James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
10/20/2026 1:15:00 PM | Football, Administration
HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison will host Troy in a nationally televised game on Thursday, Oct. 29 with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN or ESPN2.
The nature of a Thursday night game impacts campus operations for the university in a significantly different manner than the typical Saturday contest. As such, James Madison University developed operational plans that best prioritize the university's core mission of the educational experience of its students while also maximizing the opportunity to showcase the university on a national stage.
The full campus announcement is available at jmu.edu. Highlights of the announcement with impact for those attending the football game include:
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The nature of a Thursday night game impacts campus operations for the university in a significantly different manner than the typical Saturday contest. As such, James Madison University developed operational plans that best prioritize the university's core mission of the educational experience of its students while also maximizing the opportunity to showcase the university on a national stage.
The full campus announcement is available at jmu.edu. Highlights of the announcement with impact for those attending the football game include:
- Game day parking (reserved and general lots) begins at 4:30 p.m., including the R1 designated student lot.
- Fans are not allowed to line up on campus awaiting 4:30 p.m. lot opening as such lines may create unsafe conditions for movement throughout campus.
- Setting up tailgates or popup canopies, even in the absence of a vehicle, is also prohibited prior to 4:30 p.m.
- Administrative offices will close at 3 p.m. to allow time for staff to exit campus and reduce vehicular traffic of staff exiting campus overlapping with game attendees entering.
- Access for faculty, staff and students to reserved football parking lots (staff, commuter and residential) will be restricted starting at 1 p.m. and must be cleared by 3 p.m.
- General game day parking lots remain accessible to faculty, staff and students throughout the day with no restrictions. Examples of available general lots include Ballard Parking Deck, Grace Street Deck and Mason Street Deck as well as surface lots D3, C12, R4 and R5. Most lots on the Quad and Memorial Hall portions of West campus are general lots.Â
- Shuttles from Ballard Parking Deck to central campus will begin at 7 a.m. and continue throughout the day for any staff looking to park and not have to move a vehicle during the afternoon.
- RV Parking (R10 Lot) will not begin until Thursday, Oct. 29 unlike most games when RVs can arrive the day before. However, RVs are permitted to stay in R10 following the game.
- All parking lots must be cleared one hour postgame. (typical policy is two hours)
- In line with typical game day operation, the breezeway between Bridgeforth Stadium and Godwin Hall will close to pedestrian traffic four hours prior to kickoff (3:30 p.m.).
- Stadium gates open the typical 90 minutes prior to kickoff (6 p.m.).
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Tuesday, October 20
Tuesday, October 20
Monday, October 19
Monday, October 19
