NEW ORLEANS – Old Dominion Football Head Coach Ricky Rahne, running back Devin Roche and safety Mario Easterly participated in Sun Belt Conference Football Media Day on Wednesday in New Orleans. The SBC Media Day reminded fans and the media that fall camp is less than a month away.
“I’m very excited for this season,” Rahne said. “We’ve had to incorporate 54 new players, 15 from the junior college ranks, 14 from the portal and 25 high school players. We have some returning players like Mario and Devin that have to teach these guys how we do things at Old Dominion.”
The Monarchs are coming off a 10-3 campaign in 2025 that saw ODU finish the season on a six-game winning streak, including a 24-10 win over South Florida in the StaffDNA Cure Bowl. Roche rushed for 100 yards in the ODU victory.
“For me it’s been night and day as far as my growth,” Roche said. “When I came in there were rocky moments, but over time picking up from Coach Rahne is process oriented ways it helped shape me who I am today.”
ODU was picked to finish in second place by the media and the league’s head coach, although Rahne and his players had their minds on other things on Wednesday, like preparing for the season. Easterly, in his fifth season as a Monarch, led ODU in tackles last season with 80 tackles and has made 20 career starts.
“The preseason polls don’t mean much but I’m glad they put a little bit of respect on our name this year having us second,” Easterly said. “What we did in the past doesn’t really matter for this year, we’re just going out there every day and trying to get better, work hard and put our best football on tape this fall.”
ODU opens camp on August 5 and opens the 2026 season at home against Norfolk State. It will be the first time since 2022 the Monarchs will open the season at home and the first time since 2019 that ODU will take on the Spartans. ODU opened Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium with a 24-21 win over NSU.
Season tickets for the 2026 home slate are on sale at ODUSports.com. Mini plans for select games and flex plans are also on sale.