NORFOLK, Va. – The North Carolina Central University football team will play its first true road game of the 2025 season on Saturday, taking on Old Dominion University at S.B. Ballard Stadium with a kickoff set for 6 p.m.

The game will air live on ESPN+.

The Match-Up: This will be the third meeting all-time between the Eagles and Monarchs. The last game came in 2010, when the Eagles wrapped up the season with a 33-21 loss to ODU in Durham. The first meeting, in 2009, saw ODU defeat the Eagles 42-28 in Norfolk.

NCCU vs. FBS Schools: This is the third straight season in which NCCU will face a team from the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Last season, the Eagles took on North Carolina (L, 45-10) of the ACC. In 2023, NCCU traveled across the country to square off against UCLA (L, 59-7), then out of the Pac-12. During head coach Trei Oliver's tenure, the Eagles have faced three FBS teams, going 0-3. NCCU took on Marshall, then of Conference USA, in 2019, Oliver's first season.

NCCU on the Road: North Carolina Central is 13-15 on the road under Oliver, and the Eagles have been .500 or better on the road in each of the last three seasons. The Eagles went 2-2 on the road in 2024, and 3-3 in 2023. In 2022, when NCCU won the MEAC title, the Eagles were 4-2 on the road.

Last Time Out: NCCU (1-1) dropped its home opener this past Saturday, falling 27-10 to New Hampshire at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. Running back Chris Mosley had another strong game, racking up 106 yards on 19 carries for his second straight 100-yard effort. Quarterback Walker Harris threw for 172 yards on 13 completions to six different receivers. Defensive back Tomondray Braxton led the Eagles defensively with 10 tackles (six solo) and a pass breakup.

Mosley Starting Strong: Running back Chris Mosley has come out of the gates strong in the Eagles' first two games. He ran for a game-high 182 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against Southern, en route to being named the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kick-Off MVP. The performance was the first 100-yard rushing game of Mosley's collegiate career; Mosley recorded another 100-yard rushing effort against New Hampshire, going for 106 yards on 19 carries. Averaging 144 yards a game on the ground, Mosley is currently the MEAC's top rusher.

Oliver High on Johnson: Oliver expects big things out of defensive lineman Thomas Johnson this season, his fourth with the program. Johnson, a senior from Lawndale, Calif., has played in 25 career games to this point. In 2024, Johnson had 11 tackles in three games, including five tackles for loss and four sacks. Johnson was strong in the season opener against Southern, with seven tackles (two for loss), a sack, a quarterback hurry, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He added six tackles and 1.5 sacks against New Hampshire.

Scouting Old Dominion: The Monarchs (0-1), in their sixth season under head coach Ricky Rahne, opened the 2025 campaign this past weekend with a 27-14 loss at No. 20 Indiana. ODU went 5-7 overall and 4-4 in the Sun Belt last season. The Monarchs defeated four teams that went on to play in bowl games (Bowling Green, Texas State, Georgia Southern and Arkansas State). Four players were named Preseason All-Sun Belt: offensive lineman Zach Barlev, linebacker Jason Henderson, linebacker Koa Naotala and defensive lineman Kris Trinidad. ODU was picked to finish fifth in the Sun Belt's East Division in the coaches preseason poll. Quarterback Colton Joseph has been named to the Manning Award watch list, coming off a 2024 campaign that saw him pass for 1,627 yards. He also rushed for almost 650 yards and accounted for 22 total touchdowns (11 passing, 11 rushing) on the season. Linebacker Jason Henderson, a two-time All-American, returns after redshirting in 2024. He entered the 2025 campaign on the Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list and the Dick Butkus Award watch list, as well as the watch lists for the Lombardi, Nagurski and Bednarik awards.

Non-Conference Success: N.C. Central is 19-13 in non-conference games under Oliver after this past weekend's home loss to New Hampshire. Over the last two-plus seasons, the Eagles are 16-5 against opponents from outside the MEAC. This includes wins over three top 25 teams (No. 25 Elon [2023], No. 25 New Hampshire [2022], and No. 5 Jackson State [2022]). This season, the Eagles will face opponents from the SWAC, CAA Football, the Sun Belt, the CIAA and the Southland Conference. NCCU will face one FBS opponent this season in Old Dominion.  The Eagles went 4-2 in non-conference play in 2024.

Watch Out Now: Three Eagles are on the Stats Perform HBCU Player of the Year Watchlist heading into the 2025 season: quarterback Walker Harris, defensive back Malcolm Reed and offensive lineman Trevon Humphrey. All three are Preseason First Team All-MEAC honorees, and Reed is also a Stats Perform Preseason All-American.

Continuity Up Front: NCCU will have a remarkable level of experience along the offensive front, which is uncommon in college football these days, especially in the FCS. In addition to returning quarterback Walker Harris and tight end Luke Bracey, the Eagles are returning starters at all five offensive line positions. That includes Preseason All-MEAC honorees Noah McKinney and Trevon Humphrey.

For more information on NCCU athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.