Appalachian State will open its 2026 Sun Belt Conference campaign against Old Dominion on Saturday, October 10, at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone.
The Mountaineers enter the matchup 3-1 after a 41-31 defeat against NC State, while Old Dominion comes into the game after a difficult start to the season. App State will need to turn its strong offensive moments from Raleigh into a more complete performance if it wants to begin conference play with a victory.
START FAST AND AVOID ANOTHER EARLY DEFICIT
One of the biggest problems against NC State was App State's slow start. The Mountaineers fell behind 21-0 before eventually mounting a comeback.
Against Old Dominion, App State cannot afford to repeatedly put itself in that position.
The Mountaineers showed they have the ability to respond to adversity, but building an early lead would reduce the pressure on the offense and allow the defense to play more aggressively.
PROTECT MALACHI SINGLETON
Malachi Singleton was one of the biggest positives from App State's performance against NC State.
The quarterback completed 26 of 38 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for a touchdown. His ability to make plays through the air and on the ground will be important against Old Dominion.
App State needs to give Singleton enough protection and continue creating opportunities for him to use his mobility. A clean pocket could allow the Mountaineers to take advantage of an Old Dominion defense that has already surrendered 44 points to Virginia Tech and 46 to James Madison.
MAKE OLD DOMINION'S OFFENSE WORK FOR EVERY YARD
App State's defense will also have a major role to play.
Old Dominion entered the 2026 season with a new quarterback situation and used Ryan Huff for his first career start against James Madison. Huff completed 20 of 39 passes for 261 yards, one touchdown and one interception in that game.
The Mountaineers need to make Old Dominion sustain long drives rather than allowing explosive plays to change the game quickly.
CREATING TURNOVERS COULD BE KEY
App State's comeback against NC State was sparked by two undisputed takeaways that led directly to back-to-back touchdowns.
That showed how quickly turnovers can change the momentum of a game.
The Mountaineers should look to reproduce that defensive pressure against Old Dominion. Creating short fields for Singleton and the offense could make a significant difference, particularly if App State is able to turn defensive stops into points.
CONTROL THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE
App State must also establish itself physically on both sides of the football.
The Mountaineers have several experienced defensive players, including preseason All-Sun Belt selections Aiden Benton and Colton Phares. Phares was also a Second Team All-Sun Belt selection in 2025.
Winning battles at the line of scrimmage would help App State control the tempo and prevent Old Dominion from finding consistency offensively.
FINISH THE GAME
Perhaps the most important lesson from the NC State loss is the need to finish.
App State erased a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and tied the game at 31-31, only for NC State to respond with a 75-yard touchdown drive and eventually add a field goal.
The Mountaineers will need composure when the game reaches its decisive moments against Old Dominion.
App State has already demonstrated that it can fight back from difficult situations. Against Old Dominion, the objective should be to avoid needing another dramatic comeback and finish the job when opportunities arrive.
A CHANCE TO START CONFERENCE PLAY STRONG
App State leads the all-time series 4-2 and has won all three previous meetings against Old Dominion at Kidd Brewer Stadium. However, Old Dominion won the most recent meeting 24-21 in 2025.
With the rematch taking place in Boone, App State has an opportunity to respond to last year's narrow defeat and begin its 2026 Sun Belt schedule with a strong performance.
The formula is straightforward: start quickly, protect Singleton, limit explosive plays, create turnovers, control the line of scrimmage and finish drives.
If the Mountaineers can execute those areas consistently, they will give themselves a strong platform to compete when Old Dominion arrives at The Rock.
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