Last year, the two teams played a down-to-the-wire contest that saw ODU rally back from a 33-14 deficit in the third quarter to take a 34-33 lead before Cal hit a field goal in the final minute to take the win.

 

This fall, the Panthers are ranked No. 23 in the AFCA Preseason Poll and will return 15 all-conference players from 2017, including seven first-teamers. Overall, 47 letter winners return, including 16 players who started at least three games (seven on offense, nine on defense).

 

Defensively, ODU has three seniors starting on the line in Brian Hunter, Nick Isaacs and Tristan Kehres. Hunter and Kehres were each First Team All-Great Midwest honorees, while Isaacs returns after missing 2017 with injury.

 

Senior linebacker Ross Thompson fought through injuries in 2017 after a 2016 campaign in which he made 94 tackles. Junior linebacker Camren Moore was a First Team All-Great Midwest selection, and Jalen M. Christian also returns as a starter.

 

Junior safety Gus Dimmerling picked up first team accolades and senior corner Tawain Gordon earned second team honors last year. 

 

On offense, the Panthers return a pair of experienced starters on the line in senior left tackle Robert Vargo and sophomore right guard Jake Garrison. Vargo has made 24 career starts and Garrison started all 10 games last fall.

 

ODU has a deep rotation at running back and wide receiver this fall. In the backfield, junior EJ Colson picked up First Team All-Great Midwest honors and sophomores Monalo Caldwell and Fred Pitts also return. G-MAC Offensive Back of the Year Cory Contini is back after a 72-catch, 1,186-yard, 14-TD season last year. He's joined by second team honoree David Turner, G-MAC Freshman of the Year Devanaire Conliffe, and Cedric Washington. Senior tight end Wyatt McLeod was named to the second team as well last fall.

 

The Panthers will have a new signal caller this fall, with junior Shane Bucenell and freshman Evan Ernst competing in camp for the starting role.

 

ODU returns all of its specialists, including G-MAC Special Teams Player of the Year Logen Neidhardt. Kickers Cooper Johnson and Jed Quackenbush return, as does long snapper Tristan Rock.