Plot: ODU hired Ricky Rahne, former Penn State offensive coordinator, after the 2019 season. Rahne couldn’t train games last season as the Monarchs were eliminated from the year affected by COVID-19. He started this season at 1-6 but ended with a five-game winning streak to put the program back in a bowl in its first season after the 1-11.
To draw: The Monarchs are brand new with five wins in a row, their fans were starved after the break last year and ODU has proven that it can score. It brought 47 in a win over Florida International and 56 against Charlotte in the decisive win. And did we mention that bowl games love offensive?
Outlook: Conference USA has more bowl-eligible teams than guaranteed seats, but the Monarchs might be attractive for the Myrtle Beach Bowl in South Carolina, the Cure Bowl in Orlando, Florida, or the Camelia Bowl in Montgomery, Ala.
freedom
Plot: The Flames had a disappointing year after winning 10-1 last year with a win over Coastal Carolina in the Cure Bowl. Liberty gave Hugh Freeze a major contract extension, held him in Lynchburg until 2028 and announced a move to Conference USA. But the year ended with a streak of three games.
