NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk State takes its first road trip of the season Saturday night, traveling four miles up Hampton Boulevard to face Old Dominion at S.B. Ballard Stadium in a 6 p.m. kickoff.
The Spartans arrive off the most complete performance of the
Michael Vick era, a 56-0 shutout of Winston-Salem State that ended three separate droughts in a single night. The Monarchs open the 2026 slate following a historical season matching the best year in program history.
It is the fifth meeting between the crosstown programs and the first since 2019.
About the Spartans
Norfolk State (1-0) opened the season with its most emphatic win in years, and the numbers behind the 56-0 result reset several program markers at once:
- First shutout since Nov. 2, 2019, a 48-0 win over Morgan State
- First 50-point game since Sept. 18, 2021, a 63-26 win over Elizabeth City State
- First season-opening win since Sept. 1, 2018, 34-13 over Virginia State
- 306 rushing yards — the program's first 300-yard rushing game since a 350-yard effort at Towson on Sept. 23, 2023
- Five rushing touchdowns from five different scorers, matching the most in a game since Nov. 6, 2021 at North Carolina Central
The Spartans piled up 457 total yards on 69 plays, went 8-for-8 in the red zone without attempting a field goal, and held the ball for 37:10. Norfolk State scored on eight straight possessions across the first and fourth quarters and had only two non-scoring drives all night.
Jalyn Daniels led all rushers with 104 yards on 15 carries, opening the game with a 28-yard burst on the first snap from scrimmage. Nine Spartans carried the ball.
Kiron Benjamin, DaJean Golmond and
Shamar Vick all found the end zone on the ground, and
Elyjah Mitchell and
Brevin Caldwell caught touchdown passes from
Deljay Bailey in his Norfolk State debut.
The defense was the story late.
Jordan Saunders intercepted a pass at the 15 to end Winston-Salem's only real threat of the first half.
BJ Blake later sacked and stripped the Rams' quarterback, Eugene Allen returned the loose ball 24 yards, and
Princeton Toxey recovered another fumble on the next Rams snap — two takeaways that produced touchdowns 1:54 apart. Winston-Salem State finished with 106 total yards and never reached the red zone.
The step up in class is significant. Old Dominion is an FBS program coming off a 10-win season, and the Spartans will be working against a defense that finished among the national leaders in sacks and takeaways a year ago.
What Coach Vick Is Saying
- On playing a crosstown opponent: "To be able to do this right here in our backyard against a school that I always rooted for from afar, in terms of those guys over at ODU, and now having an opportunity to go compete against them — I think it's a great opportunity for us. You should be thankful that you have a chance to line up against an opponent that's really worthy of showing us exactly where we stand, what we can potentially do and how far we've come."
- On being the underdog: "Yeah, we're the underdogs, but you're not always going to be picked as the favorite. It's okay to be in this position. It's not the first time we're going to be in this position this year, and it probably won't be the last. We're not going to lie down. We don't look at it like we have to go out and prove anything to anyone. The only thing we want to do is prove to ourselves that we can compete at a high level and compete against anybody, regardless of what they look like or what conference they're in."
- On not getting complacent after the opener: "I'm extremely proud of the guys, but we know this week we've got to work even harder than we did last week. We can't get complacent. We have to approach every situation with humility, whether we win or lose, keep our heads down and keep working hard."
- On preparing for a made-over Old Dominion offense: "We do have something to go off from last year, but a lot can change in a year. There are certainly a lot of new players on offense and some new players on defense. Yes, it will be about them, how they come out, how they play us and how they attack. But it will also be about what we do."
- On quarterback Deljay Bailey: "Ultimately, when it comes down to playing the quarterback position, it's consistency. That's what everybody is looking for. For him, it's just about building on his performance and continuing to stack great performances. Just like we talk about stacking good practices, we talk about stacking good performances."
About the Monarchs
Old Dominion enters 2026 following the best season in program history. The Monarchs went 10-3 overall and 6-2 in the Sun Belt, closed with six straight wins, beat Virginia Tech 45-26 on the road for the program's first road victory over a power-conference opponent, and finished the year with a 24-10 win over South Florida in the Cure Bowl.
Ricky Rahne is in his seventh season in Norfolk. The Monarchs were picked second in the Sun Belt East Division in the preseason coaches' poll and collected one of 14 first-place votes.
The offseason reshaped the offense. Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year quarterback Colton Joseph transferred to Wisconsin after a 2,624-yard passing, 1,007-yard rushing season, while running back Trequan Jones left for Tulsa, and the coordinator job passed to first-year play-caller Kody Cook, promoted from receivers coach. Redshirt sophomore Quinn Henicle is the presumptive starter after throwing for 127 yards and running for 107 in his lone start of 2025 — the Cure Bowl win — with Washington State transfer Jaxon Potter also in the room.
The defense returns more. Redshirt junior running back Devin Roche was a preseason All-Sun Belt first-team selection on offense, while defensive lineman Chris Forbes and defensive backs Mario Easterly and Zion Frink landed on the second team. Coordinator Blake Seiler returns a unit that ranked sixth nationally in points allowed per drive last season.
Series History
Old Dominion leads the all-time series 4-0. Saturday is the fifth meeting between the schools and the first since 2019.
| Date |
Site |
Result |
| Nov. 26, 2011 |
Foreman Field |
ODU 35, NSU 18 |
| Oct. 26, 2013 |
William "Dick" Price Stadium |
ODU 27, NSU 24 |
| Sept. 12, 2015 |
Foreman Field |
ODU 24, NSU 10 |
| Aug. 31, 2019 |
S.B. Ballard Stadium |
ODU 24, NSU 21 |
Three of the four meetings have been decided by seven points or fewer. The 2019 game was the first ever played in the rebuilt S.B. Ballard Stadium, with Old Dominion holding on 24-21 in the venue's debut.
The 2011 meeting remains the marquee edition, No. 19 Norfolk State against No. 10 Old Dominion, both nationally ranked in the FCS, at Foreman Field.
The two programs are also scheduled to meet again in 2027 in Norfolk.
Familiar Faces
In the locker room. Three players on Norfolk State's 2026 roster came to the Spartans from Old Dominion:
Saunders made the defensive play of the opener, stepping in front of a Winston-Salem State throw at the 15 to end the Rams' only serious first-half drive and set up a touchdown that put Norfolk State up 21-0 at the break. Saturday sends all three back to S.B. Ballard Stadium and a team with several former teammates on the opposing sideline.
The building. Norfolk State played its home games at Foreman Field, now S.B. Ballard Stadium, from 1986 through 1996. Saturday returns the Spartans to a field that served as their home venue for 11 seasons.
The 757 pipeline. Old Dominion's roster is stocked with Hampton Roads players the Spartans recruited against:
| Player |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown / High School |
| Zion Frink |
CB |
R-Jr. |
Chesapeake, Va. |
| Koa Naotala |
LB |
R-Sr. |
Newport News, Va. / Woodside |
| LaDarius Adams II |
LB |
R-Fr. |
Newport News, Va. / Menchville |
| CJ Jackson III |
RB |
Fr. |
Norfolk, Va. / Green Run |
| Martrez Chavious-Fenner |
S |
R-Fr. |
Virginia Beach, Va. / Indian River |
| Nathan Hartman |
TE |
R-Jr. |
Virginia Beach, Va. / Kellam |
| Dory Lewis-Wilson |
OL |
Fr. |
Chesapeake, Va. / Oscar Smith |
| Anderson Bloomquist |
OL |
Fr. |
Chesapeake, Va. / Hickory |
| Joey McGowan |
OL |
Fr. |
Suffolk, Va. / Nansemond-Suffolk |
How to Follow
Video Stream: ESPN+
Radio: WNSB Hot 91.1 FM
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Social: Follow Norfolk State Athletics for in-game updates, highlights and postgame reaction
Buy Tickets Now!
- Saturday is a road game, so tickets are sold through Old Dominion's box office rather than the NSU Ticket Office. Spartan fans should purchase through ODU's ticketing site.
- Note that Norfolk State's 2026 campus entry policy applies only to home games at William "Dick" Price Stadium and is not in effect for this contest. Fans planning to attend should check Old Dominion's parking and gameday policies in advance.
- The next chance to see the Spartans at home comes Sept. 19 against Hampton.
Up Next
- Norfolk State stays on the road for a second consecutive week away from Dick Price Stadium, traveling to Charlottesville to face Virginia on Friday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. on ACC Network.
- The Spartans return home Saturday, Sept. 19 to host Hampton in the Battle of the Bay at 4 p.m., paired with Greek Night.
