ODU Football 2024 Season Recap: Close, But No Cigar

By David Asbury

Tough Gauntlet, Couple Wins Shy of Success

The Monarchs faced a very tough schedule facing TEN bowl teams, the most any Sun Belt team played in 2024.  They did not even get an easy FCS team, making each and every game a challenge.  The ODU team overall was pretty damn good winning four of the ten bowl team matchups.  But a bad start in September dug itself a hole.  In October, it looked like they had successfully climbed out of the hole but then hit a  three-game skid falling back into the hole in November.

At 5-7, this team was good enough to be a bowl team in the Sun Belt.  In fact, it beat three Sun Belt bowl teams and was close to knocking off more in JMU and Marshall.  But close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.  The Monarchs fell short of success and 2024 will be remembered as a missed opportunity and ultimately a disappointing season.

Rough September:  1-3

The start of the season was rough during non-conference play.  The start of the season can be defined by a good defense but with an ineffective offense led by quarterback Grant Wilson.  Wilson struggled early with lots of turnovers against South Carolina but he should not be blamed for the entire offense.  OC Kevin Decker was not calling plays in the middle of the field, the offensive line was still shifting around constantly to find the right formula, and the offense was missing a blocking tight end.  These problems dug a huge whole with losses to South Carolina, East Carolina and Virginia Tech. 

Grant Wilson finished the season early due to injury but threw for 507 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. He also ran for touchdown but lost two fumbles. Photo courtesy of CB Sports Photography.

Adjustments were made for the last game in September and it led to a quality victory against the Bowling Green State Falcons in Ohio.  Wilson started the first half and played his best game of the season before his injury sidelined him for good.  Redshirt freshman Colton Joseph came in, ran for 65 yards and a touchdown to lead a fourth quarter comeback victory.

Dominant October: 3-1

Joseph's fourth quarter comeback foreshadowed a dominant October.  But first came a disappointing loss to the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 37-45.  The Monarchs' strong defense was extremely dinged up and CCU's Ethan Vasko was able to pass all over it.  That was exacerbated by Joseph's turnovers on offense.  But then the Monarchs followed that up with a three game winning streak, defeating the Georgia State Panthers in Atlanta, upsetting the hot Texas State bobcats at home, and then took first place in the SBC East at home against the Georgia Southern Eagles.

Freshman quarterback Colton Joseph had an impressive 2024 with 1,627 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, 647 rushing yards, and 11 rushing touchdowns. Photo courtesy of CB Sports Photography.

The biggest high point of the season was the victory over Georgia Southern on Thursday Night Football. The Monarchs were 2-1 in the Sun Belt to face the 3-0 Eagles for first place in the division.  The Monarchs came out and dominated in all phases of the game winning 47-19 and taking first place.  At 4-4 overall, and 3-1 in the conference, the Monarchs believed that they had dug themselves out of the hole and were on their way to compete for the conference, or at least go bowling.  All they had to do was win two of their last four games.

Back-to-Rough November: 1-3

The last portion of the season was daunting with App. State, JMU, Marshall and Ark. State.  App. State appeared to be the easiest as they struggled through a down season but the Monarchs fumbled the game away with four turnovers.  The Monarchs looked like the better team on the field but simply could not overcome their own turnovers.  The Monarchs lost 20-28.

Senior Aaron Young (5) was a very reliable running back for the Monarchs rushing for 887 yards and eight touchdowns. He only played at Old Dominion for one season, but he will always be a Monarch in my book. Photo courtesy of CB Sports Photography.

After the bye week, the Monarchs lost two shoot-outs to rival James Madison and  the Marshall Thundering Herd.  This three game losing streak sunk the Monarchs' postseason hopes.  The offense played well scoring more than thirty points against both Marshall and Madison but the defense could not stop the top Sun Belt quarterbacks.

The Monarchs would end the season on a high note with an impressive performance by true freshman Quinn Henicle against the Ark. State Red Wolves.  The win proved that this team was a very good Sun Belt team that went 4-4 in the conference.  But the 1-3 nonconference record was too big of a hole to escape.

Overall, this season was just short of success.  Had the Monarchs won just one more game, they would have made it to a bowl game.  Had they won that bowl game, they would have had the first winning season since 2016.  The Monarchs were very close to that too.  Had Virginia Tech canceled the series and ODU replaced them with an easy FCS team, they likely would have gone bowling.  But, again, close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades.

Ricky Rahne still has two more years left on his contract but he will be on the hot seat in 2025.  He did a good job rebuilding the team from the 1-11 program he inherited but has yet to bring home a winning season.  He was dealt a very hard hand with such a tough non-conference schedule year-in and year-out.  ODU would have surely had a successful season had it had JMU's cupcake schedule or Ark. State's Charmin soft schedule.  But you know what they say about excuses, everyone has one and they all stink.  Monarchs fans have been patient enough.  They are owed a winning season.

Next year could be it though.  The quarterback room, offensive line, and running back room look very promising for 2025.  Rahne has already reloaded the wide receiver room with high-quality JuCo prospects.  The defense also returns some studs at linebacker.  If he can reload some more through the portal and JuCo ranks, he might have his best roster since starting at ODU.  Coupled with a slightly better schedule and rebuilding around the division, the Monarchs have no excuse not to compete in the Belt.  It is a make-or-break year.

For more on the season recap and the future for ODU football, do not miss the fella's analysis on the Pod.

2024 Monarchists Pick'em Standings

But before we officially send off this 2024 season, let's take a look at how the Monarchists did in predicting ODU's games. The Monarchs themselves went 5-7.  So, that means Aaron who picks the Monarchs for every game (someone has to) also went 5-7.  Seriously, bless him for always picking the Monarchs no matter what.  He is first place in the standings of our hearts.

Then there is a tie for third place.  Las Vegas broke even when picking ODU games going 6-6 and Gary tied them when he picked against ODU in the last game against Ark. State.  Gary says he would win if we are picking by the spread and to that, I say, no thanks.

Finally, there is a tie for first place. Mike and I both defeated Vegas, Gary, and Aaron by going 7-5 in our predictions.  This is the second year in a row that I out-predicted Las Vegas.  Remember that next season and why you should come back to this blog for 2025.  I may even ask the fellas to do a side bet for it.  I am already looking forward to it.

With that, we bid adieu to the 2024 season and the 2024 year.  All of us at the Monarchists wish you a very happy New Year and prosperous 2025 football season.  Go Monarchs!

David is a Monarchist member and lawyer located in Norfolk. He first became an ODU fan in 2009 when he attended the first ever Monarchs football game his sophomore year. He is proud of his degree from ODU, as well as his law degree from Wake Forest University. When he is not blogging for the Monarchists or watching ODU sports, he is spending time with his wife and children, practicing law in Virginia and West Virginia, and occasionally blogging about consumer protection law for his firm.