Royal Rivalry
The Royal Rivalry refers to the college rivalry games between the James Madison Dukes and the Old Dominion Monarchs of the Sun Belt Conference. It is an intra-conference match-up between two Div. I FBS public universities, James Madison University and Old Dominion University, in the state of Virginia.
File:TowneBank Royal Rivalry Challenge.png | |
Sport | Multi-sport |
---|---|
First meeting | October 29, 2011 (football) ODU 23 – JMU 20 |
Latest meeting | October 28, 2023 (football) JMU 30 – ODU 27 |
Stadiums | Bridgeforth Stadium, S.B. Ballard Stadium, Atlantic Union Bank Center, Chartway Arena |
Trophy | Crown |
Statistics | |
All-time series | James Madison leads, 2–0 |
Trophy series | Royal Rivalry Trophy |
Largest victory | James Madison, 16.5–7.5 (2022–23) |
Longest win streak | James Madison, 2 (2022–present) |
Current win streak | James Madison, 2 (2022–present) |

100miles


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History
Both schools began sports competitions in the early 1970s as former Division II in-state opponents. The competitions intensified when both schools competed as full members of the Colonial Athletic Association (now known as the Coastal Athletic Association) following ODU's move to the conference in 1991. This undeclared in-state rivalry would last just over 20 years before ODU relocated to Conference USA in 2014 to become a member of the FBS. JMU remained in the CAA as a FCS member and still competed with ODU in sports outside of football. In 2022, both schools joined the Sun Belt Conference.[1]
Following the conference relocation for both schools, ODU and JMU announced the TowneBank-sponsored Royal Rivalry Challenge.[2] Starting in 2022, it would include all 20 head-to-head matchups in sports between the schools with points awarded to each school for corresponding victories in the games.[3] Each school is awarded one point per game won and half of a point per game tied. The yearly winner is to be awarded the Royal Rivalry Trophy, resembling a crown-shaped plaque.[4]
All-time series results
Sport | All-time series record | Last result | Next meeting | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's Basketball | ODU leads 58–33 | JMU won 78–63 on February 3, 2024 | 01/22/25 at ODU | [5] |
Women's Basketball | ODU leads 52–29 | JMU won 70–58 on March 1, 2024 | 02/01/25 at ODU | [6] |
Football | Tied 2–2 | JMU won 30–27 on October 29, 2023 | 11/16/24 at ODU | [7] |
Men's Soccer | JMU leads 20–13–8 | JMU won 3–1 on October 18, 2023 | 11/05/24 at ODU | [8] |
Football
The Old Dominion and James Madison football programs began competing in 2011 when ODU joined the CAA as an FCS independent after restarting football in 2009. Following ODU's departure from the CAA in 2012, the two schools took nearly a ten-year hiatus from football matchups before they both joined the Sun Belt in 2022. The football rivalry was restarted in the 2022 Div. I FBS football season where both schools competed in the 2022 Oyster Bowl, with the Dukes beating the Monarchs for the first time 37–3.
James Madison currently plays their football games at Bridgeforth Stadium; Old Dominion at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
James Madison victories | Old Dominion victories | Tie games |
No. | Date | Location | Winning team | Losing team | Series | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | October 29, 2011 | Foreman Field | #15 (FCS) Old Dominion | 23 | #9 (FCS) James Madison | 20 | Old Dominion 1–0 |
2 | November 17, 2012 | Bridgeforth Stadium | #4 (FCS) Old Dominion | 38 | #13 (FCS) James Madison | 28 | Old Dominion 2–0 |
3 | November 12, 2022 | S.B. Ballard Stadium | James Madison | 37 | Old Dominion | 3 | Old Dominion 2–1 |
4 | October 28, 2023 | Bridgeforth Stadium | #25 James Madison | 30 | Old Dominion | 27 | Tied 2–2 |
5 | November 16, 2024 | S.B. Ballard Stadium |
- Source: JMU Sports[9]
Basketball
Men's basketball
During their tenures in the CAA, ODU defeated JMU in 4 conference tournament championships. JMU holds their basketball games at Atlantic Union Bank Center; ODU at Chartway Arena.
Old Dominion victories | James Madison victories |
|
Women's basketball
JMU holds their basketball games at Atlantic Union Bank Center; ODU at Chartway Arena.
Old Dominion victories | James Madison victories |
|
Soccer
Men's soccer
James Madison leads the all-time series in soccer 20–13–8.
Old Dominion victories | James Madison victories | Tie games |
|
See also
References
- ^ "JMU officially joins ODU in Sun Belt Conference". The Virginian-Pilot. November 6, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
- ^ "'Royal Rivalry': ODU and JMU create new challenge — with trophy on the line". WAVY.com. October 26, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "TowneBank Royal Rivalry Challenge". jmusports.com. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "Year One ✅ As the Dukes get set to battle for another Royal Rivalry point tonight, we're excited to unveil the official trophy, all set to spend the year (or more 😉) in Harrisonburg!". X.com. October 28, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ "2022–23 Mens Basketball Prospectus (PDF)" (PDF). James Madison University Athletics. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
- ^ "Women's Basketball Archives". Old Dominion University. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
- ^ "2021 ODU Football Media Guide (PDF)" (PDF). Old Dominion University. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
- ^ "Men's Soccer History vs Old Dominion University from Oct 28, 1972 – Sep 25, 2022". James Madison University. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
- ^ "Football History vs Old Dominion". James Madison University Athletics. Retrieved November 14, 2022.