The Virginia Tech Hokies look to improve to 2-0 this weekend as in-state archenemy Old Dominion (1-0) comes to Blacksburg. Perhaps calling ODU Virginia Tech’s archenemy is a bit strong, considering the relationship between the two coaching staffs, specifically head coaches James Franklin and Ricky Rahne, but Hokie fans feel differently.
Saturday’s game will be the eighth meeting all-time between the Hokies and Monarchs. Everyone knows what happened last season, especially Virginia Tech defensive coordinator
— and former head coach — Brent Pry.
Several names and faces have changed since last September, when ODU embarrassed Virginia Tech 45-26 in Blacksburg, leading to Pry’s firing.
Old Dominion opened the last season with a 31-10 win over Michael Vick and his Norfolk State Spartans. Here’s an early look at ODU by the numbers.
4-3
The Hokies and Monarchs have met seven times, with VT leading the series 4-3. While ODU won last season’s game, Virginia Tech won 36-17 and 37-17 in 2023 and 2024, respectively. However, ironically enough, Pry’s tenure as Tech’s head coach began with a loss to Old Dominion (2022) and ended with one (2025). You can bet Pry wants this one badly.
10
10 is the number for Old Dominion sophomore quarterback Quinn Henicle. In last week’s opener, Henicle completed 9 of 12 passes for 143 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He can also make plays with his legs, as he rushed for 68 yards and two touchdowns last week. Henicle is an early-season test for Pry’s defense. Henicle did not play in last season’s game, as Colton Joseph was the starting quarterback.
88
The Monarchs ranked No. 88 in ESPN’s SP+ rankings for Week 2, up five spots from Week 1. Virginia Tech moved up 10 spots to No. 25. Bill Connelly defines SP+ as “a tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency. SP+ is intended to be predictive and forward-facing. It is not a résumé ranking, so it does not automatically give credit for big wins or particularly brave scheduling — no good predictive system does.”
176
The Monarchs rushed for 176 in last week’s win. Henicle led the way for ODU with 68 rushing yards, but junior Devin Roche is a player to watch. He was quiet in last week’s win, but did score a touchdown in last year’s win over the Hokies.
220
Old Dominion allowed just 220 total yards to Norfolk State last week. Obviously, Virginia Tech will present a much more formidable challenge for the Monarchs’ defense, led by coordinator Blake Seiler. Franklin praised Seiler this week.
