Old Dominion Football Struggles Ahead of Ruston Trip

The Monarchs enter mid-October with a 2-5 record while facing significant offensive performance hurdles.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Football

Old Dominion Football Struggles Ahead of Ruston Trip

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Old Dominion University football currently holds a 2-5 record as the team prepares for their upcoming road game against Louisiana Tech in Ruston. The program faces a challenging stretch as they contend with an offensive output that has struggled to find consistency throughout the season.

Why it matters

The team’s difficulties stem from issues with offensive line blocking and a high frequency of turnovers, which have severely hampered their ability to sustain drives. Improving these metrics is essential if the squad hopes to remain competitive against conference opponents like Louisiana Tech.

Old Dominion averages 266.3 total yards and 14 first downs per game with a 53% pass completion rate. Notably, nearly one-third of rush attempts are stopped at or behind the line of scrimmage, while quarterbacks are sacked on 16.2% of their dropbacks.

The players

Old Dominion

The Old Dominion University football program competes in the Sun Belt Conference and represents the city of Norfolk.

Louisiana Tech

Louisiana Tech is the upcoming football opponent for the Monarchs in a game scheduled to take place in Ruston.

The details

After replacing all five offensive linemen during the offseason, the team has struggled to execute on standard downs, forcing a reliance on long-pass plays. Offensive production is further limited by an average of 1.43 fumbles per game and an overall offensive success rate of just 31%.

In July 2026, Sun Belt coaches picked Old Dominion to finish second in their division.
As of mid-October 2026, the team holds a 2-5 win-loss record.

Season Trajectory

The team’s 2-5 standing represents a sharp decline from the second-place divisional finish projected in the 2026 Sun Belt preseason coaches poll. This performance creates significant pressure to improve against Louisiana Tech to salvage the remainder of the season.

The high sack rate and frequent fumbles suggest continued instability for the offensive rotation heading into the Louisiana Tech game. With the team crossing the 40-yard line on only 45% of drives, efficiency remains the primary hurdle for those following the team's postseason hopes.

The takeaway

The team must stabilize its offensive line blocking to mitigate the high sack percentage and turnover rate plaguing their current 2-5 campaign. Addressing these fundamental execution errors is critical to establishing a more efficient offensive rhythm.