Top 10 ODU Football Victories of All Time

By David Asbury

Old Dominion ended the 2023 regular season with an instant classic.  The Monarchs defeated Georgia State in a wild comeback which included a long touchdown run, onside pooch kick, a safety and capped off with a walk-off touchdown run by Grant Wilson.  The classic game gave ODU its’ sixth win to go bowling.  But where does it stand historically? As a young program restarted in 2009, ODU football does not have as rich of a history as many other schools.  However, the school's 25-total football seasons have given enough memories to put together a great top-10 victories list.  So let's go.

Honorable Mention:  East Carolina 1937.  ECU should be considered one of ODU's rivals.  Dating back to 1934, ODU has played ECU in football more than any other team, Marshall may overcome ECU by 2027.   Old Dominion's first win against ECU is the biggest victory from the W&M Norfolk Division era.  The W&M Norfolk Braves, not yet called the Monarchs, defeated the Pirates 18-6 in 1937.  The Braves would cease operations after the 0-6 1940 season and went all six games without scoring a single point.  ODU would not have a football team again until the 2009 season (more on that season later).  ODU is still seeking its’ first victory over the Pirates since it restarted football.  This year's home opener on September 7th will be a great opportunity to snag it.

10.  Louisiana Tech 2014.  Taylor Heinicke's last pass at Foreman Field would be caught by another ODU legend, David Washington, to score a game-winning overtime touchdown.  The win helped secure a 6-6 record in the team's first full FBS season.  Unfortunately, Old Dominion was ineligible for a bowl game due to the transition rules.  Regardless, the win and last play were a memorable sendoff to the greatest football player to call himself a Monarch.

9. Norfolk State 2011 FCS Playoffs. ODU won two FCS playoff games before moving to the FBS, one in 2011 against Norfolk State and another in 2012 against Coastal Carolina.  Both wins deserve recognition but the Norfolk State victory gets the nod because it was first and because it was a Norfolk rivalry that was intense.  Foreman Field was packed to the brim with fans of both teams and a fight broke out where the combatants fell into the ODU Marching Band's tuba section.  The victory was important to both ODU and the city of Norfolk.  Looking back, ODU is undefeated against Norfolk State and has clearly risen above that level of play since moving on to the FBS.

8.  North Texas 2018.  ODU did not win very many games in 2018.  But the four games the Monarchs did win were very memorable.  The three untimed downs to defeat WKU deserves a lot of recognition, but "spit-gate" trumps it to make the list.

Down 28 points against North Texas in Norfolk, the Monarchs had little to play for before the first half was even over.  But then came a "spitting incident" that lit a fire under ODU.  North Texas safety Khairi Muhammad allegedly spit in the face of ODU wide receiver Jonathan Duhart.  The "incident" motivated the Monarchs and they came roaring back to win the game 34-31.

7.  Virginia Tech 2022.  After a relatively good 2021 season, ODU opened the 2022 season in Norfolk against in-state rival Virginia Tech.  It was the Hokies first game in Norfolk since the 2018 upset.  The Monarchs' offense was rather lackluster for the entire game but that did not matter. A scoop 'n score off of a blocked field goal and the defenses' four interceptions kept them in the game long enough for a Blake Watson to run the ball up the gut to score a game-winning touchdown and secure another thrilling upset.  The Hokies are currently 0-2 against in Norfolk and hopefully that trend continue when they visit on September 14th.

6. New Hampshire 2012.  730 yards.  What is more to say about this game?  Taylor Heinicke threw for 730 yards in one of the craziest shootouts of all time.  In fact, it was an D-I record at the time.  Heinicke instantly became a legend for Old Dominion and it was only the beginning.  He holds nearly every ODU quarterback school record.  In fact, he holds nine of the top ten games for most passing yards in a game.  Blake LaRussa is the only other quarterback to have a comparable game (more on that later).        

5. The First Game in 69 Years.  In 2009, ODU restarted football after a 69-year hiatus.  The Monarchs took on the Chowan Hawks, a D-II team.  Head Coach Bobby Wilder said he had no idea if his team was really any good or not after he built the team from scratch.  The game would be the first Old Dominion football victory since 1939.  The entire atmosphere was electric.

4.  The Miracle on 49th Street.  ODU was down 21 points in the last regular season game at the Castle.  It was freezing cold and hopes were low.  A loss meant the season was over.  At halftime, Coach Rahne went to each individual player and had them affirm that they were going to win that game.  He was right.  The Monarchs went hot in the second half and roared back to win 25-24 with a walk-off touchdown. (Pictured-Terry Jones and Shawn Asbury bring down Grainger for a clutch safety. Photo Courtesy of CB Sports Photography)  It was an incredible display that included an onside pooch kick, safety, and walk-off score.  History was made.  

3. The Royal Rivalry 2012.  The 2011 victory over JMU deserves recognition as well, but the 2012 Royal Rivalry meant so much more.  The Monarchs announced they were moving to the FBS and it would be the last time playing the Dukes, who planned to remain in the Colonial Athletic Association.  Although ODU was officially ineligible to win the CAA due to their upcoming departure, a win against JMU would give them an unofficial conference championship.  It was a cold, crisp, November night and the teams had an epic battle on the field.   Taylor Heinicke threw for 357 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 38-28 come-from-behind ODU victory against the vassals.

2.  The Bahamas Bowl 2016.  You never forget your first.  2016 is the best season Old Dominion football ever had.  The Monarchs tied WKU for the C-USA East with a 9-3 record and their first bowl game ever.  The Bahamas Bowl selected the Monarchs to represent C-USA against MAC-member Eastern Michigan.  The game went as well as anyone could have hoped for in a 24-20 victory.  Running back Ray Lawry and linebacker TJ Ricks were named the offensive and defensive MVPs respectfully, and David Washington and Zach Pascal became ODU royalty.  ODU is still chasing this success and is currently aiming for its first winning season since 2016.           

1. The Miracle on Monarch Way.  You knew which game was going to be first.  By Week 4 in 2018, no one believed in the Monarchs.  They had lost their first three games in a horrible start of the season.  Matters could only get worse as 13th ranked Virginia Tech came to Norfolk with the expectation of stomping on their lil brother ODU.   The Monarchs were 28-point underdogs.  With nothing to lose, Bobby Wilder gave second string quarterback Blake LaRussa a shot and with that decision history was made.

LaRussa's performance through the air would help the Monarchs defeat the Hokies 49-35.  LaRussa would win the weekly Manning Award and is still the only ODU quarterback to do so.  The historic upset sent shockwaves throughout the college football world.  The Hokies have yet to recover from the devastating loss.  Rumors are swirling that they want to pay ODU to get out of the series to avoid future embarrassment but to do so would be costly and no agreement has been reached yet.