The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Royal Rivalry

Old Dominion2-5James Madison
Regional Program III#101 of 138–National Program III#64 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
This year’s game — the live preview →
1 player crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

James Madison leads the all-time series 5-2. They've met 7 times since 2011. James Madison has won the last 5.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Old Dominion
Transfer portal
-8
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -20
James Madison
Win total
10.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+0
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +25
What fans are saying · player performance
One fan believes the defense is giving up too many points
Come the fuck on Defense, how are you leaving that guy wide fucking open?
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 2011–2026

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeOld DominionJames Madisonevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Old Dominion won, gray: James Madison won)2020

The identity war

5 seasons isn’t an era. Here’s what changed anyway.

Old Dominion and James Madison have only 5 seasons of real play-level data in common (2022–2026). Not enough for an identity war — but the numbers moved.

20222026Old Dominion 43%James Madison 45%
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals)

James Madison once won 5 in a row. The biggest win was James Madison by 36 in 2025. The biggest crowd, 26,239, was in 2023.

The coaching duels

Ricky Rahne vs Bob Chesney0-2

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
5-11
James Madison leads
1st-rounders
0-0
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
Old DominionJames Madison
1980s0-2
1990s0-3
2000s0-1
2010s2-4
2020s3-1

Best picks, either side

2019Oshane Ximines Defensive End · New York GiantsRd 3, pick 31#95 overall
1986Charles Haley Defensive End · San Francisco 49ersRd 4, pick 14#96 overall
2000Curtis Keaton Running Back · Cincinnati BengalsRd 4, pick 3#97 overall
2023Nick Saldiveri Offensive Tackle · New Orleans SaintsRd 4, pick 1#103 overall
2013Earl Watford Offensive Guard · Arizona CardinalsRd 4, pick 19#116 overall
1997Macey Brooks Wide Receiver · Dallas CowboysRd 4, pick 31#127 overall
1987Warren Marshall Running Back · Denver BroncosRd 6, pick 27#167 overall
1997Ed Perry Tight End · Miami DolphinsRd 6, pick 14#177 overall

Recent meetings

2026James Madison46-20
2025James Madison63-27
2024James Madison35-32Old Dominion — decided by 3
2023James Madison30-27Old Dominion — decided by 3
2022James Madison37-3
2012Old Dominion38-28
2011Old Dominion23-20James Madison — decided by 3

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Old Dominion’s chance to win through that meeting. The loudest meeting for fans was 2026: roaring. Fans of both teams were loud at once in 2024. The bracket marks where.

2026James Madison 46-20Old Dominion lost 20-46 vs James Madison. Chance to win started at 36%, low under 1%, high 36%.Roaring
2025James Madison 63-27Old Dominion lost 27-63 at James Madison. Chance to win started at 74%, low under 1%, high 75%.Busy
2024James Madison 35-32Old Dominion lost 32-35 vs James Madison. Chance to win started at 41%, low 3%, high 70%.Steady
2023James Madison 30-27Old Dominion lost 27-30 at James Madison. Chance to win started at 6%, low under 1%, high 25%.Busy
2022James Madison 37-3Old Dominion lost 3-37 vs James Madison. Chance to win started at 30%, low under 1%, high 32%.
“Camden Coleman truthers (myself) vindicated”
A James Madison fan
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2026
    “Camden Coleman truthers (myself) vindicated”
    A James Madison fan
  • 2025
    “JMU didn’t have to take that out of the endzone right?”
    A fan of another team

Share the loudest meeting

This season’s plays, Old Dominion and James Madison

Official highlights with our numbers, from the 6 plays on film when they met.

  1. Q1, 5:50 · James Madison up 7Camden Coleman finds Michael Scott for a 20-yard touchdownJames Madison at Old Dominion, week 4Q1, 5:50 · James Madison 14, Old Dominion 0▲9%James Madison’s chance to win, 84% to 93%▲9%James Madison’s chance to win, 84% to 93%Michael Scott 20 yd pass from Camden Coleman (Morgan Suarez Kick)Watch from this play Sun Belt Conference
  2. Q1, 11:04 · James Madison tiedCamden Coleman finds Cole Keller for a 3-yard touchdownJames Madison at Old Dominion, week 4Q1, 11:04 · James Madison 7, Old Dominion 0James Madison opened the scoringJames Madison opened the scoringC.Coleman pass complete short right to C.Keller caught at ODU02, for 3 yards to the ODU00 touchdown, 1ST DOWN, kick goodWatch from this play Sun Belt Conference
  3. Q1, 4:14 · Old Dominion down 14Ryan Huff finds Leon Haughton Jr. for a 23-yard touchdownJames Madison at Old Dominion, week 4Q1, 4:14 · Old Dominion 7, James Madison 14Old Dominion answered right backOld Dominion answered right backLeon Haughton Jr. 23 yd pass from Ryan Huff (Nathanial Eichner Kick)Watch from this play Sun Belt Conference
  4. Q2, 11:42 · James Madison up 16Camden Coleman finds Corey Scott for an 18-yard touchdownJames Madison at Old Dominion, week 4Q2, 11:42 · James Madison 30, Old Dominion 7▲2%James Madison’s chance to win, 94% to 96%▲2%James Madison’s chance to win, 94% to 96%C.Coleman pass complete short right to C.Scott caught at ODU00, for 18 yards to the ODU00 touchdown, 1ST DOWN, kick goodWatch from this play Sun Belt Conference
  5. Q2, 6:22 · James Madison up 23Brandon Crutchfield intercepts Camden Coleman and returns it 8 yardsJames Madison at Old Dominion, week 4Q2, 6:22 · James Madison 30, Old Dominion 77James Madison’s turnover led to a touchdown7James Madison’s turnover led to a touchdownJames Madison’s turnover led to a touchdownC.Coleman pass intercepted by B.Crutchfield at JMU41 broken up by A.Horn B.Crutchfield return 8 yards to the JMU33 (D.Fox)Watch from this play Sun Belt Conference
  6. Q2, 12:50 · James Madison up 10Camden Coleman finds Jeremiah Harrison for a 13-yard touchdownJames Madison at Old Dominion, week 4Q2, 12:50 · James Madison 23, Old Dominion 723-7score after the play23-7score after the playC.Coleman pass complete short left to J.Harrison caught at ODU00, for 13 yards to the ODU00 touchdown, 1ST DOWN P.Rea pass attempt failedWatch from this play Sun Belt Conference