Royal Rivalry

TowneBank Royal Rivalry Challenge
	James Madison Dukes Old Dominion Monarchs
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)

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 Commonwealth of Virginia.

150km
100miles

Old Dominion

James Madison

Locations of James Madison and Old Dominion

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

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
1	January 14, 1972	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	99–68
2	December 13, 1972	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	69–55
3	February 26, 1973	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	67–49
4	January 28, 1974	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	65–55
5	January 15, 1975	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	89–54
6	January 28, 1976	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	87–83^OT
7	March 11, 1976	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	86–77
8	February 26, 1977	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	97–77
9	February 8, 1978	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	74–65
10	January 24, 1979	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	75–65
11	January 29, 1980	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	52–44
12	February 9, 1980	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	82–63
13	January 21, 1981	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	65–63^OT
14	February 18, 1981	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	73–65
15	January 20, 1982	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	60–48
16	February 27, 1982	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	43–41
17	March 6, 1982	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	58–57
18	January 15, 1983	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	63–52
19	January 31, 1983	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	58–43
20	January 11, 1984	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	61–58
21	February 1, 1984	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	68–67^OT
22	December 15, 1984	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	65–57
23	January 8, 1985	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	80–68
24	December 14, 1985	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	57–50
25	February 3, 1986	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	59–53
26	December 14, 1986	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	71–69
27	December 28, 1987	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	65–58
28	January 4, 1989	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	79–77
29	December 30, 1989	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	85–81
30	January 30, 1991	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	79–75
31	January 18, 1992	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	92–76
32	February 15, 1992	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	72–71
33	March 9, 1992	Richmond, VA	Old Dominion	78–73
34	January 18, 1993	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	102–89
35	February 17, 1993	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	92–88
36	January 8, 1994	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	96–88
37	February 5, 1994	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	97–81
38	March 7, 1994	Richmond, VA	James Madison	77–76
39	January 25, 1995	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	79–65
40	February 4, 1995	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	95–79
41	March 6, 1995	Richmond, VA	Old Dominion	80–75
42	January 24, 1996	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	58–45
43	February 10, 1996	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	76–72
44	March 2, 1996	Richmond, VA	Old Dominion	75–72
45	January 25, 1997	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	84–66
46	February 24, 1997	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	72–66

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
47	March 3, 1997	Richmond, VA	Old Dominion	62–58^OT
48	January 10, 1998	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	61–60
49	February 7, 1998	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	51–46
50	February 27, 1998	Richmond, VA	Old Dominion	60–56
51	January 6, 1999	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	60–58
52	January 27, 1999	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	69–56
53	January 12, 2000	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	70–66
54	February 19, 2000	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	61–59
55	January 3, 2001	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	80–63
56	February 14, 2001	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	61–59
57	January 30, 2002	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	67–61
58	February 16, 2002	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	73–68
59	January 25, 2003	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	74–56
60	February 8, 2003	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	74–66
61	January 14, 2004	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	81–60
62	February 11, 2004	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	71–57
63	January 8, 2005	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	76–43
64	February 26, 2005	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	82–60
65	February 4, 2006	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	87–69
66	February 23, 2006	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	75–58
67	January 17, 2007	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	72–65
68	December 2, 2007	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	70–57
69	January 16, 2008	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	79–52
70	February 20, 2008	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	72–52
71	January 7, 2009	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	70–62
72	January 28, 2009	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	80–74
73	March 26, 2009	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	81–43
74	January 6, 2010	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	74–72
75	February 10, 2010	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	64–44
76	January 19, 2011	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	64–58
77	February 24, 2011	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	75–59
78	January 2, 2012	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	67–61^OT
79	February 2, 2012	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	80–71
80	January 2, 2013	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	58–55
81	January 26, 2013	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	56–46
82	November 11, 2016	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	62–55
83	November 13, 2017	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	69–53
84	December 1, 2018	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	67–42
85	November 20, 2019	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	80–78
86	November 13, 2021	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	58–53
87	February 2, 2023	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	78–73
88	February 16, 2023	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	76–67
89	December 9, 2023	Norfolk, VA	#18 James Madison	84–69
90	January 24, 2024	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	78–62
91	February 3, 2024	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	78–63
Series: Old Dominion leads 58–33

Women's basketball

JMU holds their basketball games at Atlantic Union Bank Center; ODU at Chartway Arena.

Old Dominion victories	James Madison victories

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
1	December 13, 1969	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	66–39
2	January 17, 1970	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	41–21
3	December 16, 1970	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	43–37
4	January 31, 1971	Lynchburg, VA	James Madison	65–44
5	January 19, 1972	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	51–38
6	December 13, 1972	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	23–12
7	February 27, 1975	Lynchburg, VA	James Madison	85–42
8	November 25, 1975	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	83–60
9	December 11, 1976	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	99–65
10	March 5, 1977	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	81–54
11	February 8, 1978	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	72–44
12	January 24, 1979	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	99–62
13	March 3, 1979	Blacksburg, VA	Old Dominion	93–40
14	February 7, 1980	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	91–53
15	November 26, 1980	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	96–51
16	February 2, 1982	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	91–50
17	March 3, 1983	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	92–58
18	February 24, 1984	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	75–54
19	December 15, 1984	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	79–43
20	January 15, 1986	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	65–53
21	February 19, 1987	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	66–62
22	February 15, 1988	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	75–69
23	February 1, 1989	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	83–51
24	January 18, 1990	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	82–66
25	January 9, 1991	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	76–61
26	January 18, 1992	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	64–62
27	February 15, 1992	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	70–69
28	January 24, 1993	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	71–42
29	February 21, 1993	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	67–44
30	January 16, 1994	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	71–49
31	February 13, 1994	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	73–59
32	January 6, 1995	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	68–64
33	February 19, 1995	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	87–80
34	March 11, 1995	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	63–44
35	January 26, 1996	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	67–42
36	February 28, 1996	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	77–64
37	March 9, 1996	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	84–58
38	January 17, 1997	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	78–53
39	February 7, 1997	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	77–49
40	February 28, 1997	Richmond, VA	Old Dominion	86–48
41	January 16, 1998	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	76–65
42	January 30, 1998	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	81–59

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
43	January 22, 1999	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	79–52
44	February 5, 1999	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	74–50
45	March 4, 1999	Richmond, VA	Old Dominion	73–45
46	January 16, 2000	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	74–57
47	February 25, 2000	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	84–64
48	January 7, 2001	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	62–56
49	February 18, 2001	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	49–48
50	March 10, 2001	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	66–62
51	January 27, 2002	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	68–51
52	February 17, 2002	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	67–53
53	January 16, 2003	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	58–48
54	February 9, 2003	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	98–95^OT
55	March 14, 2003	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	71–55
56	January 9, 2004	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	75–73
57	February 26, 2004	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	80–58
58	January 6, 2005	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	80–58
59	February 27, 2005	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	92–61
60	January 22, 2006	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	72–63
61	March 2, 2006	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	75–68
62	March 11, 2006	Fairfax, VA	Old Dominion	58–54
63	February 1, 2007	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	79–50
64	February 25, 2007	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	62–57
65	March 11, 2007	Newark, DE	Old Dominion	78–70
66	January 13, 2008	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	82–57
67	March 2, 2008	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	76–63
68	January 25, 2009	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	72–67
69	March 1, 2009	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	73–57
70	January 17, 2010	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	67–58
71	February 21, 2010	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	65–59
72	March 14, 2010	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	67–53
73	January 9, 2011	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	71–55
74	February 6, 2011	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	67–58
75	February 1, 2012	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	57–55
76	February 26, 2012	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	63–44
77	February 12, 2013	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	68–56
78	February 28, 2013	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	77–61
79	December 31, 2022	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	68–54
80	February 18, 2023	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	73–68^OT
81	March 5, 2023	Pensacola, FL	James Madison	70–64
82	January 20, 2024	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	72–64
83	March 1, 2024	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	70–58
Series: Old Dominion leads 53–30

Soccer

Men's soccer

James Madison leads the all-time series in soccer 20–13–8.

Old Dominion victories	James Madison victories	Tie games

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
1	October 28, 1972	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	8–1
2	October 21, 1973	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	4–0
3	October 3, 1975	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	3–2
4	November 20, 1975	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	2–1
5	October 30, 1976	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	5–4
6	October 28, 1977	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	2–0
7	October 3, 1983	Norfolk, VA	Tie	0–0
8	September 30, 1984	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	1–0
9	October 22, 1986	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	2–1^OT
10	October 24, 1987	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	1–0
11	October 20, 1988	Norfolk, VA	Tie	0–0
12	October 18, 1989	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	1–0
13	September 14, 1991	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	3–0
14	November 10, 1991	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	1–0
15	October 14, 1992	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	1–0
16	October 9, 1993	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	1–0^OT
17	November 7, 1993	Richmond, VA	James Madison	3–0
18	October 15, 1994	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	5–0
19	November 11, 1994	Williamsburg, VA	Tie	1–1
20	October 7, 1995	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	1–0
21	November 6, 1996	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	4–0

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
22	November 14, 1996	Wilmington, NC	James Madison	5–0
23	October 11, 1997	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	1–0^2OT
24	October 17, 1998	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	2–0
25	October 9, 1999	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	1–0
26	October 28, 2000	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	3–0
27	October 27, 2001	Norfolk, VA	Tie	0–0
28	October 30, 2002	Norfolk, VA	Tie	1–1
29	October 31, 2003	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	3–2
30	October 22, 2004	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	1–0
31	November 12, 2004	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	3–1
32	October 23, 2005	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	2–1^OT
33	October 8, 2006	Harrisonburg, VA	Tie	1–1
34	October 14, 2007	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	2–0
35	October 22, 2008	Norfolk, VA	Old Dominion	2–1
36	October 21, 2009	Harrisonburg, VA	Old Dominion	1–0
37	October 27, 2010	Norfolk, VA	James Madison	2–0
38	October 26, 2011	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	3–2
39	October 3, 2012	Norfolk, VA	Tie	0–0
40	September 25, 2022	Norfolk, VA	Tie	0–0
41	October 18, 2023	Harrisonburg, VA	James Madison	3–1
Series: James Madison leads 20–13–8

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.

External links

[1] "JMU officially joins ODU in Sun Belt Conference". The Virginian-Pilot. November 6, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2022.

[2] "'Royal Rivalry': ODU and JMU create new challenge — with trophy on the line". WAVY.com. October 26, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.

[3] "TowneBank Royal Rivalry Challenge". jmusports.com. Retrieved November 16, 2022.

[4] "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.

[5] "2022–23 Mens Basketball Prospectus (PDF)" (PDF). James Madison University Athletics. Retrieved November 11, 2022.

[6] "Women's Basketball Archives". Old Dominion University. Retrieved November 11, 2022.

[7] "2021 ODU Football Media Guide (PDF)" (PDF). Old Dominion University. Retrieved November 11, 2022.

[note3.1-8] "Men's Soccer History vs Old Dominion University from Oct 28, 1972 – Sep 25, 2022". James Madison University. Retrieved November 26, 2022.

[9] "Football History vs Old Dominion". James Madison University Athletics. Retrieved November 14, 2022.

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