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Old Dominion hosts Marshall for Homecoming on Saturday, and both teams have plenty riding on it.
The Monarchs need a win to keep six victories within reach. Marshall can get back to .500 in Sun Belt play, with JMU’s second-straight loss giving the Herd another opening in the East.
Troy’s 24–21 overtime win at JMU on Thursday dropped the Dukes to 4–2 in the conference. Tony Gibson’s squad is 4–3 overall and 1–2 in league play, with five conference games remaining. JMU’s head-to-head win means the Herd still needs help, but a 6–2 finish remains possible.
ODU is 2–6 overall and 1–4 in the Sun Belt. The Monarchs need to win their remaining four games to reach six victories. That starts against a Herd program that has won 10 of the teams’ 11 meetings.
Herd’s Quarterback Options
Marshall has had extra preparation time since beating South Alabama 20–13 on Oct. 20. The Herd finished that game well, but Gibson still has decisions to make at quarterback.
“Guys are rested up and ready to make a run into November,” Tony Gibson said during his weekly press conference.
Zion Turner completed 21 of 33 passes for 181 yards against South Alabama and added 45 rushing yards and a touchdown. Khalil Wilkins rushed for 69 yards, helping Marshall cover 75 yards entirely on the ground on its winning possession.
Toby Payne caught seven passes for 69 yards, and Marshall finished without a turnover. Getting him involved again would give Marshall a dependable option beyond the quarterback run game.
Gibson has left open the possibility of using Turner, Wilkins and Carlos Del Rio-Wilson against ODU.
“I’d say that it’s a 95 percent chance that all of our quarterbacks will get snaps in the game,” Gibson said.
ODU coach Ricky Rahne said Marshall runs much of the same offense with each quarterback.
“The offense really doesn’t change much depending on who is in,” Rahne said.
ODU’s linebackers will have to respect both the handoff and the quarterback keeper. Marshall leaned on that threat when it needed a touchdown against South Alabama, and Wilkins delivered.
Old Dominion Needs an Offensive Response
ODU enters after a 26–0 loss at Louisiana Tech. Jaxon Potter made his first start as a Monarch, completing 18 of 34 passes for 154 yards and an interception. Quinn Henicle and Ryan Huff also have played quarterback this season.
The Monarchs average 15.5 points per game. Their defense has given them chances, but scoring has been hard to come by. ODU needs to sustain some drives and give that defense more to work with.
ODU’s defense is capable of keeping this close. The Monarchs won 10–3 at App State earlier this month. At Louisiana Tech, Ja’Mez Drummer recorded 15 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss, while Koa Naotala added two sacks and three tackles for loss.
That pressure is a concern for Marshall. If ODU can force second-and-long and third-and-long situations, the Herd will have a harder time leaning on the quarterback runs that helped finish the South Alabama game.
Marshall’s defense also has something to prove after holding the Jaguars to one touchdown and four conversions on 18 third downs. Repeating that effort on the road would put the Herd in position for consecutive conference wins.
All four of Marshall’s wins have been decided by seven points or fewer. The record and series history favor the Herd, but ODU has a defense that can make Marshall earn another one.
A win would send Marshall to Georgia Southern next week at 5–3. For the Monarchs, Homecoming is a chance to end a two-game skid and keep their bowl hopes alive.
Marshall Thundering Herd @ Old Dominion Monarchs
S.B. Ballard Stadium — Norfolk, Virginia
Kickoff: Saturday, October 31, at 1 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN+
Radio: ESPN Radio 94.1 FM (ODU); WDGG 93.7 FM / Thundering Herd Sports Network (Marshall)
Game information: Marshall at Old Dominion
Tickets: ODU Athletics