NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion University football takes on Tulsa in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Monday, Dec. 20 at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN. ODU has won five-straight and defeated Charlotte 56-34 in the regular season finale to reach bowl eligibility, while Tulsa has won three-straight to get to six wins, including a 34-31 win at SMU in the final regular season game.
| Old Dominion (6-6, 5-3 C-USA) vs. Tulsa (6-6, 5-3 American) | |
| Date | Monday, Dec. 20 • 2:30 p.m. • Conway, S.C. • Brooks Stadium |
| Where to Watch | ESPN |
| Listen | ODU Sports Radio Network |
| Series | First Meeting |
| Game Notes | Old Dominion Tulsa |
BOWL CENTRAL
• For the second time in school history and first time since 2016, Old Dominion is in a bowl game, as ODU will play Tulsa in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.
• Old Dominion defeated Charlotte on November 27, 56-34, to become bowl eligible. Joe Joe Headen and Jordan Young registered interceptions on Charlotte's first two possessions and Ali Jennings caught nine passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns to lead the way.
• ODU was 1-6 when it reached the bye week. The Monarchs have won five-straight since then by an average score of 36-22.
• ODU and North Texas both started this season 1-6. They join the 2016 Miami (Ohio) team that started 0-6, as the only teams since 1936 (AP Poll era) to win six games after starting a season 1-6 or worse.
• ODU head coach Ricky Rahne will participate in his first game as head coach, but his 11th straight as a coach. Rahne's streak started in 2010 at Kansas State. He is 6-4 in those games.
• Joe Joe Headen, Isaac Weaver and Jordan Young were on the ODU team that went to the 2016 Bahamas Bowl, but all three redshirted. The trio is in their sixth year with the program.
Block Party
Blocked kicks are game-changers and Old Dominion has been one of the best in the country this year to do it, as ODU is tied for first in the country with six blocked kicks. All six blocks have been blocked by six different players.
ODU Blocked Punts
| Opponent | Block |
| Wake Forest | Terry Jones |
| Buffalo | Steven Williams |
| Buffalo | Deeve Harris |
| UTEP | Isaiah Spencer |
Blocked Extra Points
| Opponent | Block |
| WKU | Amorie Morrison |
| FAU | Jason Henderson |
Blocked Kicks Nationally
| Rank | School | Blocks |
| 1. | ODU | 6 |
| Cincinnati | 6 | |
| Houston | 6 |
Kuuuuuuuuntz
Sophomore tight end Zack Kuntz has become a fan favorite not only of Monarch Nation, but also the ODU quarterback.
Kuntz had five receptions in the season finale win over Charlotte.
He ranks second among FBS tight ends in receptions (71), eighth in receiving yards (674) and tied for 12th in touchdowns (5).
A transfer from Penn State, Kuntz has been ODU's leading receiver in 9-of-12 games so far this season. He has five games with eight or more catches.
FBS Tight End Receptions Leaders
| Rank | Player | School | Receptions |
| 1. | Trey McBride | Colorado State | 90 |
| 2. | Zack Kuntz | ODU | 71 |
| 3. | Michael Mayer | Notre Dame | 64 |
| 4. | Cole Turner | Nevada | 62 |
| 5. | Charlie Kolar | Iowa State | 58 |
| 6. | Isaiah Likely | Coastal Carolina | 52 |
ODU Single-Season Receptions Records
| Rank | Player | Year | Receptions |
| 1. | Nick Mayers | 2012 | 79 |
| 2. | Jonathan Duhart | 2018 | 74 |
| 3. | Zack Kuntz | 2021 | 71 |
| 4. | Zach Pascal | 2015 | 68 |
| Larry Pinkard | 2013 | 68 |
Ali With the KnockoutIt's been a tale of two halves for Ali Jennings this season. He finished the second half of the season with nine receptions for 252 yards and three touchdowns in ODU's 56-34 win to make ODU bowl eligible over Charlotte.
The 252 yards was the second most by a receiver in ODU history and the most in ODU's seven years in FBS. The 252 yards was the fourth most by an FBS receiver this season.
A Tale of Two Jennings
| Receptions | Receiving Yards | TDs | |
| First 6 Games | 16 | 212 | 2 |
| Last 6 Games | 40 | 780 | 3 |
| TOTAL | 56 | 992 | 5 |
Leading the Way
Sixth-year seniors Isaac Weaver and Jordan Young have been starters from day one in their ODU careers. Saturday will be their 47th career start, one shy of the record held by Craig Wilkins and Oshane Ximines.
Most Starts in ODU History
| Rank | Players | Position | Starts |
| 1. | Craig Wilkins | LB/S | 48 |
| Oshane Ximines | DE | 48 | |
| 3. | Jordan Young | LB | 47 |
| Isaac Weaver | OL | 47 | |
| 5. | Nick Clarke | C | 46 |