. This has even come with some success against the state’s top schools.

Virginia Tech

The obvious place to start is Virginia Tech, who ODU first played in 2017, losing 38-0 at Lane Stadium. The next season, ODU pulled off the biggest upset in the history of FBS football, defeating the Hokies in Norfolk, 49-35. Last season, the Hokies got up 2-1 in the series, defeating ODU 31-17 in a game ODU very well could have won.

The Hokies and Monarchs don’t clash in 2020 or 2021. The two will meet again in 2022, establishing a home-and-home that currently stretches to 2032. But rivalries go outside the lines – prior to the 2019 season, Eric Kumah and Chris Cunningham transferred to Old Dominion. The two schools also regularly clash over the same in-state recruits.

Norfolk State

A non-FBS school, Norfolk State and Old Dominion have met four times since 2007. This including an FCS playoff matchup in 2011 that ODU won 35-18, and the 2019 game that opened the new Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium. ODU would squeak by with a win, 24-21 – their only win in Bobby Wilder’s final season.

The Monarchs hold a 4-0 record over the cross-town Spartans and their 2019 game (at the time of writing) is the last scheduled clash of the two Norfolk schools.

East Carolina

These two schools, who have played three times since 2007, are separated by just 123 miles. East Carolina is 3-0 in the series, having won the 2019 edition 24-21.

The two schools first met in 1934, but are not currently scheduled to play each other. Just like Virginia Tech, ODU and ECU also regularly fight over recruits.

Charlotte

These two schools meet each year as part of Conference-USA play. ODU leads the series 3-2, but as Charlotte is on a 2-game winning streak. 2020 will be the first meeting of Ricky Rahne and Will Healy – two of the younger coaches not just in CUSA, but in all of FBS football.

Other options:

Conference Opponents:

FIU: 3-3 overall, two-game win streak for FIU.

UTSA: 2-1 overall, UTSA won last meeting.

UTEP: 2-1 overall, ODU won last two games.

FAU: 2-4 overall, FAU won last three games.

Non-Conference:

Liberty: 1-1 overall, Liberty won last game. These two schools are both in Virginia and play again in 2021, 2022, and 2023.