Old Dominion and South Florida will bring matching 9-3 records and surging momentum into the StaffDNA Cure Bowl when the programs meet for the first time on Dec. 17 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.
For Old Dominion, the postseason berth marks another milestone in a resurgent era under head coach Ricky Rahne. The Monarchs closed the regular season on a five-game winning streak, outscoring opponents 160-47 during the stretch, and finished 6-2 in the Sun Belt. Their 9-3 mark is the program’s best since the 10-3 campaign of 2016.
“Our team is incredibly excited for this opportunity. The Cure Bowl offers an incredible location and a stellar opponent,” Rahne said. “As the son of a breast cancer survivor, this game holds special meaning to me.”
ODU enters its fourth bowl in program history with one of the nation’s most productive offenses. The Monarchs rank seventh nationally in rushing offense with a school-record 2,843 yards and sit 16th in total offense at 460.8 yards per game. Their defense has also held strong, ranking 20th in scoring defense at 19.3 points allowed per game.
Old Dominion’s résumé includes wins over Virginia Tech, Liberty and Coastal Carolina, and it received votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Its only losses came against Indiana, Marshall and No. 25 James Madison.
“This was a bowl we targeted early on as a top bowl for our 9-3 program,” ODU athletic director Dr. Wood Selig said. “We will be honored to represent the Sun Belt Conference in one of the premiere bowl games.”
South Florida arrives with similar momentum and stakes. The Bulls, who finished 9-3 overall and 6-2 in the American Athletic Conference, are chasing both a 10-win season and a third straight bowl victory—feats achieved only twice before in program history.
“The Cure Bowl supports a tremendous cause that we are excited to champion, and we look forward to our Bulls taking on a very talented Old Dominion team,” USF athletics CEO Rob Higgins said.
USF’s offense has been among the most explosive in college football, ranking second nationally with 501.7 yards per game and fourth in scoring at 43.0 points per contest. The Bulls set a program record with five 50-point games this season and finished a perfect 7-0 at home.
Interim head coach Kevin Patrick, who led USF to a 52-3 win over Rice to close the regular season, said the Bulls are preparing for a historic finish.
“Our guys are preparing for the opportunity to post a third straight bowl win and to compete for a 10th win on the year,” Patrick said.
The Cure Bowl, hosted at Universal Orlando Resort, is one of the signature charity events run by the Orlando Sports Foundation. Since 2015, the game has generated more than $6.35 million for cancer research. Tickets begin at $25.
South Florida’s postseason appearance is its 13th all time, tied for the third-most by any program in its first 25 eligible seasons. The Bulls carry an 8-4 bowl record, the fourth-best winning percentage nationally among teams with at least 10 bowl appearances.
The winner will join a short list of Cure Bowl champions. Ohio defeated Jacksonville State 30-27 in last year’s game, while Tulane remains the lone AAC team to win the bowl, topping Louisiana 41-24 in 2018.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
