STATESBORO, Ga. — Georgia Southern heads to Old Dominion on Thursday, Oct. 15, for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff in Norfolk, looking to snap a recent skid against Virginia opponents in a Sun Belt matchup that renews a series tied 3-3 all-time.
The Eagles and Monarchs will meet for the seventh time. Georgia Southern won the first two meetings in the FCS playoffs in 2011 and 2012, including a 55-48 home win and a 49-35 road win in Norfolk. Since both programs joined the Sun Belt, Old Dominion has taken three of the last four, including each of the past three games.
Georgia Southern is 26-9 all-time against teams from Virginia but has lost its last four games against Commonwealth opponents, including defeats to Old Dominion in 2024 and 2025 and James Madison in 2025 and 2026.
Thursday nights have been a mixed bag for the Eagles since football restarted in 1982. The program is 12-11 overall on Thursdays, including 5-6 on the road. Last season Southern went 1-1 on Thursday, losing at home to Southern Miss and winning at Appalachian State.
The trip gives Georgia Southern a midweek stage to reverse recent results against Old Dominion and against Virginia schools more broadly as Sun Belt play continues.
Program history still points to the 1989 Hugo Bowl win over Middle Tennessee State as the most memorable Thursday night in Statesboro lore, a reminder that midweek games have long been part of the Eagles identity.
Old Dominion enters the rematch having owned the recent history, so Georgia Southern coaches framed Thursday as a chance to reset the series and the Eagles standing in the Sun Belt East race.
