2024 To Be a Prove It Year For Ricky Rahne and ODU

Heading into year five for Ricky Rahne at Old Dominion, it’s time to prove it.

While Rahne has technically been on the job for five years, this is really his fourth season since ODU didn’t play during the 2020 season due to COVID-19.

Rahne, in his first head coaching job after serving as the offensive coordinator at Penn State, has compiled a 15-23 record at ODU so far. Add in two bowl losses and no winning seasons, and the pressure is mounting for the head coach.

In both of ODU’s 6-7 bowl seasons under Rahne, the Monarchs have had to rally late in the season. In 2021, they began 1-6 and had to win out to reach the Myrtle Beach Bowl against Tulsa, where they lost 30-17. Last season, ODU scored 13 points in the final 97 seconds to beat Georgia State, securing a 6-6 record to become bowl-eligible. However, they squandered a 28-7 halftime lead in a Military Bowl loss to Western Kentucky.

This season, the Monarchs need to finish games and end more of them in the win column.

With some expecting the Monarchs to challenge for the top spot in the Sun Belt East and contend for the conference title, this year feels like a make-or-break season.

One positive note is the return of quarterback Grant Wilson, who transferred from Fordham prior to the 2023 season. Wilson is one of several key transfers Rahne has landed in the new transfer portal era of college football. This season, ODU is projected to start three transfers on offense and four on defense, including a completely revamped defensive backfield after last year’s starters departed.

On offense, ODU is expected to start Diante Vines, a transfer from Iowa at wide receiver, Zach Barle, an Illinois transfer at left guard, and Aaron Young, a Rutgers transfer at running back.

But alongside the transfers are several homegrown talents. Under Rahne, ODU has been recruiting some of the best classes in program history. Wide receiver Isiah Paige, right guard Maarten Woundsma, and right tackle Santan Saunders are all expected to start on offense.

On defense, the standout of Rahne’s recruiting efforts, linebacker Jason Henderson, is expected to lead the nation in tackles and various other defensive stats. Henderson, who led the Sun Belt in tackles the last two seasons and had the most tackles in FBS in 2022, currently sits eighth all-time in Sun Belt history with 356 tackles.

This season, ODU cannot afford to enter game 12 against Arkansas State needing a win to secure a bowl bid. They need to prove they are worthy of the hype and secure seven wins, however possible.

The schedule suggests that a seven or eight-win season going into a bowl game is achievable. The Sun Belt East is up for grabs, and if ODU can compete or at least have a shot going into the last two games versus Marshall and at Arkansas State, it will prove that Rahne and his staff are on the right track. Falling short of that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s over for Rahne in Norfolk, but if the team doesn’t look competitive and struggles, it could spell trouble going into the 2025 season.

ODU had some close losses last season, such as a three-point defeat to Wake Forest after leading 24-13 heading into the fourth quarter, and a narrow loss to James Madison, 30-27, after holding them scoreless in the fourth. The Monarchs also lost to Coastal Carolina, 28-24, after leading 21-13 going into the fourth quarter, giving up 15 points while only scoring a field goal.

However, ODU did end the regular season on a two-game winning streak and had a solid offseason, with some key transfers coming in after some notable departures. So, the time is now for the Monarchs.

ODU’s first four games are at South Carolina, hosting East Carolina and Virginia Tech, and traveling to Bowling Green. While Virginia Tech has never beaten ODU in Norfolk, the Monarchs are a combined 5-10 against Tech and ECU but have never faced South Carolina or Bowling Green.