Dukes Return to Bridgeforth to Host Georgia Southern for Family Weekend

Saturday, September 27

Harrisonburg, Va.

1:30 p.m.

James Madison University

Georgia Southern

Dukes Return to Bridgeforth to Host Georgia Southern for Family Weekend

9/23/2025 11:00:00 AM | Football

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HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison heads back to Harrisonburg following its 31-13 victory at Liberty to open Sun Belt Conference play, as it hosts Georgia Southern for a sold-out Family Weekend crowd on Saturday, Sept. 27.

Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. at Bridgeforth Stadium, and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.

JMU's contest against Georgia Southern is presented by University Outpost, and the 2025 season is sponsored by CarMax.

Georgia Southern (2-2, 0-0 SBC) at James Madison (2-1, 0-0 SBC)
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Kickoff: 1:30 PM
Harrisonburg, Va. | Bridgeforth Stadium

Game Information
Online: Watch ESPN (cable subscription required)
Radio: WSVA 92.1 FM/550 AM
Listen: Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network
Live Stats
JMU Game Notes

BREAKING DOWN THE SERIES

Saturday marks the 12th all-time meeting between the teams with Georgia Southern leading, 9-2.
Since JMU joined the Sun Belt, the home team has won each of the three meetings in the series, as JMU claimed the 2023 matchup while GS won the 2022 and 2024 bouts.
JMU is 2-3 against the Eagles at home, having also won the inaugural meeting in 1985.
Last time the teams met, Georgia Southern claimed a 28-14 win on Oct. 19, 2024 in Statesboro, Ga.
In the history of the series, only three games have been separated by a single score (1991, 1992, 2022).
JMU's Oct. 14, 2023 win, a 41-13 victory, was the largest margin of victory in the series.

JMU IN LEAGUE OPENERS

This weekend will be the 33rd conference opener for the Dukes since they joined a league back in 1993.
JMU is 23-9 in league openers, as it looks to rebound from an 0-1 start last season.
That setback snapped a nine-game conference-opening win streak, which spanned the 2015 and 2023 seasons between the Colonial Athletic Association and the Sun Belt Conference.
Before 2025, JMU opened conference play on the road in five of the last six seasons, as Saturday's matchup is JMU's first home conference opener since 2021, which was its final year before making the FBS jump.
Since joining the Sun Belt, JMU is 2-1 in league openers, with wins at App State (32-28) and Troy (16-14) and a loss at ULM (19-21). In its first SBC game in 2022, JMU trailed 28-3 before storming back for the win.
JMU conference openers by league: 2-1 in Sun Belt (0-0 home, 2-1 road); 21-8 in CAA (11-3 home, 10-5 road)

KINGS OF THE COMMONWEALTH

Last week, JMU scored 21 unanswered in the second half to down Liberty on the road, 31-13, for its 21st consecutive victory against Virginia teams and its 100th all-time victory versus a Commonwealth foe.
The win at Liberty improved JMU to 100-61 (.621) against state teams, dating back to 1972.
Since joining the Sun Belt, JMU has won all three matchups with Old Dominion and is now 6-0 over Virginia teams since moving up to FBS, adding in a 2023 win at Virginia and a 2022 home victory versus Norfolk State.
William & Mary was the last state team to beat JMU in a 44-41 decision on Oct. 31, 2015, in Williamsburg

LAST TIME JMU & SOUTHERN MET

Back on Oct. 19, 2024, Georgia Southern jumped out to an early 21-0 lead en route to taking down JMU, 28-14, at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro.
Despite throwing three interceptions, GS still managed to out-gain JMU by a 405-253 margin, which included 190-67 in the run game.
JMU got a pick-six from DJ Barksdale in the third quarter to make it a 21-7 score, but the Eagles answered with a touchdown to stretch the lead back to three touchdowns.
The Dukes got within 28-14 on an Omarion Dollison 35-yard touchdown but was unable to produce any more scores in the final stanza.
GS was 9-of-13 on third down, as opposed to JMU's 7-of-18.
The 21-0 halftime deficit was JMU's largest since joining the FBS in 2022.

DUKES TAKE BATTLE OF THE BLUE RIDGE

Down 13-10 in the middle of the third quarter, JMU responded with three straight touchdown drives to upend Liberty, 31-13, in Lynchburg.
The Dukes out-gained Liberty by a 440-233 margin, which included holding the Flames to just 89 total yards in the second half.
JMU rushed for 231 yards, led by Wayne Knight's 89 yards and a touchdown and Ayo Adeyi's 87.
Alonza Barnett III accounted for three scores, passing for 213 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 45 yards and a pair of scores.
In the second half, Liberty managed just three points, as JMU's defense limited LU to six first downs. After taking the 13-10 lead, Liberty only had two more first downs the rest of the way.
JMU's defense held Liberty to 75 passing yards and 3.6 yards per pass attempt while making three sacks, led by Aiden Gobaira's two.
JMU managed 6.6 yards per snap, while Liberty was only at 3.7 for the game.

NATIONAL LEADERS ON DEFENSE

JMU's defense is among the nation's best through three games, which includes ranking second against the pass.
JMU is No. 2 in the FBS in passing defense, allowing 103.3 yards through the air on average.
It's also third in pass efficiency defense (80.91), sixth in total defense (215.0), ninth in fewest first downs (12.67) and 19th on third down (.262).
JMU hasn't allowed more than 151 passing yards to any opponent this season, as the three opponents have combined 30-of-70 passing.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR JMU

JMU heads back out on the road on Saturday, Oct. 4 when it flies to Atlanta to face Georgia State in a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+.
It will be the fifth meeting all-time between the teams, as JMU owns a 4-0 record.
The Dukes make their second trek to Atlanta, as they won the first road matchup, 42-14.
JMU is also 3-0 in home matchups, which includes a 38-7 triumph last year.
In the history of the series, JMU outscores GSU by a 37.5 to 20.5 margin.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Online: Watch ESPN (Subscription required)
Listen: Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network
On the radio – WSVA 92.1 FM/550 AM
Online: The Varsity Network

Broadcast Talent
ESPN+: Curt Dudley (pxp), Delvin Joyce (analyst), David Hulvey (sideline)
Radio: Dave Riggert (pxp), Que Reid (analyst), Cole Potts (analyst)