Dukes Head to Arkansas to Battle Red Wolves Saturday Night

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison hits the road for its first of two straight away matchups, as it travels to Jonesboro, Ark., on Saturday, Oct. 8 to face Arkansas State in Sun Belt Conference action.

Kickoff from Centennial Bank Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) and will be televised on NFL Network. Pregame radio coverage on the Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network will begin at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CT).

The 2022 JMU football season is presented by CarMax.

James Madison (4-0, 2-0 SBC) vs. Arkansas State (2-3, 1-1 SBC)
Saturday, October 8, 2022
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT
Jonesboro, Ark. | Centennial Bank Stadium

Game Information
Online: NFL Network (cable subscription required)
Radio: WSVA 92.1 FM/550 AM
Listen: Varsity Network
Live Stats
JMU Game Notes

SECOND STRAIGHT WEEK AGAINST NEW OPPONENT

Saturday marks the first meeting between JMU and Arkansas State.
This comes a week after JMU's inaugural meeting with Texas State, in which the Dukes won 40-13 at home.
This will be JMU's first trip to the State of Arkansas and the Dukes' first matchup against a team from The Natural State.
JMU will face three teams for the first time, with its Nov. 5 game at Louisville being the final one.

DUKES GAIN VOTING MOMENTUM IN FBS POLLS

After initially receiving votes last week, JMU increased its vote totals in both major polls after improving to 4-0 with a 40-13 win against Texas State.
The Dukes received 39 votes in the AP Top 25 College Football Poll and 30 votes in the USA Today Sports AFCA Coaches' Poll.
These are the most votes JMU has ever received in either poll, as it increased its last-week total by 35 in the AP poll and by 19 in USA Today's.
JMU has received votes in four AP polls all-time, joining its two from the 2010 season after the Virginia Tech win.

JMU ROLLS TO FAMILY WEEKEND WIN VS. BOBCATS

JMU used scoring in all three phases and dominated defensively en route to a 40-13 win against Texas State last Saturday on Family Weekend.
The Dukes scored the game's first 26 points and held Texas State to just 246 total yards while forcing four turnovers. That included holding the Bobcats to -1 rushing yard and 45 total yards in the first half.
Jailin Walker had his second interception in as many weeks, registering a 22-yard pick-six. Taurus Jones finished with a career-high eight tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, one interception and a forced fumble. Sam Kidd forced a fumble and recovered another, while Jarius Reimonenq corralled a fumble recovery as well.
Offensively, Latrele Palmer had a career-high 27 carries for 106 yards and a career-best three touchdowns - all of which he scored in the second half. It was his third career 100-yard rushing game.
Todd Centeio accumulated 309 total yards, as he threw for 257 yards while rushing for 52 yards and a touchdown. Kris Thornton made four catches for 97 receiving yards, as he moved into eighth place all-time at JMU with 1,868 career yards.
The Dukes also produced scoring on special teams, as a bad snap by Texas State gave way for JMU's second safety of the 2022 season.
JMU outgained TXST 460-246, including 203-106 on the ground. JMU also committed zero penalties for the first time since Dec. 5, 2015.
Texas State's first eight drives featured five punts, two interceptions a safety and four drives of three plays or less, as it finished just 2-of-12 on third down for the game.

AND THEN THERE WERE 16

After five full weeks of college football, JMU is one of the sweet 16 remaining unbeatens in FBS.
JMU and Coastal Carolina from the Sun Belt Conference remain the only two undefeated teams from outside the autonomy five.
Five previously-unbeaten teams fell for the first time this past weekend.
The SEC continues to lead the way with four teams, followed by three from both the Big Ten and Big 12.
Alongside the Sun Belt with two unbeatens are the ACC and Pac 12.

JMU ACTIVE STREAKS

10 straight regular season wins
Seven straight conference wins (including FCS)
13 straight regular-season road wins
12 straight conference road wins (including FCS)
27 straight games holding opponents under 50% on third down
Four straight games out-rushing opponents
Eight straight home wins
20 straight wins in home openers
Eight straight wins in conference openers (2015-22)

JMU IN THE NATIONAL RANKS

Entering week six of the college football season, JMU leads the country in three categories while ranking top 10 in nine.
The Dukes lead the FBS in total defense (217.5), rushing defense (47.5) and fourth down defense (0%), having stopped teams on all five tries.
They are also second nationally in tackles for loss per game (9.8).
JMU is additionally fifth in fewest penalties (18), sixth on third-down defense (24%), seventh in fewest interceptions (1), eighth in scoring offense (44.8) and ninth in scoring defense (13.8).

PLAYERS IN FBS RANKINGS

Five Dukes also rank in the top 20 of FBS individual rankings entering the week.
Todd Centeio is 12th in point responsibility per game (20.0), 14th in pass efficiency (169.6) and 20th in yards per completion (14.12).
Kris Thornton ranks tied for 13th with five receiving TD.
Defensively, Taurus Jones is tied for fifth with two forced fumbles, while Chauncey Logan is seventh with 1.7 passes defended per game.
Jailin Walker's two interceptions also ranks tied for 17th.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Online: NFL Network (cable subscription required)
Listen: Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network

On the radio – WSVA 92.1 FM/550 AM
On mobile – The Varsity Network
Online: WSVAOnline.com

Broadcast Talent

Online: Jason Ross Jr. (pxp), Tyoka Jackson (analyst)
Radio: Dave Riggert (pxp), Alex Miller (analyst), Corey Spector (sideline)

WHAT'S UP NEXT
JMU stays on the road next week when it travels to Statesboro, Ga., to play Georgia Southern. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Allen E. Paulson Stadium and will be streamed on ESPN+.

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