Per @therealdcunna yesterday, the ODU series in football may be ending early, so Tech may not be traveling to Norfolk this year.
Could end up being an FCS team to fill that slot as a home game. #Hokies
— Clark Ruhland (@Hokie20) January 11, 2024
According to sources (okay, we can call them rumors), Virginia Tech is seeking a buyout of their contract with ODU in order to cancel the eight remaining football games scheduled from 2024 through 2031. Why? The College Football Playoff picked Alabama over an undefeated Florida State. Let me explain.
In the last couple years of realignment, Clemson and (more notably) Florida State have been threatening to leave the league with the ACC’s lower TV payouts as a reason.
In the 2023 season, the CFP determined the ACC was a relatively weak P5 conference and therefore FSU’s undefeated season was not impressive enough. This was the last straw for FSU and they want out of the conference as soon as possible. The only reason they have not left yet is because the Seminoles are having legal issues overcoming the ACC’s grant of rights. But the threat from FSU and other schools has the ACC panicking. To be fair to the ACC, if they do not act fast they could be swallowed up by the other P5 conferences just like the PAC-12 was. So the ACC is making some drastic changes with their scheduling in a desperate attempt to avoid collapse.
So why is the ACC at risk of being raided? They have the lowest television payouts of the power 4. The only way to increase TV payouts during a contract is to increase the amount of games your league controls-home games. One change designed to beef up the ACC conference strength-of-schedule and increase the inventory of games is to move to nine conference games instead of eight. This would also mean one fewer non-conference game for their teams to schedule and theoretically lead to a stronger conference strength-of-schedule. The ACC is also rumored to be restricting its teams from playing on the road at G5 stadiums. This helps increase their TV inventory and, just as important, helps to avoid embarrassment. And by embarrassment, we mean losing to teams like ODU. So Virginia Tech is canceling the series to avoid embarrassment and make room for a ninth conference opponent with the goal of “strengthening” the ACC.
ACC member Virginia Tech first scheduled the series with ODU in 2017. They agreed upon a series which allowed for games in Norfolk and even extended the series to thirteen total games through 2031. The Hokies figured the games in Norfolk would be relatively easy road trips. Cross the state, connect with some VT fans, host the highly regarded 757 recruits there, and pick up a routine victory against lil’ brother Old Dominion. But to the ACC’s horror, the Monarchs embarrassed the Hokies…twice.
In 2018, the Monarchs and quarterback Blake LaRussa turned the Hokies’ first visit into the biggest victory in school history. LaRussa threw for 495 yards, four touchdowns to lead to 49-35 upset of No. 13 Virginia Tech. After the game, the ODU faithful stormed the field. In 2022, Ricky Rahne and company did it again and defeated the Hokies 20-17 as the Monarchs intercepted VT four times. Both historic games left VT fans stunned and ODU fans elated.
To be fair to the Hokies, ODU came up short in Blacksburg going 0-3, losing in 2017, 2019, and 2023. Staying fair to the Hokies, they have won games at Foreman Field (now known as S.B. Ballard Stadium). They played in five Oyster Bowls from 1975 to 1986 defeating William & Mary once and VMI thrice (Norfolk native and NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Smith played on Foreman Field). However, the Hokies have never defeated ODU in Norfolk. If this is truly the end of the series, it will end with the Monarchs having a 2-3 record just as a really fun rivalry was brewing.
In the short term, Old Dominion will likely turn around a small portion of the buyout money and pay a FCS team to replace the Hokies on September 14th, 2024. There is no telling which team at this point. However, do not count out Delaware who will transition to FBS and join CUSA next season. The Blue Hens are currently available on September 14th. Regardless which team it is, the addition of an FCS team will substantially weaken ODU’s strength of schedule and increase its chances for a bowl game.
In the long term, ODU loses a great series and potential rivalry. There are so many ODU and VT fans in Hampton Roads who will miss out on such a great series. In-state rivalries like this one generate interest, boost ticket sales, help recruiting, and (more important than any thing else) they are fun! We will all miss out on that. The buyout can help ODU’s program a lot and playing fewer P5 schools like Virginia Tech will boost ODU’s chances to go bowling. But still, the Hokies are cowards. I hope we use the money to build an indoor practice facility called the “49-35 Cowardly Hokie Indoor Sports Complex.” Virginia Tech sucks!
On the off chance that the rumors are wildly wrong, we should note that nothing has been officially announced as I write this and Virginia Tech could potentially change their minds. But one of our sources says it is a “done deal.” So, with that I would like to end this blog with Jeremy Cox’s exclamation point of a 40-yard touchdown run to run up the score.