Old Dominion: 2026 Week 3 recap

Old Dominion sits at 1–0 after dispatching Norfolk State 31–10 in Week 1, though GIE's rating of −6.9 reflects a program still operating well below the FBS median. The Monarchs' efficiency metrics reveal structural weaknesses: a red-zone touchdown rate of just 14% and third-down conversion rate of 42% suggest they're leaving scoring opportunities on the field. Late-game performance (+5.32) offers modest encouragement, but the overall profile points to a team that will need significant execution improvements to sustain. This week brings a major step up: a road trip to Virginia Tech in Week 2 will provide clearer evidence of where Old Dominion actually stands in conference play.