After a dominant win over Davidson in the home opener, the Keydets would lose six consecutive games, including close losses against Mercer and Gardner–Webb in double overtime.

The three schools effectively replaced Appalachian State and Georgia Southern, who left for the FBS Sun Belt Conference, as well as Elon, who departed for the Colonial Athletic Association.

[4] Following a home-opening win over Glenville State, which featured a dramatic last-second goal line stand to preserve the 34–27 victory, VMI was defeated handily by North Greenville, a Division II independent, by a score of 37–24.

Campbell also works as the offensive line coach, and is countered by defensive coordinator Greg Harris, in his eighth year with the team.

Roster at Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium (Lewisburg, PA) Despite a spectacular debut from redshirt freshman quarterback Al Cobb, the Keydets fell on the opening week of the season to the Bucknell Bison, 42–38.

The game started off poorly for VMI, with Bucknell taking an early 14–0 lead off two touchdowns from Matt DelMauro, including a 56-yard run on the first play of the Bison's second drive.

Josh Brake of the Bison, who had previously scored a touchdown pass, returned the ensuing punt for 62 yards, giving Bucknell a 42–35 lead, which would hold for the rest of the game.

However, VMI responded quickly, as Hayden Alford, in replacement of Al Cobb, punched in a touchdown run from the goal line after hitting Doug Burton for a 41-yard pass.

Despite this blunder, the Keydet defense played mostly sound in the second half, allowing only one touchdown, a 51-yard score from Knapke to Roger Lewis in the fourth quarter.

at Alumni Memorial Field (Lexington, VA) In the home opener of the 2014 season, VMI tallied their highest offensive output since 2008 (a 69–20 win over Chowan)[15] and cruised to a 52–24 victory over Davidson.

Backup quarterback Hayden Alford also received considerable playing time in the second half with the game will in hand, throwing for 56 yards and a touchdown.

After a missed field goal by Dillon Christopher on their first drive, the offense got the ball back and Jabari Turner scored on a 38-yard touchdown run to put VMI ahead early.

Later in the fourth quarter, backup Hayden Alford found Doug Burton for a 26-yard touchdown pass, a drive that spanned 96 yards and took ten plays.

It was VMI's first Division I non-conference win since a victory over Robert Morris in 2009. at Seibert Stadium (Homewood, AL) Samford dominated the game from the opening kickoff, scoring two touchdowns on their first three plays.

After VMI quarterback Al Cobb was intercepted a second time by Josh Kimberlin, Denzel Williams pounded in a four-yard rushing score to put the Bulldogs up 28–0 just twelve minutes into the game.

Deon Watts ended the scoring on the day with a four-yard run, putting some positives into a poor showing for the Keydet offense and defense.

at Alumni Memorial Field (Lexington, VA) In a game featuring two first-year SoCon members, Mercer took down VMI 27–24 thanks to a late interception by Bears' safety Zach Jackson.

But, on the very next play, Mercer gave the ball right back, as John Russ threw a pick of his own, caught by Damian Jones and returned to the 26-yard line.

Later in the quarter, Keydets' kicker Dillon Christopher nailed a 49-yard field goal attempt, and the two teams would play in a stalemate for much of the final twenty minutes.

With over 6:30 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Cobb manufactured another scoring drive and hit wide receiver Sam Patterson in the endzone for 28 yards.

Parrish Gaines then intercepted a pass by Al Cobb and returned it for a touchdown, and a short punt led to another Midshipmen score, putting Navy up at halftime 37–7.

at Alumni Memorial Field (Lexington, VA) A common theme in 2014, VMI got off to a slow start, allowing Gardner–Webb to score two early touchdowns off passes by quarterback Lucas Beatty.

After making a stop on defense, sophomore receiver Dane Forlines caught a pass for a 12-yard score, but the two-point conversion attempt was failed.

Immediately on the first play of the ensuing Gardner–Webb possession, Beatty lobbed a pass down field that was picked off by freshman Greg Sanders.

In the final drive of regulation, Gardner–Webb worked their way to the VMI 38-yard line, Beatty was sacked for a loss of ten yards by Doug Moore.

On fourth and twenty, Beatty connected with Mike Estes for a first down, setting up a 43-yard field goal by Schumacher, sending the game into overtime tied at 34.

[16] However, kicker Dillon Christopher missed a field goal on VMI's next possession, and Gardner–Webb scored on the very next play with a pass to Cook, escaping Lexington with a 47–41 win.