NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion University Football hosts Virginia Tech on Friday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. in the 2022 season opener at Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
| Old Dominion (0-0 Sun Belt) vs. Virginia Tech (0-0 ACC) | |
| Date | Friday, Sept. 2 • 7 p.m. • Norfolk, Va. • Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium |
| Where to Watch | ESPNU (Cox channel 232) |
| Listen | ODU Sports Radio Network |
| Series | Virginia Tech leads 2-1 |
| Game Notes | Old Dominion Virginia Tech |
• For the first time in program history, Old Dominion opens up the season against a Power Five team at home. ODU hosts Virginia Tech on ESPNU at 7 p.m.
• ODU opens a season against a Power Five opponent. The Monarchs opened last year at Wake Forest, also on a Friday.
• ODU went 6-7 last season, winning its final five games of the regular season to qualify for the Myrtle Beach Bowl. ODU won five-straight by an average score of 36-22.
• ODU and North Texas both started last year 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.
• This will be Virginia Tech's second visit to Norfolk and its first in the new Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium. In 2018, Old Dominion defeated No. 13 Virginia Tech 49-35. Quarterback Blake LaRussa passed for 495 yards and four touchdowns in the Monarch win.
• ODU is 1-2 all-time against Virginia Tech. The Monarchs lost in Blacksburg in 2017 and 2019, and won in Norfolk in 2018.
• ODU is 1-12 all-time against Power Five foes and 1-2 at home against the Power Five, with the one win against Virginia Tech.
The Meeting
This is the fourth meeting between the two in-state foes. Virginia Tech leads the series 2-1, as the home team has won all three contests. In 2018, ODU defeated the Hokies 49-35 as Blake LaRussa threw for 495 yards and four touchdowns in the Monarch win.
Captains
ODU Head Coach Ricky Rahne announced team captains at Media Day. Tight end Zack Kuntz, offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri, safety R'Tarriun Johnson and long snapper B.R. Hatcher were named captains.
Sixth Year Monarchs
For the second-straight year, Old Dominion will have multiple players in their sixth year on a college campus. ODU has four, sixth year players this year including three that have been with ODU all six years. All five players have at least one undergraduate degree.
Sixth Year Players
Marcus Haynes
Tyran Hunt*
D.J. Mack^
Steven WIlliams
*Transfer from Maryland
^Transfer from UCF
Young Guns
For the second-straight year, Ricky Rahne has the youngest assistant coaching staff in the country. At an average age of 33.5, they are the youngest staff in the country by a year and a half.
The youngest coach on staff is defensive line coach Victor Irokansi, who is 28. Running backs coach Tony Lucas is the oldest assistant at 41.
Youngest Coaching Staff in the Country
Avg. Age School
33.5 Old Dominion
35.0 Georgia State
35.1 Utah State
36.0 Georgia Southern
36.0 New Mexico State
Hello, I'm Not From Around Here
Old Dominion has seven players born outside of the United States, the second most of any college football team in the country.
Most Players Born Outside the United States
School Number
Temple 9
Old Dominion 7
Rice 7
Syracuse 6
Player Pos. Country
Jude Buchanan LB Canada
Ethan Duane P Australia
Denzel Lowry DL Italy
Obie Sanni RB Nigeria
Dominik Soos K Hungary
Keshawn Wicks RB Germany
Maarten Woudsma OL Netherlands
Game Information
Click here to read more about parking, tailgating and more information.