Dukes Set for Homecoming vs. Georgia State

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison returns home for its fourth straight Sun Belt Conference East Division matchup against Georgia State on Saturday, Oct. 17. Kickoff at Bridgeforth Stadium is set for noon ET, and the game will be aired live on ESPNU.

The Dukes enter the Homecoming matchup at 6-0 for just the fifth time in school history and first since 2023. JMU also holds a 3-0 mark in conference play.

JMU is coming off a gritty, 27-24 victory over Georgia Southern last weekend at Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro. The Dukes trailed at the half for the first time this season but used 17 unanswered points to build a second-half lead.

Running back George Pettaway led the way with 151 yards on 21 carries in the win, good for his third straight 100-yard rushing performance. Tight end Cole Keller caught four passes for 108 yards, including a key, 57-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

The Dukes featured a pair of quarterbacks against the Eagles. Camden Coleman finished 16-of-27 for 171 yards and a touchdown, while JC Evans returned to action to go 2-of-2 for 58 yards and two scores.

In all, the Dukes tallied 438 yards of total offense, including 254 in the second half.

On defense, the Dukes recorded multiple takeaways for the fifth straight game. Cornerback Ken Willis had an interception in the win, while safety Jayon Harvey led the team with nine tackles, including eight solos, with a forced fumble.

The win was JMU's 20th on the road since joining the FBS in 2022, which is the most in the country in that span. It also was the Dukes' first-ever win in Statesboro and 11th straight conference win.

Georgia State is off to a 4-1 start to the season, including 1-0 in Sun Belt action. The Panthers haven't played since Oct. 3, a 42-10 victory over Old Dominion at home.

Head coach Dell McGee is in his third season leading GSU.

Pregame radio coverage of Saturday's game begins at 11 a.m., on the Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network.

The game is sponsored by Augusta Health, and the 2026 JMU football season is presented by CarMax.

BROADCAST INFO
Watch: ESPNU (Kevin Fitzgerald – PXP, Jeff Woody – Analyst)
Listen: Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network (Dave Riggert – PXP, Isai Bradshaw, Cole Potts – Analysts)
Radio: WSVA 550 AM | 92.1 FM | SiriusXM Channel 986
Online: The Varsity Network

THE MATCHUP
Saturday marks the sixth all-time meeting between the Dukes and Panthers. JMU leads the series, 5-0, with three wins coming in Harrisonburg.

Last season, the Dukes earned a 14-7 win over GSU in Atlanta.

Georgia State is one of three East Division opponents to never defeat the Dukes since they joined the league (Old Dominion, Coastal Carolina). Prior to the Sun Belt era, the two squads also met in 2012, with JMU winning, 28-21.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
This season, James Madison has continued to defend home turf at Bridgeforth Stadium. The Dukes enter Saturday's game on a 10-game win streak at home, which includes a win in last season's Sun Belt Championship Game against Troy.

Overall, JMU is 25-3 at home since joining the FBS, including 14-3 in Sun Belt games.

The Dukes hold a 28-7 overall mark in Sun Belt play since joining the league in 2022. JMU has the most wins of any Sun Belt team in that span, with 46.

Additionally, Saturday marks JMU's 10th straight regular-season sellout, as well as its 20th in its last 22 regular-season games in Harrisonburg.

RISING TO THE TOP
The Dukes are one of nine remaining unbeaten teams in the FBS, including the only Group of Six program. The squad also is just the fifth team in the country to earn bowl eligibility.

JMU features a top-20 scoring offense and defense, as well as one of top special teams outfits in the country. The Dukes are averaging 41.8 points per game, good for No. 10 in the nation, while allowing just 15.0 points per game (No. 16). Additionally, JMU's 10 takeaways are adding up, as the squad ranks No. 20 in interceptions (6) and No. 22 in fumble recoveries (4).

The Dukes are No. 6 in the nation in kickoff returns (35.6), as well as No. 9 in punt returns (19.0). In the kicking game, kicker Morgan Suarez sits at No. 7 nationally in field goals per game (2.0) and No. 10 in the country in scoring (10.8).

Wide receiver Michael Scott continues to lead the nation in combined return yardage, with 565. He also is one of four players with two punt return touchdowns this season.

Pettaway's recent surge in the backfield has placed him at No. 10 in the country in rushing yards this week, with 648. He is the only player in the Sun Belt to average over 100 rushing yards per game (108.0).

On defense, cornerback DJ Kelly is No. 4 in the nation with three interceptions, while Harvey ranks No. 13 in solo tackles per game (5.33).

IN THE POLLS
The Dukes earned 33 points in the US LBM Coaches Poll and 29 in the AP Poll this week. JMU continues to be the second-highest ranked Group of Six program in both polls, behind only Boise State.

JMU has received votes in every edition of the AP Poll this season and remain the only Sun Belt program to do so at any point in 2026.

Altogether, the Dukes have been ranked in 14 AP Polls since 2022, and have received votes in an additional 27 polls.

UP NEXT
JMU has a quick turnaround, as it hits the road for a Sun Belt tilt at App State on Thursday, Oct. 22, in Boone, North Carolina. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET, on ESPNU.

Calendar

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Players Mentioned

Camden Coleman

JC Evans

Jayon Harvey

Cole Keller

DJ Kelly

George Pettaway

Michael Scott

Morgan Suarez

Ken Willis

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Scoreboard

Calendar

Completed Event: Football versus Wagner on September 12, 2026 , Win , 87, to, 3

Completed Event: Football at San Diego State on September 19, 2026 , Win , 26, to, 13

Completed Event: Football at Old Dominion on September 26, 2026 , Win , 46, to, 20

Completed Event: Football versus Marshall on October 3, 2026 , Win , 45, to, 17

Completed Event: Football at Georgia Southern on October 10, 2026 , Win , 27, to, 24

Upcoming Event: Football versus Georgia State on October 17, 2026 at Noon

Upcoming Event: Football at App State on October 22, 2026 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Football versus Troy on October 29, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Football at Southern Miss on November 5, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT)

Upcoming Event: Football at UConn on November 14, 2026 at Noon

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