Out of the frying pan, into the fire.

That might describe Norfolk State University’s current football predicament.

The Spartans opened Coach Dawson Odums’ second season Sept. 3 with a crushing 55-3 loss to Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va.

The Thundering Herd rolled up 612 total yards, scored at one juncture on six straight possessions, and led at halftime, 45-0.

The road may not get any smoother Sept. 10 when the Spartans travel to Harrisonburg for a 4 p.m. kickoff against James Madison University.

JMU, like Marshall, is a member of the FBS Sun Belt Conference. NSU of the MEAC plays a peg lower in the FCS division. FBS schools are permitted 85 scholarships while FCS affiliates are held to 63.

Coach Odums is looking for a quarterback replacement for departed four-year starter Juwan Carter. At Marshall, Coach Odums juggled two transfers, Jaylan Adams and Otto Kuhns, with little productivity.

The running never materialized either. NSU ball-carriers picked up just 33 net yards in 34 attempts.

R.J. Coles, a defensive back from Varina High, led the defense with nine tackles.

JMU opened Sept. 3 with a convincing 44-7 home victory over Sun Belt foe Middle Tennessee. The Dukes were 12-2 as year ago, advancing to the FCS semifinals. JMU won the FCS national championship in 2004 and 2016.

This is JMU’s first season in the FBS Sun Belt following a long, dominating run in the Colonial.

Following this week’s trip to the Shenandoah Valley, NSU will begin play against more familiar foes Sept. 17 when Hampton University’s Pirates travel across The Bay to Dick Price Stadium.