NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – Old Dominion University announced Thursday that they, alongside Virginia Tech, mutually agreed to re-negotiate their existing seven game football schedule agreement in a way that would cancel all ODU home games in Norfolk.
The decision was made in recognition of the rapidly changing collegiate athletics environment, as there are significant changes to the House vs. NCAA settlement which shapes how programs operate and invest in athletics and student-athletes.
“We are incredibly thankful to Virginia Tech for the original commitment of a 13-game series, which was executed in 2012. Such a competitive partnership is rare these days and speaks to the first-class Virginia Tech administration and coaching staffs.” ODU Director of Athletics Dr. Wood Selig said. “Our relationship with Virginia Tech has always been cordial and based on mutual respect, and this collaborative scheduling initiative reflects our joint commitment to positioning each of our institutions in the best possible fashion.”
ODU will play in Blacksburg 2025, 2026 and 2030, while the game scheduled in Blacksburg during the 2028 football season has been cancelled. The games scheduled in Norfolk for 2027, 2029 and 2031 have also been cancelled.
“We have converted the three games at Virginia Tech into guaranteed games for Old Dominion which will allow ODU to support our football program and student-athletes at a much higher level than had we left the contract as it stood. It also allows us to construct a more balanced non-conference football schedule that will benefit our program and our fans,” Selig said.
As a part of the agreement, ODU’s men’s basketball program will play at Virginia Tech no later than the 2027-28 season.
“This is an instance where ODU football gets an assist by helping our men’s basketball program play a guarantee game in Blacksburg that will benefit ODU men’s basketball similarly to the guaranteed games in football,” Selig said. “Such an opportunity may not have been possible without the football contract restructuring.”
The Monarchs will face the Hokies Saturday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. on the ACC Network.