What Is 2022 Old Dominion Monarchs football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2022 Old Dominion Monarchs football team represented Old Dominion University in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with a 3–9 record under head coach Ricky Rahne. They competed as a member of the Sun Belt Conference in the East Division. Their home games were played at S.B. Ballard Stadium in Norfolk, Virginia.

Key Facts

The 2022 Old Dominion Monarchs finished the season with a 3–9 overall record
Head coach Ricky Rahne led the team in his third season at the helm
They played home games at S.B. Ballard Stadium in Norfolk, Virginia
ODU competed in the Sun Belt Conference's East Division
The Monarchs scored 199 total points across 12 games, averaging 16.6 per game

Overview

The 2022 Old Dominion Monarchs football team represented Old Dominion University during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Competing in the Sun Belt Conference's East Division, the team struggled to find consistency under head coach Ricky Rahne, who was in his third season leading the program.

Playing their home games at S.B. Ballard Stadium in Norfolk, Virginia, the Monarchs faced a challenging schedule that included several Power Five opponents. Despite flashes of potential, the team finished with a 3–9 overall record and a 2–6 mark in conference play.

Season record: The Monarchs ended the year with a 3–9 overall record and a 2–6 record in Sun Belt Conference play, failing to qualify for a bowl game.
Head coach: Ricky Rahne remained head coach for his third season, aiming to build on modest improvements from previous years but unable to secure a winning season.
Stadium: All home games were hosted at S.B. Ballard Stadium, a 19,319-seat venue on ODU's campus in Norfolk, Virginia.
Offensive performance: The team averaged 16.6 points per game, totaling 199 points over 12 games, with inconsistent quarterback play contributing to the struggles.
Defensive challenges: ODU allowed an average of 31.3 points per game, surrendering over 40 points in four separate contests during the season.

Season Performance

The 2022 campaign was marked by missed opportunities and defensive breakdowns, particularly in high-scoring losses to ranked opponents. The Monarchs showed resilience in a few close games but ultimately fell short in most matchups.

September 3, 2022: ODU opened the season with a 38–21 loss to Virginia Tech, a Power Five team, showing competitiveness in the first half.
Week 2: The Monarchs secured their first win on September 10, defeating Stony Brook 31–10 in a non-conference game at home.
Conference play: ODU earned Sun Belt wins over Southern Miss (30–27) and UTEP (34–26), both by narrow margins, highlighting their limited offensive margin for error.
Key player: Quarterback Grant Lawson started most games, throwing for 1,838 yards and 10 touchdowns, though with 10 interceptions.
Defensive stats: Linebacker Jason Henderson recorded 97 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss, standing out on an underperforming unit.
Final game: The season concluded with a 38–10 loss to rival Marshall on November 25, marking the end of a disappointing campaign.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2022 season compared to recent years in key statistical categories:

Season	Overall Record	Conference Record	Points For	Points Against
2022	3–9	2–6	199	376
2021	6–7	3–5	291	335
2020	4–3	4–3	210	220
2019	6–6	4–4	313	345
2018	5–7	3–5	269	386

The 2022 season represented a step backward compared to 2021, when ODU played in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. While the team improved defensively from 2018, the 2022 offense regressed significantly, scoring fewer than 17 points per game on average.

Why It Matters

The 2022 season underscored the challenges facing the Old Dominion football program as it attempts to become competitive in the Sun Belt Conference. With declining performance and low attendance, the future of the program has drawn increased scrutiny.

Program stability: The losing record intensified discussions about the long-term viability of FBS football at ODU, especially given financial and fan engagement concerns.
Recruiting impact: A 3–9 season likely hindered recruiting efforts, making it harder to attract top-tier regional talent.
Stadium utilization: Average attendance dipped below 10,000 per home game, raising questions about community support for the team.
Conference parity: The Sun Belt has grown more competitive, and ODU’s struggles highlighted the gap between top and bottom teams in the league.
Coaching evaluation: Ricky Rahne’s 15–27 record through three seasons put pressure on his leadership and strategic direction.
Future outlook: The 2022 season served as a wake-up call for administrators to assess investment, staffing, and long-term goals for the football program.

Ultimately, the 2022 Old Dominion Monarchs season was a reminder of the uphill battle faced by smaller programs in maintaining FBS relevance. Without significant improvements, the program risks further decline in both performance and public interest.