If you were watching the sun go down over Doyt L. Perry Stadium on a Saturday in late September 2024, you saw exactly why college football is the most chaotic, beautiful mess in American culture. It wasn’t a game between Top 25 giants. No one was playing for a spot in the Rose Bowl that night. But Old Dominion vs Bowling Green turned into a back-alley brawl that basically redefined the season for both programs.
Most people look at the final score—30-27 in favor of the Monarchs—and see just another non-conference result. They’re wrong. That game was a masterclass in "MACtion" meeting Sun Belt grit, and it left a mark on both teams that carried through the rest of 2024 and into the 2025 season.
Honestly, the ending was just cruel if you’re a Falcons fan.
The 24-Second Heartbreak
Let’s talk about that final drive. Bowling Green had just taken a late lead. Terion Stewart—who is basically a human bowling ball—had crashed into the end zone with about three minutes left. The Falcons were up 27-23. The stadium was loud. People were already mentally banking the win.
Then came the Monarchs.
Old Dominion didn’t panic. They marched 79 yards in 13 plays. It wasn't flashy; it was surgical. Aaron Young, a transfer who had been searching for his rhythm all season, finally found it when it mattered most. He punched it in from four yards out with only 24 seconds on the clock.
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Game over.
It was ODU's first win of that season. Before that, they were 0-3 and looking a bit lost. That single game in Ohio flipped their entire trajectory.
Why Harold Fannin Jr. is a Name You Should Know
You can't discuss Old Dominion vs Bowling Green without talking about Harold Fannin Jr. If you haven't seen this kid play, you're missing out. He’s a tight end, but that’s a loose description. He plays like a wide receiver trapped in a power-lifter's body.
In that 2024 matchup, Fannin was a nightmare. He caught 12 passes for 192 yards. He scored twice. At one point, he caught a ball in the flats, tiptoed the sideline like a ballerina, and outran the entire ODU secondary for a 59-yard score.
He broke program records that night. Even in a loss, Fannin proved that Bowling Green has the talent to compete with anyone in the Group of Five. He’s the kind of player that NFL scouts keep a secret folder on.
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The Quarterback Chaos
The game also highlighted a major turning point for Old Dominion's depth. Grant Wilson started the game and looked sharp, especially on a 75-yard bomb to Pat Conroy. But Wilson got knocked out of the game in the third quarter.
Enter Colton Joseph.
A redshirt freshman being thrown into a hostile road environment usually spells disaster. Instead, Joseph used his legs. He scrambled for 65 yards and scored a crucial 14-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. It showed that head coach Ricky Rahne had built a roster with actual "next man up" capability.
Looking Toward the 2025 and 2026 Landscape
Fast forward to where these programs are now in early 2026. Both teams have used that 2024 clash as a foundational memory. Old Dominion coming off a 2025 season where they won the Cure Bowl against South Florida—a 24-10 victory—is proof that the grit they showed in Bowling Green wasn't a fluke.
Bowling Green, meanwhile, has leaned into their identity as a high-academic, high-effort program. They just placed a record 33 players on the MAC All-Academic Team for the 2025 season. They aren't just winning on the field; they’re building a sustainable culture.
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The schedule for 2026 is already looking stacked. Bowling Green has a brutal September lined up:
- Sept 5: vs Tarleton State
- Sept 12: at Nebraska
- Sept 19: at Iowa State
- Sept 26: vs South Florida
Old Dominion is dealing with some scheduling headaches, having recently had to shift their series with UConn and losing a home date with Virginia due to the ACC's move to a nine-game conference schedule. But the Monarchs have proven they can handle a little schedule-shuffling and still come out swinging.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
The biggest misconception is that these are "small" programs. Tell that to the 19,000+ people who packed the Doyt for that game. The level of play in the Sun Belt and the MAC right now is arguably more entertaining than the middle-of-the-pack Power 4 games.
When you watch Old Dominion vs Bowling Green, you aren't watching "lower-tier" football. You’re watching the future of the sport. You’re watching players like Fannin and Joseph who will likely be playing on Sundays.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re following these two programs into the 2026 season, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the Tight End usage: Bowling Green will continue to funnel their offense through the tight end position. If a team doesn't have a hybrid safety who can cover a 250-pounder with 4.5 speed, they’re in trouble.
- Home Field vs. Travel: ODU has shown they are exceptionally "sticky" on the road. They don't blow people out, but they stay in games until the final four minutes.
- The Joseph Factor: Watch Colton Joseph's development. His ability to turn a broken play into a 20-yard gain is the X-factor that keeps Old Dominion competitive in the Sun Belt East.
The next time these two meet, don't look at the logos and assume you know the outcome. This is a rivalry built on 24-second miracles and tiptoeing the sidelines.
Track the upcoming 2026 transfer portal entries for both schools, as the "Group of Five" landscape is shifting faster than ever. Keeping an eye on ODU’s defensive secondary depth will be key before their 2026 opener.