The Old Dominion Monarchs football program represents Old Dominion University in U.S. college football. The first iteration of the team created in 1930 was known as the William & Mary Norfolk Division Braves. Founded in 2009, the current Monarchs team competed as an FCS independent for their first two seasons. In the 2011 season, they joined the Colonial Athletic Association and added conference games to their schedule, playing there until joining Conference USA of the FBS in 2014. They joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2022.
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History
Early history: Tommy Scott era (1930–1940)
According to sports historian Peter Stewart, in September 1930 a reporter asked Coach Tommy Scott whether the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary should have a football team. Scott answered that he had not thought of having one, but within two days a team was "put together hurriedly" and began playing other small colleges. In late December 1932, the team played the University of Miami Hurricanes in Miami, after the four-year college sent an invitation to William & Mary which the two-year Norfolk Division accidentally received. The college played football for 11 seasons (1930–1940), with a record of 42–36–4. The program was discontinued due to a rule against freshman players, a $10,000 debt, and accreditation issues. The team lost every game in its last season, attendance was small, and Stewart believes that World War II would likely have forced the program to end regardless of other reasons.
Bobby Wilder era (2007–2019)
According to Senior Associate Athletic Director Debbie White, ODU had tried several times to restart a football team. The university wanted to improve ties to alumni, who often stated in exit interviews before graduation their wish for an ODU football team, and rarely revisited the campus. On June 14, 2005, the Board of Visitors unanimously approved with a 14–0 vote to create a new football team to compete, along with the university's other sports teams, at the NCAA Division I level. The new football team were to begin play in 2009. On February 9, 2007, Athletic Director Jim Jarrett announced that Bobby Wilder, then the associate head football coach at the University of Maine, would be the head coach and the team signed its first recruiting class in 2008. As is the case with many new football programs, all players in 2008 were redshirted. These players, along with the recruiting class of 2009 and transfer players, comprised the initial 2009 roster.
Old Dominion began play in 2009 as an independent team at the Division I FCS level (formerly I-AA), and joined the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) for the 2011 season. In their first competitive season in 68 years, the Monarchs finished the season with a 9–2 record. That was the best winning record ever for a first-year program in college football's modern era. The Monarchs were outscored by a total of only eight points in their two losses. Wilder's inaugural team finished the year ranked in the top ten in five FCS statistical categories, including second in sacks allowed, third in scoring offense, turnover margin and net punting. The 2009 Monarchs were ninth in rushing offense.
ODU was fifth in FCS attendance in 2009, selling out all of their home games in the 19,782-seat Foreman Field. Season tickets for the Monarchs' inaugural season sold out quickly and the school had to refund 1,065 orders. Foreman Field, formerly the ODU field hockey and women's lacrosse teams' home venue, was renovated to accommodate the new football program. Field hockey and women's lacrosse were relocated to the Powhatan Sports Complex.
In its first three years of competition after its rebirth, Old Dominion compiled a 26–7 record and earned a berth in the 2011 FCS playoffs, hosting and defeating its crosstown rival Norfolk State. Also in 2011, after playing 27 games in its "modern era", ODU received its first Top 25 ranking on October 3, coming in at No. 21 in The Sports Network poll. The Monarchs were ranked among the Top Ten after competing in 33 games.
Ricky Rahne era (2020–present)
Ricky Rahne, former Penn State offensive coordinator, was announced as the next head coach on December 10, 2019. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the university announced that the 2020 football season for the Monarchs was canceled due to concerns about the safety of athletes and coaches.
Rahne coached his first full season in 2021. After a 1–6 start ODU went on a 5 game winning streak to end the regular season 6–6; while becoming Bowl eligible for the second time in program history. ODU played in the Myrtle Beach Bowl, but lost to Tulsa.
The 2022 season had some big changes. As the Monarchs across all sports moved into the Sun Belt Conference in July of that year, leaving C-USA (along with Southern Miss and Marshall). The 2022 season got off to a rough start when offensive coordinator Dave Patenaude resigned just two weeks before the season opener. Despite his departure ODU would start with an upset win over Virginia Tech by a final score 20–17. The Monarchs would go on to have a disappointing season, finishing 3–9.
The 2023 season showed improvement, as the Monarchs finished the regular season 6–6 and earned a berth in the Famous Toastery Bowl, where they lost to Western Kentucky to close the year at 6–7.
In 2024, Old Dominion went 5–7 in the regular season, with a three game losing streak late in the season effectively ending their bowl eligibility for the year.
The 2025 season began with a milestone victory, as ODU defeated Virginia Tech 45–26 in Blacksburg, the Monarchs’ first road win over a Power Four opponent.
Conference affiliations
Independent (1930–1940)
NCAA Division I FCS independent (2009–2010, 2013)
Colonial Athletic Association (2011–2012)
Conference USA (2014–2022)
Sun Belt Conference (2022–present)
Postseason
Division championships
ODU competes in the East Division of C-USA since joining the conference in 2014. The Monarchs shared its first division title with Western Kentucky in 2016 but did not represent the East Division in the C-USA Championship Game due to a head-to-head loss to Western Kentucky.
† Co-champions
Playoffs
The Monarchs appeared in the Division I-AA/FCS Playoffs twice in the only two years that they were in FCS competition before moving up to FBS. Their combined record is 2–2.
Bowl games
Old Dominion has been invited to 4 bowl games, and the Monarchs currently hold a 2–2 record.
Rivalries
James Madison
On October 26, 2022, the Old Dominion Monarchs and in-state rival James Madison Dukes announced the official beginning of the "Royal Rivalry". As the Virginia-based schools within the Sun Belt Conference, they will compete for an all-sports trophy that contains a football component and draws its name from the royal inspiration of both schools' mascots.
The all-time football series between the two schools is 2–4, dating back to their days in the CAA. JMU won the most recent meeting 63-27 on October 18, 2025.
William & Mary
A declared rivalry with the William & Mary Tribe lasted two years before the Monarchs began their FBS transfer process in 2013. The annual CAA divisional battles were coined the ‘Battle for the Silver Mace' with the winner to be presented with a replica of the Norfolk Mace on display at the Chrysler Museum of Art.
Norfolk State
Despite ODU's transfer to the FBS, Norfolk State remained on the Monarchs' schedule as an FCS opponent for their 2015 and 2019 seasons. They are set to face the Monarchs again in 2026.
Other rivalries
Other regional FBS rivals for the Monarchs include; East Carolina, Liberty, and Virginia Tech.
Individual awards
All-Americans
Source: Old Dominion Athletics, The Sports Network
Future non-conference opponents
Announced schedules as of June 25, 2026.
List of retired jerseys
Old Dominion is set to retire their first jersey in football on October 15, 2026.