2026 schedule
Norfolk State Spartans
2026 season so far
Norfolk State is 4-4 against the 153rd-toughest schedule so far, scoring 31.8 and allowing 23.3 points per game (+8.5 per game).
Norfolk State plays below the FBS level, so its projections against FBS opponents include the measured gap between divisions.
Next up: vs Delaware State in Week 9. We project Norfolk State 29, Delaware State 24 — Norfolk State wins 63% of the time.
Projections are statistical estimates for entertainment and analysis only. They are not betting advice and nothing here guarantees any result.
Regular season
12 gamesMarket lines · Source: The Odds API, ESPN, Action Network · Updated Oct 29, 9:25 AM UTC. Shown for information; not an input to our projections.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
- vs
Winston-Salem Rams
0-1 · SOS #116
Win 56-0
Week 1
Our number· pregame
Winston-Salem by 1.8
Total 56.6
Book line
Not posted
Final Norfolk State by 56. 56 points. No book line was saved for this game.
William "Dick" Price Stadium - at
Old Dominion Monarchs
1-0 · SOS #79
Loss 10-31
Week 1
Our number· pregame
Old Dominion by 45.1
Total 53.9
DraftKings
ODU -41.5
Total 52.5
Final Old Dominion by 21. Norfolk State beat the spread. 41 points — under the 52.5. The book was closer. The book's total was closer.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Market lines: Old Dominion -41.25 · O/U 52.25 (open 54) · model vs market +3.9 pts (Old Dominion view)
ESPN+ S.B. Ballard Stadium - at
#25 Virginia Cavaliers
2-0 · SOS #54
Loss 3-59
Week 2
Our number· pregame
Virginia by 41.2
Total 49.8
DraftKings
UVA -47.5
Total 56.5
Final Virginia by 56. Virginia beat the spread. 62 points — over the 56.5. The book was closer. The book's total was closer.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Market lines: Virginia -47.25 (open Virginia -44.75) · O/U 56.5 (open 54.75) · model vs market -6.0 pts (Virginia view)
ACCNX Scott Stadium - vs
Hampton Pirates
1-3 · SOS #141
Win 42-21
Week 3
Our number· pregame
Norfolk State by 10.2
Total 51.4
DraftKings
NORF -5.5
Total 49.5
Final Norfolk State by 21. Norfolk State beat the spread. 63 points — over the 49.5. Our number was closer. Our total was closer.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Market lines: Norfolk State -5.5 (open Norfolk State -8.5) · O/U 49.5 (open 50.5) · ML +216 / -279 · Norfolk State 70% no-vig · model vs market +4.7 pts, +5 pct pts (Norfolk State view)
William "Dick" Price Stadium - at
Chicago State Cougars
1-4 · SOS #134
Win 43-20
Week 4
Our number· pregame
Chicago State by 2.8
Total 59.2
DraftKings
NORF -17.5
Total 55.5
Final Norfolk State by 23. Norfolk State beat the spread. 63 points — over the 55.5. The book was closer. Our total was closer.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Market lines: Norfolk State -17.5 · O/U 55.5 (open 54.5) · ML -1300 / +700 · Chicago State 12% no-vig · model vs market +20.3 pts, +45 pct pts (Chicago State view)
SeatGeek Stadium - at
Robert Morris Colonials
3-2 · SOS #143
Loss 31-33
Week 5
Our number· pregame
Robert Morris by 1.5
Total 51.1
DraftKings
RMU -1.5
Total 44.5
Final Robert Morris by 2. Robert Morris beat the spread. 64 points — over the 44.5. Our number and the book's were equally close. Our total was closer.
21+ only where legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Market lines: Robert Morris -1.5 (open Robert Morris -3.5) · O/U 44.5 (open 43.5) · ML +100 / -125 · Robert Morris 53% no-vig · model vs market 0.0 pts, +1 pct pts (Robert Morris view)
ESPN+ Joe Walton Stadium - vs
Virginia Lynchburg Dragons
No record · SOS #166
Win 62-0
Week 6
Our number· pregame
Norfolk State by 37
Total 60
Book line
Not posted
Final Norfolk State by 62. 62 points. No book line was saved for this game.
William "Dick" Price Stadium - at
South Carolina State Bulldogs
6-2 · SOS #155
Loss 7-22
Week 8
Our number· pregame
South Carolina State by 17.7
Total 62.5
Book line
Not posted
Final South Carolina State by 15. 29 points. No book line was saved for this game.
ESPN+ Oliver C. Dawson Stadium - vs
Delaware State Hornets
4-4 · SOS #124
Sat, Oct 31, 7:00 PM
Week 9
Proj 29-24 · 63%
Our number
Norfolk State by 5
Total 53
Book line
Not posted
No book line posted yet.
ESPN+ Lincoln Financial Field - vs
North Carolina Central Eagles
3-5 · SOS #144
Sat, Nov 7, 5:00 PM
Week 10
Proj 29-25 · 61%
Our number
Norfolk State by 4
Total 54
Book line
Not posted
No book line posted yet.
ESPN+ William "Dick" Price Stadium - at
Morgan State Bears
5-3 · SOS #167
Sat, Nov 14, 5:00 PM
Week 11
Proj 27-28 · 47%
Our number
Morgan State by 1
Total 55
Book line
Not posted
No book line posted yet.
Hughes Stadium (MD) - vs
Howard Bison
4-4 · SOS #47
Sat, Nov 21, 5:00 PM
Week 12
Proj 28-23 · 64%
Our number
Norfolk State by 5
Total 51
Book line
Not posted
No book line posted yet.
William "Dick" Price Stadium
Times shown in your local time
Norfolk State Spartans stats: basic, advanced and situational
Power rating
-24.0
Adj. offense
15.0
pts vs avg defense
Adj. defense
39.0
pts allowed vs avg offense
Basic stats
Box-score numbers per game.
| Stat | 2026 | FBS rank |
|---|---|---|
| Points per gameEvery point scored, every game. | 31.8 | — |
| Points allowed per gameEvery point conceded, every game. | 23.3 | — |
| Yards per playScrimmage yards divided by scrimmage plays (sacks count as pass plays). | 6.12 | — |
| Yards per play allowedThe same measure for opponents. | 5.44 | — |
| Rushing yards per gameDesigned runs and scrambles. | 204.0 | — |
| Net passing yards per gamePassing yards minus sack yardage. | 208.3 | — |
| Rushing yards allowed per gameOpponents' rushing yards. | 116.4 | — |
| Net passing yards allowed per gameOpponents' net passing yards. | 209.3 | — |
| Turnovers per gameInterceptions thrown and fumbles lost. | 1.25 | — |
| Takeaways per gameInterceptions and fumble recoveries. | 1.50 | — |
| Sacks per gameSacks by this defense. | 2.25 | — |
| Sacks allowed per gameSacks taken by this offense. | 1.38 | — |
Advanced stats
Efficiency from play-by-play, garbage time removed: expected points added (EPA), success rate, explosiveness, havoc, finishing drives, field position and pace.
| Stat | 2026 | FBS rank |
|---|---|---|
| EPA per playExpected points added per snap, garbage time removed. Zero is average; +0.10 is very good. | +0.05 | — |
| EPA per play allowedExpected points the defense gives up per snap. Lower is better. | +0.01 | — |
| Success rateShare of plays that stay on schedule: 50% of the distance on 1st down, 70% on 2nd, all of it on 3rd and 4th. | 41.5% | — |
| Success rate allowedOpponents' success rate. | 42.0% | — |
| Explosive play rateRuns of 12+ yards and passes of 16+ yards, as a share of plays. | 12.7% | — |
| Explosive plays allowedThe same rate for opponents. | 12.9% | — |
| Havoc rateShare of snaps with a tackle for loss, sack, forced fumble, interception or pass break-up. | 14.5% | — |
| Havoc allowedHow often this offense suffers a havoc play. | 13.9% | — |
| Points per scoring opportunityFinishing drives: points per possession that reaches the opponent's 40. | 3.01 | — |
| Points per opportunity allowedHow well the defense holds once opponents cross its 40. | 4.26 | — |
| Average starting field positionWhere this offense's drives begin, on average. | opp 18 | — |
| Opponents' starting field positionWhere opponents' drives begin. | opp 15 | — |
| Offensive plays per game (pace)Scrimmage snaps per game; a tempo measure. | 67.4 | — |
Situational stats
Run vs pass splits, passing downs, third downs and the red zone.
| Stat | 2026 | FBS rank |
|---|---|---|
| Rushing EPA per playExpected points added on runs. | +0.08 | — |
| Passing EPA per playExpected points added on dropbacks, sacks included. | +0.03 | — |
| Rushing EPA allowedRun defense, per play. | +0.04 | — |
| Passing EPA allowedPass defense, per dropback. | -0.00 | — |
| Rushing success rateShare of runs that stay on schedule. | 41.6% | — |
| Passing success rateShare of dropbacks that stay on schedule. | 41.4% | — |
| Run stuff rateRuns stopped at or behind the line. | 19.4% | — |
| Passing-down success rateSuccess on 2nd-and-8+ and 3rd/4th-and-5+. | 35.1% | — |
| Passing-down success allowedHow often opponents escape long-yardage downs. | 35.8% | — |
| Third-down conversion rateThird downs converted by the play itself. | 38.7% | — |
| Third-down rate allowedOpponents' third-down conversions. | 39.2% | — |
| Red-zone touchdown rateDrives reaching the 20 that end in a touchdown. | 50.8% | — |
| Red-zone TD rate allowedOpponents' red-zone touchdown rate. | 67.6% | — |
Power rating = projected margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field, from our opponent-adjusted efficiency model. How it works and how accurate it has been.
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