The Monarchists

Old Dominion is 8-2, but after a difficult night at Georgia Southern, Tennant McVea says this group has reached an important point in the season.

The target is on their back.

Aaron sits down one-on-one with Tennant to break down what went wrong in Statesboro, why ODU didn't look like itself, and how the Monarchs avoid letting two conference losses erase everything they built through the first 10 matches.

The conversation goes beyond one result. Tennant explains why success can create entitlement, how discipline away from the field eventually shows up on it, and why character becomes even more important when things stop going your way.

Also on the show:

● Why Georgia Southern was able to disrupt ODU

● Handling momentum swings, VAR and adversity

● Why performance still matters more than chasing points

● The growing connection between ODU Soccer and its alumni

● Tennant McVea's Word of the Day: “Scundered”

● Why Kentucky's record is extremely misleading

● How grass, turf and even pitch dimensions change a match

● An early look at West Virginia's return to Norfolk

ODU has already shown what it can do when everything is rolling.

Now we find out how it responds.

👑 In the Lion's Den with Tennant McVea

🌐 odumonarchists.com

Buy your ODU Soccer gear at: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/SoccerODU1

Subscribe to The Monarchists for more Old Dominion athletics coverage, interviews and podcasts.

#ODUSoccer #ODU #MonarchNation #CollegeSoccer #SunBelt

Chapters

0:00 In the Lion's Den

0:06 "We Were Second to Everything"

1:30 What Georgia Southern Did to ODU

2:45 ODU Didn't Look Like Itself

3:45 What Changed in the Second Half?

5:00 VAR, Momentum & Emotional Swings

7:30 Sometimes It's Just Not Your Night

8:10 8-2 Overall, 0-2 in the Sun Belt

9:30 The Target Is Now on ODU's Back

10:20 Performance Over Points

11:20 Avoiding Recency Bias

12:15 The Little Details Matter

14:00 ODU Soccer's Alumni Connection

18:00 Tim Hopkinson & the ODU Legacy

19:45 ODU Soccer Gear

20:30 Word of the Day: "Scundered"

22:20 Kentucky Is Better Than Its Record

24:10 What Kentucky Showed Against UCF

25:45 How Different Playing Surfaces Matter

27:20 Soccer Fields Aren't All the Same Size?!

29:20 ODU Is 8-2 — Keep Perspective

30:45 Finally Getting a Full Training Week

32:20 Early Look at West Virginia

34:00 Why West Virginia at ODU Will Be Special

35:00 Can We Get the Band Back?

35:25 Tennant's Message to Monarch Nation

Old Dominion is 1-3.

After a 46-20 loss to JMU — the Monarchs’ fifth straight loss to the Dukes — the question isn’t about preseason expectations anymore.

It’s simple:

**Now what?**

Jonathan Plisco and Jarod Brown join Aaron and Mike to break down a frustrating night against JMU and, more importantly, where ODU goes from here.

There was at least one major reason for optimism. Freshman quarterback Ryan Huff threw for 261 yards in his first career start and looked extremely comfortable when given a clean pocket. TJ Johnson topped 100 receiving yards, Leon Haughton made another big play in the passing game, and Nathaniel Eichner continues to look like a serious weapon.

But the problems are getting harder to ignore.

Nine sacks. Thirteen penalties. Continued struggles running the football. Missed assignments. Turnovers. And another game where self-inflicted mistakes made an already difficult matchup even harder.

We get into:

• What Ryan Huff showed in his first start

• Whether ODU needs to lean much harder into the passing game

• How the Monarchs clean up the penalties, protection issues and execution problems

• Why leadership inside the locker room becomes critical at 1-3

Then we turn the page to Georgia State.

The Panthers are 3-1 and playing with confidence, but ODU has won six of seven in the series and three straight. For the Monarchs, the difference between leaving Atlanta 2-3 and falling to 1-4 feels enormous.

This may be the biggest game of the season simply because ODU badly needs something positive to build on.

Can the Monarchs get right in Atlanta?

Drop your thoughts and your ODU vs. Georgia State score prediction below.

👑 Go Monarchs.

This episode is sponsored by Brandon Johnson State Farm. For your insurance and financial needs, call 757-264-6267 or visit brandonjohnsonagency.com.

#ODUFootball #OldDominion #GeorgiaState #SunBeltFootball #CollegeFootball #TheMonarchists

Chapters

00:00 Jonathan Plisco & Jarod Brown Join the Show

01:00 Five Straight Losses to JMU

02:00 What Went Wrong?

03:00 Ryan Huff’s Impressive First Start

05:00 Nine Sacks & ODU’s Protection Problems

06:00 Nathaniel Eichner Continues to Deliver

09:00 TJ Johnson, Leon Haughton & Passing Game Positives

10:00 Is the Play Calling Evolving?

11:00 Why Can’t ODU Run the Football?

13:00 18 Sacks Through Four Games

16:00 ODU Starts Fighting Back

17:00 The Illegal Substitution Backbreaker

22:00 What Happened to the Defense?

25:00 How Does ODU Fix the Penalties?

29:00 Shaq Leaks Steps Up

31:00 Can ODU Become a Good Football Team?

34:00 Fixing the Little Things

37:00 Is 1-3 Really a Surprise?

38:00 It’s HOW ODU Got to 1-3

39:00 Should ODU Just Air It Out?

40:00 Leadership Has to Take Over

48:00 ODU’s Fumbling Problem

50:00 Georgia State Preview Begins

51:00 The Difference Between 2-3 and 1-4

53:00 Is Georgia State a Must-Win?

55:00 Breaking Down the Panthers

59:00 Georgia State Players to Watch

1:01:00 Confidence vs. Confidence

1:03:00 Is Georgia State the Get-Right Game?

1:05:00 Justice Checks In

1:07:00 ODU vs Georgia State Predictions

1:11:00 More Nathaniel Eichner Love

1:16:00 ODU Hall of Fame Weekend

1:18:00 Final Thoughts

The undefeated streak is over. What happened next may tell us even more about this ODU team.

George Maire and David “Chapo” Chapman join Aaron and Mike to talk about the battle with now-#1 South Carolina, bouncing back after falling behind William & Mary, and why this group believes it has the mentality to handle adversity.

We also get to know George and Chapo away from the pitch — from Liverpool and Nottingham to British food, Scouse accents, locker-room personalities and another round of rapid-fire questions.

Then Tennant McVea joins the show to break down what ODU learned from its first loss, the incredible atmosphere against South Carolina, the gritty comeback over William & Mary and how player ownership has helped change the culture inside the program.

Plus, we preview Sunday’s Sun Belt road test at Georgia Southern and learn another Tennant McVea Phrase of the Day: “On a sixpence.”

The Monarchs are 8-1.

Now it’s time to take that mentality on the road.

👑 In the Lion’s Den with Tennant McVea

🌐 odumonarchists.com

Get all of your Old Dominion Soccer Team Apparel at: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/SoccerODU1

Subscribe to The Monarchists for more Old Dominion athletics coverage, interviews and podcasts.

#ODUSoccer #ODU #MonarchNation #CollegeSoccer #SunBelt

Chapters

0:00 In the Lion's Den

0:20 George Maire & David Chapman Join Us

1:00 Liverpool, Nottingham & the Scouse Accent

2:40 What ODU Learned From Its First Loss

4:00 Chapo's Journey to College Soccer

5:00 A 6'4" Center Back Who Scores Goals

6:00 George Maire's Role in the Midfield

6:45 Why Arriving in the Spring Mattered

7:15 Building an International Locker Room

8:15 Responding After Falling Behind William & Mary

9:30 The Growing ODU Soccer Crowd

11:00 Who Has the Strongest Accent?

12:30 Why George & Chapo Chose ODU

14:00 Adjusting to Life in America

15:00 British Food We Need to Try

17:00 British Phrases Americans Don't Understand

18:20 The Story Behind "Chapo"

19:00 Locker Room Rapid Fire

22:00 Best Finisher on the Team

23:15 Who DON'T You Want Beside You on the Bus?

24:30 Georgia Southern Preview

25:30 What They Love About America

29:00 Tennant McVea Joins the Show

29:20 Lessons From #1 South Carolina

31:15 The Disallowed Goal & VAR

33:30 An Incredible Night at The Den

38:45 Bouncing Back Against William & Mary

41:15 ODU Has More Backbone

42:45 How the Culture Changed

45:45 Staying in the National Rankings

48:20 Reconnecting ODU Soccer's Legacy

52:20 Scouting Georgia Southern

54:00 Phrase of the Day: "On a Sixpence"

55:30 Life on the Road in the Sun Belt

58:30 Tennant's 20th Win

1:01:00 Perfect Football Weather

1:03:00 How a Wet Pitch Changes the Game

1:05:00 Hard Ground vs. Soft Ground Boots

1:07:00 Nike, Adidas & British Pronunciation

1:08:40 Tennant's Message to Monarch Nation

1:10:00 Supporting ODU Soccer

CB, Gary and Coach Finny talk about new ODU AD Tim House, stadium construction updates and new uniform combos. Catcher Macaddin Dye joins to give us the inside scoop on how the Monarchs' pitching staff is looking so far and his experience playing for the Pilots this summer.

Old Dominion had every opportunity to beat East Carolina.

Instead, the Monarchs let one get away.

ODU fell 20-17 to ECU, dropping to 1-2 after a frustrating second half filled with turnovers, penalties, missed opportunities and an offense still searching for consistency.

Now comes JMU.

The Dukes arrive in Norfolk at 3-0, winners of four straight against Old Dominion, and suddenly Saturday feels much bigger than just another game on the schedule.

Aaron, Mike and Justice break down what went wrong against ECU, why the offense continues to struggle finding an identity and whether the offensive line can finally put together four consistent quarters.

We also dig into Ricky Rahne’s revealing postgame comments about leadership, accountability and making sure everyone is pulling in the same direction. After back-to-back losses, how this locker room responds to adversity may become one of the defining stories of the season.

There were positives, too.

ODU’s defense once again played well enough to win. Mario Thompson, Jackson Forrest, Daevon Iles and the rest of the unit kept the Monarchs in the game while the offense struggled to capitalize.

But JMU presents an entirely different challenge.

The Dukes aren’t necessarily overwhelming opponents with star power — they’re 3-0 because they’re playing sound football, limiting mistakes and winning in the margins. That’s exactly where Old Dominion has struggled.

So what has to change Saturday?

• Protect the football

• Find some rhythm offensively

• Get more consistent play up front

• Win on third down

• Stop beating themselves

Conference play starts now. ODU has lost four straight to JMU. The Monarchs are coming off back-to-back losses. And falling to 1-3 is a place nobody in Monarch Nation wants to contemplate.

The talent is there. The defense is playing winning football. The offense has shown flashes.

But flashes aren’t enough anymore.

**How does Old Dominion respond?**

Drop your thoughts and your ODU vs. JMU prediction in the comments.

👑 Go Monarchs.

#ODUFootball #JMUFootball #OldDominion #JamesMadison #CollegeFootball #SunBeltFootball #TheMonarchists

Chapters

00:00 Tim House Makes His ODU Debut

02:45 ODU Soccer Deserves Its Flowers

06:00 The ECU Loss: Where Do We Start?

07:30 ODU’s Offense Owns This One

09:00 Offensive Line & Special Teams Problems

12:00 Devin Roche Provides a Spark

13:00 Is This Offense Still Searching for Its Identity?

16:00 Communication, Execution & Bad Decisions

20:00 Ricky Rahne’s Leadership Comments

23:00 How Serious Is the Buy-In Question?

25:00 ODU’s Defense Deserved Better

27:00 Did ODU Abandon the Pass?

28:00 ODU Gave This Game Away

30:00 Another Strong Defensive Performance

35:00 Nine Fumbles in Three Games

36:00 Why Does Quinn Keep Moving Left?

40:00 Fan Reaction: The Duke of Discipline

42:00 ODU Defenders Who Balled Out

46:00 Flush ECU — It’s JMU Week

47:00 Where JMU Can Be Beaten

49:00 What Makes JMU 3-0?

51:00 JMU Players to Watch

52:00 How Important Is This Game?

55:00 ODU Cannot Afford to Fall to 1-3

56:00 How Do the Monarchs Respond?

59:00 JMU’s Defensive Front

1:00:00 JMU’s Skill Players & Tight End Threat

1:02:00 Can ODU Establish the Run?

1:04:00 ODU Needs Balance

1:05:00 How Many Turnovers Can ODU Survive?

1:07:00 Win in the Margins

1:08:00 No Predictions — Just Play Better

1:10:00 What Happens If ODU Doesn’t Fix It?

1:12:00 Just Win the Damn Game

Old Dominion is 7-0, ranked #13 nationally, and preparing for its biggest test yet: #4 South Carolina under the lights in Norfolk.

This week, Alessandro “Niño” Maldonado and Jacopo Caprile join Aaron and Mike first to take us inside the locker room, talk about ODU’s wins over UMBC and VCU, and share the journeys that brought them to Old Dominion.

We get into Jacopo’s dangerous long throw, Niño’s time in Croatia and with Colorado Springs, representing Honduras, battling back from injuries, and plenty of locker-room rapid fire.

Then Head Coach Tennant McVea joins the show to break down the VCU win, ODU’s rise in the national rankings and what makes Friday night’s matchup with South Carolina such an intriguing battle.

Also in the episode:

⚽ Why ODU keeps finding ways to win

🎯 How Jacopo’s throw-in has become another attacking weapon

😂 Best dressed, worst music, toughest teammate to defend and more

📈 What national recognition means for the program

🗣️ Tennant McVea’s Phrase of the Day: “Put it in the mixer”

🔍 What South Carolina does well and where ODU can challenge them

🏆 Why opening Sun Belt play with three points matters

Friday night is a big one.

Pack The Den.

🌐 odumonarchists.com

#ODUSoccer #ODU #MonarchNation #CollegeSoccer #SunBelt

Chapters

0:00 In the Lion's Den

0:12 ODU Is 7-0

1:20 Inside the Locker Room

2:30 Breaking Down UMBC

3:40 Finding a Way at VCU

4:40 Jacopo's Long-Throw Weapon

8:00 How Niño Got His Nickname

8:40 Niño's Journey to ODU

10:40 Representing Honduras

11:40 Why Defenders Struggle With Niño

12:40 Jacopo's Journey From Italy

15:20 Why Jacopo Chose ODU

17:30 Growing Up With a Serie A Goalkeeper

19:10 Italian Defending vs. Tennant McVea

20:15 Battling Back From Injuries

23:25 Locker Room Rapid Fire

26:00 Best Trash Talker

27:20 Hardest Monarch to Defend

28:00 Best Finisher

29:45 Who DON'T You Want Beside You on the Bus?

30:40 #13 ODU vs. #4 South Carolina

32:20 What South Carolina Brings

33:00 Pack The Den

35:00 Tennant McVea Joins

36:00 The Growing ODU Soccer Crowd

37:20 Maintaining the Standard

39:00 Eitan, The Suit & ODU Soccer

41:00 Goals Coming From Everywhere

42:40 Surviving VCU

46:00 ODU Climbs to #13

47:40 The Buzz Around ODU Soccer

49:00 "Put It in the Mixer"

50:20 Scouting #4 South Carolina

52:00 Why This Matchup Is So Even

54:00 Comparing South Carolina to Elon

56:20 Sun Belt Play: Three Points Matter

58:00 William & Mary Preview

1:00:00 Pack The Den

ODU is back home — and this one feels BIG.

Old Dominion fell 44-21 at Virginia Tech, dropping the Monarchs to 1-1. The offensive line struggled, Quinn Henicle was under constant pressure, and Virginia Tech exposed some real issues ODU has to fix.

But there were also some major positives.

Quinn showed he can absolutely throw the football. Josh Rodriguez had a breakout performance. The defensive line continued to create havoc. And despite the final score, there are still plenty of reasons to believe this team can be dangerous in the Sun Belt.

Now East Carolina comes to Norfolk at 0-2, and the Pirates desperately need a win, too. Aaron, Mike and Justice break down:

• What went wrong against Virginia Tech

• Why ODU’s offensive line is now the biggest concern on the roster

• Seven sacks, 14 tackles for loss — and what has to change immediately

• Quinn Henicle’s toughness and impressive deep-ball accuracy

• Josh Rodriguez’s breakout game

• Lucas Shuck, Malachi Harris and a defense that continues to flash serious potential

• ODU’s inability to cover Virginia Tech’s tight ends

• Why ECU’s pass rush could be a major problem

• Mitch Griffis and ECU’s offensive weapons

• Ashton Gray, Jeremiah Melvin and the Pirates players ODU has to stop

• Whether Saturday is a MUST-WIN for Old Dominion

• Why this game may be even more important for ECU

• The offensive line matchup that could decide everything

• Where Kody Cook calls the game from — booth or sideline?

• Our final ODU vs ECU score predictions

ODU has never beaten East Carolina since football returned.

2013: ECU 52-38 in Greenville

2018: ECU 37-35 in Greenville

2019: ECU 24-21 in Norfolk

2022: ECU 39-21 in Greenville

2024: ECU 20-14 in Norfolk

The Monarchs have been close. Is Saturday finally the night?

Justice: ODU wins on a 50 yd Nathanial Eichner FG

Aaron: ODU 27, ECU 23

Mike: ODU 31, ECU 21

Drop YOUR score prediction below.

👑 GO MONARCHS!

#ODUFootball #ECUFootball #OldDominion #EastCarolina #CollegeFootball #SunBeltFootball #AACFootball #TheMonarchists

Chapters

00:00 Virginia Tech Aftermath

01:40 The Offensive Line Problem

05:00 ODU’s Run Game Has to Change

10:30 Officiating Frustrations

13:30 Virginia Tech’s Tight Ends Run Wild

18:00 Defensive Discipline & Mobile QBs

20:00 Quinn Henicle Stock UP

23:00 Josh Rodriguez Breakout Game

26:00 What Do We Really Know About ODU?

28:30 ODU’s Defensive Line Is Legit

31:30 Pressure, Playmakers & Defensive Depth

34:30 Special Teams Are a Weapon

37:00 East Carolina Preview

39:30 ECU Players to Watch

41:00 Mitch Griffis & the Pirates Offense

43:30 How ECU Lost to App State

46:00 ECU’s Pass Rush vs ODU’s Offensive Line

48:30 How Even Is This Matchup?

50:00 Is ECU a MUST-WIN?

54:00 Who Needs This Game More?

57:00 Is It Finally Time to Beat ECU?

59:30 Score Predictions

1:02:00 Where Will Kody Cook Call the Game?

1:05:00 Final Thoughts

🔥 5-0. Ranked #22. 20 goals.

Old Dominion Men's Soccer is officially back in the national conversation.

On this week's In the Lion's Den, Aaron heads straight to the ODU Soccer Complex for a two-part episode with Head Coach Tennant McVea, followed by Monarch standouts Micah Wayland and Jason Purks.

Tennant breaks down ODU's 3-0 win over Bucknell, why the Monarchs were able to stay patient in a scoreless match, and what changed when Ludovico Vicini broke through with an Olimpico in the 72nd minute.

Then Micah and Jason take over.

We talk about the chemistry behind ODU's 5-0 start, Micah's emotional return from a broken collarbone, Jason's four-goal start to the season, penalty kicks, locker-room personalities and what this team wants the rest of the Sun Belt to think when ODU shows up on the schedule.

Inside this episode:

⚽ ODU's first 5-0 start since 2012

📈 Breaking into the national rankings at #22

🔥 20 goals through five matches

🧠 Why the Bucknell win told Tennant more than the Radford blowout

💪 Micah Wayland's return from a broken collarbone

⚡ Jason Purks' four-goal start

🥅 What really goes through a penalty taker's mind

😂 The players investigate whether Ludo meant the Olimpico

👀 Who has the filthiest finish in training

🧱 The hardest Monarch to defend

🎵 Worst music, best dressed, funniest teammate and more

🏟️ A look ahead to UMBC under the lights at The Den

The Monarchs are unbeaten.

They're nationally ranked.

And they don't think they're anywhere close to finished.

👑 This is In the Lion's Den.

Subscribe to The Monarchists for more Old Dominion athletics coverage, interviews, podcasts and everything Monarch Nation.

🌐 odumonarchists.com

#ODUSoccer #ODU #Monarchs #MonarchNation #CollegeSoccer #sunbelt

Chapters

0:00 ODAF Intro

0:06 ODU Is 5-0

1:20 What the Bucknell Win Revealed

3:00 The Halftime Message

4:45 Squeaky Bum Time Returns

6:00 Ludo's Olimpico Breaks the Dam

7:00 What Exactly Is an Olimpico?

8:15 Did Ludo Actually Mean It?

10:00 ODU Is Finding Different Ways to Win

11:15 20 Goals From Everywhere

12:30 Playing Through the Wind

15:10 Micah Wayland's Comeback

17:30 How Physical Is College Soccer?

19:20 What Makes Jason Purks Special?

21:00 ODU Is Ranked #22

22:40 What Still Needs to Improve?

24:10 Previewing UMBC

25:15 What to Watch Friday Night

26:00 Tennant's Message to Monarch Nation

28:00 Micah Wayland & Jason Purks Join the Show

29:00 Does It Feel Like 5-0?

29:40 Why Micah Chose ODU

30:40 Why Jason Chose ODU

32:20 The Work Fans Don't See

33:00 Micah Breaks Down His Goal

34:10 Jason Purks' Four-Goal Start

35:00 Taking Penalties Under Pressure

37:00 The Olimpico Investigation

38:20 Who Has the Filthiest Finish?

39:00 Hardest Player to Defend

39:30 The Unsung Heroes

40:15 Noah Dietze's Transformation

41:15 Goal Celebrations

41:40 Rapid Fire Begins

44:15 What Makes ODU Different?

45:20 Proving the Preseason Poll Wrong

46:15 Why Fans Need to Pack The Den

47:00 Go Monarchs

🔥 4-0. 17 GOALS. And Old Dominion Men's Soccer is starting to get some national attention.

ODU is off to its first 4-0 start since 2012 after absolutely dismantling Radford, 7-1 — and yet Tennant McVea isn't interested in celebrating records.

He's interested in what comes NEXT.

On the latest episode of In the Lion's Den, Aaron and Mike sit down with Tennant to break down the Monarchs' red-hot start, the offensive explosion, the growing national recognition and why the scary part might be that this team still has plenty of room to improve.

Tennant dives into:

⚽ ODU's 4-0 start and 17 goals through four matches

🔥 The 7-1 "drubbing" of Radford

📈 Why the Monarchs are beginning to get national attention

🧠 Why Tennant is chasing PERFORMANCE — not wins or records

💪 How ODU is deliberately putting opponents under pressure

🚑 Tennant McVea's Word of the Day: "Hospital Ball"

⏱️ David "Chapo" Chapman's lightning-fast goal just 55 seconds into the Radford match

🔄 Why getting 24 Monarchs onto the field against Radford matters

⭐ The emergence of freshman Mile Zivkovic and his two-goal performance

📊 Alexander Aguilar becoming an offensive weapon from goalkeeper

🦬 Revenge against Bucknell after ODU "got bisoned" last season

🔍 What makes Bucknell's unusual style so difficult to defend

🏟️ A look ahead to Bucknell and UMBC at the ODU Soccer Stadium

🏈 Plus: Tennant clears up one VERY important issue — Bengals, NOT Ravens.

The Monarchs aren't chasing records.

They're chasing performance.

And right now? The results are following.

👑 This is In the Lion's Den with ODU Men's Soccer Head Coach Tennant McVea.

Subscribe to The Monarchists for more Old Dominion athletics coverage, interviews, podcasts and everything Monarch Nation.

🌐 odumonarchists.com

#ODUSoccer #ODU #Monarchs #MonarchNation #CollegeSoccer #SunBelt

Chapters

0:00 In the Lion's Den

0:06 ODU Is 4-0 — First Time Since 2012

2:45 17 Goals — But Tennant Wants Better Defense

4:30 ODU Is Getting National Attention

6:00 Winning Even When You Don't Play Your Best

8:00 How ODU Is Putting Opponents Under Pressure

10:00 Surviving "Squeaky Bum Time"

11:35 Radford Got a Drubbing

12:50 Tennant's Word of the Day: Hospital Ball

14:45 David "Chapo" Chapman Strikes in 55 Seconds

16:05 How Do You Play Against 10 Men?

18:25 The Pursuit of Excellence

20:30 24 Monarchs Get on the Field

23:20 Convincing Competitors to Come Out of the Game

25:20 Mile Zivkovic's Two Goals & Huge Potential

27:40 How Much Better Can ODU Get?

30:20 "We're Not Chasing Wins"

32:30 Revenge Time: Bucknell Preview

35:00 Why Bucknell's Style Is So Unusual

37:45 Alexander Aguilar: Goalkeeper...and Playmaker?

39:20 Scouting UMBC

41:20 Tennant Is NOT a Ravens Fan

42:30 Get Out to the Den

44:55 Go Monarchs

ODU FOOTBALL IS BACK. 🦁🏈

After a 10-win season and a Cure Bowl championship, the expectations around Old Dominion have changed.

So what comes next?

Mike, Aaron and Justice are back to kick off the 2026 season and there is A LOT to unpack.

Can Quinn Henicle take control of a completely different ODU offense? How concerned should we really be about replacing all five starters on the offensive line? Could Cody Cook's new offense actually fit Henicle better than last year's system fit Colton Joseph?

And then there's the defense.

With Blake Seiler back, ridiculous depth across the defensive front and linebacker rooms, and a ton of proven production returning, could this legitimately be one of the best defenses in the Sun Belt — or even the Group of Six?

Then we get into the question that really matters:

What should the expectation be for ODU Football in 2026?

Seven wins? Nine wins? Win the Sun Belt East?

Or is it time to say CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP OR BUST?

Plus, we break down Saturday night's season opener against Norfolk State, including:

🏈 What to expect from the new ODU offense

🦁 Why the Monarch defense could be special

👀 Players to watch for Norfolk State

⚔️ The huge early-season stretch against Virginia Tech, ECU and JMU

🔥 Our new “Are We Allowed to Say This?” segment

📈 Our expectations for Quinn Henicle

🏆 How many wins ODU NEEDS in 2026

🎯 What we need to see against Norfolk State

🔮 Final score predictions

Norfolk State enters the game after a 56-0 season-opening win over Winston-Salem State, but the Monarchs have much bigger goals ahead.

The road starts at S.B. Ballard Stadium.

Monarch Nation: SHOW UP. PACK THE CASTLE. LET'S START THIS THING RIGHT.

This episode is brought to you by the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation.

Also sponsored by Brandon Johnson State Farm. For insurance and investment needs, call 757-264-6267 or visit brandonjohnsonagency.com.

👑 The Monarchists

🌐 odumonarchists.com

LIKE the video. SUBSCRIBE to the channel. And tell us in the comments:

How many games does ODU win in 2026 — and what's your final score against Norfolk State?

GO MONARCHS! 🦁

Chapters

00:00 ODU Football Is BACK

00:54 The Biggest Question Entering 2026

02:00 Can ODU Replace the Entire Offensive Line?

03:00 Why the Locker Room Believes in Quinn Henicle

06:00 Cody Cook's New-Look ODU Offense

08:00 How Different Will the Offense Look?

10:00 Quinn Henicle vs. Colton Joseph

12:45 Why This ODU Defense Could Be Special

15:00 Defensive Depth Is RIDICULOUS

20:00 Could ODU Have a Top-10 Defense?

22:00 The Stretch That Could Define ODU's Season

25:00 Replacing Leadership vs. Replacing Production

28:00 Virginia Tech, ECU, JMU & the Schedule Gauntlet

31:00 Norfolk State Preview

33:00 Norfolk State's Massive Roster Turnover

34:00 Spartans Players ODU Must Watch

37:00 What Do We Actually Learn From This Game?

40:00 What We NEED to See From ODU

43:00 How Long Should the Starters Play?

47:00 ARE WE ALLOWED TO SAY THIS?

47:10 ODU Should Beat Norfolk State by 4 TDs

47:45 Is Anything Less Than 9 Wins a Disappointment?

50:00 Will the 2026 Defense Be BETTER?

51:00 Best Running Back Duo in the Sun Belt?

53:00 Will Quinn Henicle Account for 30 TDs?

54:00 Will Quinn Be a Better Fit Than Colton?

58:00 What Should ODU's Win Total Really Be?

59:00 Conference Championship or Bust?

1:06:35 Norfolk State Score Predictions

1:08:30 Is Virginia Tech Actually Less Important?

1:10:00 Monarch Nation: PACK THE CASTLE