NORFOLK, Va. – Six home games highlight the 2016 Old Dominion University football schedule as announced today by Conference USA.

"We are excited about the 2016 schedule. We have outstanding opponents coming to Foreman Field at SB Ballard Stadium," ODU Head Coach Bobby Wilder said. "With the exception of Hampton and Massachusetts, the other 10 opponents are the same as last season. That gives our coaches, players and fans familiarity with our opponents."

2016 should be an exciting season for Old Dominion football.

The 2016 opponents combined for a 2015 record of 76-74 and five bowl appearances.

The Monarchs begin the year at home on Sept. 3 against Hampton before heading to North Carolina for back-to-back weeks to take on Appalachian State on Sept. 10 and NC State on Sept. 17.

ODU returns home on Sept. 24 to face UTSA before making its first trip to play Charlotte on Oct. 1.

Old Dominion hosts UMass on Oct. 8 and enjoy a bye week on Oct. 15.

The Monarchs are on the road for consecutive weeks at defending Conference USA Champion, WKU, on Oct. 22 and at UTEP on Oct. 29. The Monarchs return home on Nov. 5 to host Marshall and the Conference USA West defending champ, Southern Miss, on Nov. 12.

The Monarchs travel to Florida Atlantic on Nov. 19 to take on the Owls and complete their regular season at home for the second-straight season, facing FIU on Nov. 26.

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2016 schedule.

Sept. 3 – Old Dominion vs. Hampton

The Monarchs are 4-0 all-time against Hampton including a 41-28 win over the Pirates in the 2014 opener. HU head coach Connell Maynor begins his third season with the Pirates and led the 2015 squad to a 6-5 record, a three-win improvement over his first season in 2014.

Sept. 10 – Old Dominion at Appalachian State

Appalachian State won the first meeting between the two schools in Norfolk last season, 49-0. The Mountaineers went 11-2 in 2015 with a 31-29 win over Ohio in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl.

Sept. 17 – Old Dominion at NC State

This will be the third meeting against the ACC school. NC State became the first Power Five school to play at Old Dominion last season picking up a 38-14. NC State holds the series lead, 2-0, with a 46-34 win in 2014 in Raleigh.

Sept. 24 – Old Dominion vs. UTSA

The Monarchs won a thriller in San Antonio last season in the first meeting between the two teams, 36-31, on a pair of defensive stands late in the fourth quarter. Head Coach Frank Wilson is in his first as head coach after a six-year tenure at LSU as an assistant coach.

Oct. 1 – Old Dominion at Charlotte

The last of three games in a four-week stretch with the state of North Carolina will be the second meeting between the two young football programs. ODU won 37-34 last year in Norfolk.



Oct. 8 – Old Dominion vs. UMass

This will be the first matchup between ODU and UMass as FBS opponents and the second overall. The Monarchs defeated the Minutemen 48-33 in 2011 behind 119 yards and two touchdowns from Taylor Heinicke, who played in his first career game, coming in for an injured Thomas DeMarco in the third quarter.

Oct. 15 – BYE

Old Dominion is 6-3 all-time after a bye and has won two-straight, including last year's 37-34 win over Charlotte. The last time ODU lost after a bye was a 66-51 loss at WKU in 2014.

Oct. 22 – Old Dominion at WKU

ODU travels to the defending Conference USA champion Hilltoppers following the bye for the second time in three years. WKU won in Norfolk last season 55-30 and finished a 12-2 season with a 45-35 win over South Florida in the Miami Beach Bowl. The Monarchs are 0-2 all-time against WKU.

Oct. 29 – Old Dominion at UTEP

For the second time in three years Old Dominion will make the 1,900 mile trip to El Paso to take on the Miners. ODU defeated UTEP 31-21 last season in Norfolk in its best defensive performance in a Conference USA game. The Monarchs lost at UTEP in 2014, 42-35.

Nov. 5 – Old Dominion vs. Marshall

The Monarchs and Marshall meet for the third time since ODU joined C-USA. MU is one of two schools that ODU is 0-2 against, including WKU. Last season in Huntington, the Monarchs held Marshall to 324 yards of offense but fell 27-7.

Nov. 12 – Old Dominion vs. Southern Miss

The only time ODU has back-to-back home games will be against two of the top teams in the league. ODU led the Golden Eagles this past season midway through the third quarter 31-21 after a 64-yard Shuler Bentley to Jonathan Duhart touchdown pass. Southern Miss scored 35-straight points after that touchdown for a 56-31 win. Southern Miss won the C-USA West division and went 9-5 on the year.

Nov. 19 – Old Dominion at Florida Atlantic

The Monarchs are 1-1 in the series against FAU and coming off a 33-31 setback to the Owls that ended ODU's season a year ago. ODU defeated Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton in 2014, 31-28 on the final play of the game.

Nov. 26 – Old Dominion vs. FIU

The Monarchs scored 10 points in the final 1:05 in 2014 to beat FIU 38-35. FIU scored 24-straight points in the second half to pull away from the Monarchs in a 41-12 win for the Panthers in 2015.

Date Opponent Location

Sept. 3 Hampton Norfolk, Va.

Sept. 10 Appalachian State Boone, N.C.

Sept. 17 NC State Raleigh, N.C.

Sept. 24 UTSA Norfolk, Va.

Oct. 1 Charlotte Charlotte, N.C.

Oct. 8 UMass Norfolk, Va.

Oct. 22 WKU Bowling Green, Ky.

Oct. 29 UTEP El Paso, Texas

Nov. 5 Marshall Norfolk, Va.

Nov. 12 Southern Miss Norfolk, Va.

Nov. 19 Florida Atlantic Boca Raton, Fla.

Nov. 26 FIU Norfolk, Va.

