James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Thursday, November 5
Hattiesburg, Miss.
8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT)
James Madison University
at
Southern Miss
11/3/2026 11:05:00 AM | Football
HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison plays its third straight midweek game by traveling to Southern Miss on Thursday, Nov. 5. Kickoff at Renasant Stadium in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the game will air live on ESPN2.
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JMU is coming off back-to-back overtime setbacks. Last week, the Dukes fell, 24-21, to Troy in a 2025 Sun Belt Conference Championship Game rematch at Bridgeforth Stadium.
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JMU scored touchdowns on its first three offensive possessions of the night but couldn't overcome five turnovers in the loss. The squad finished with 408 yards of total offense and held the Trojans to 349, including just 179 through the air.
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Running back Seth Cromwell finished with a season-high 135 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries in his first start as a Duke, becoming the squad's third different 100-yard rusher this season. Wide receiver Braeden Wisloski caught a 31-yard touchdown and finished with 62 yards on four receptions.
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Defensively, a trio of Dukes shared the team lead with seven tackles: Linebacker Nakian Jackson, defensive lineman Rasheed Lovelace and safety TJ McGill. Edge Amar Thomas added six tackles, including two sacks.
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JMU enters the contest with a 7-2 mark, including 4-2 in conference play. The Dukes are one of 18 FBS programs and one of seven Group of Six squads with at least seven wins this season.
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Southern Miss is riding a two-game win streak entering Thursday's matchup. The Golden Eagles (3-5, 2-2 Sun Belt) topped ULM, 35-21, on the road last weekend.
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Blake Anderson is in his first full season leading USM. He served as the program's offensive coordinator a year ago and was later promoted to head coach.
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Pregame radio coverage of Thursday's game begins at 6 p.m., on the Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network.
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The 2026 JMU football season is presented by CarMax.
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BROADCAST INFO
Watch: ESPN2 (Mike Corey – PXP, Henry Burris – Analyst)
Listen: Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network (Dave Riggert – PXP, Isai Bradshaw – Analyst)
Radio: WSVA 550 AM | 92.1 FM | SiriusXM Channel 967
Online: The Varsity Network
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THE MATCHUP
Thursday marks just the second meeting between the Dukes and Golden Eagles. JMU won the only previous matchup, 32-15, on Oct. 25, 2024, in Harrisonburg.
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The Dukes are 7-2 against Sun Belt West Division foes since entering the league in 2022. They'll play in Hattiesburg for the first time, leaving only Louisiana, Louisiana Tech and South Alabama as the only conference destinations that JMU hasn't visited.
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HIT THE ROAD
JMU has been one of the most successful road teams in the country in recent years. The squad enters this week's game with 20 road wins since 2022, which is tied with Tulane for the most in the nation.
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In all, the Dukes are 20-8 away from home in the FBS era, good for a .714 winning percentage. That's the fifth-best mark nationally and tied with Tulane as the best among Group of Six programs. Of note, only Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon and Texas have better road marks (by winning percentage) than JMU from 2022-26.
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This season, the Dukes are 3-1 in road games.
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SUN BELT SUCCESS
JMU is 29-9 in Sun Belt play since entering the league, including 14-5 on the road. Despite two straight overtime losses, the Dukes have won 12 of their last 14 regular-season conference games, as well as the 2025 Sun Belt Championship Game.
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James Madison continues to have the most wins of any Sun Belt team since 2022, with 47. Troy is second with 39 victories in that time. JMU also is one of two SBC squads with four conference wins this season, joining Louisiana Tech.
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The Dukes are the only Sun Belt program to garner votes in either the AP or US LBM Coaches poll at any point in 2026.
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STANDOUTS
JMU ranks in the top 25 nationally in a variety of key offensive categories. The Dukes are No. 6 in the country in fourth-down conversions (.750), No. 10 in scoring offense (39.1), No. 13 in red zone offense (.932), No. 19 in total offense (450.9) and No. 23 in rushing offense (202.1).
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On the defensive side of the ball, JMU is allowing just 18.9 points per game, good for No. 1 in the Sun Belt.
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JMU also continues to boast one of the nation's best return games. It ranks No. 2 in the country in kick returns (35.43) and No. 16 in punt returns (15.58).
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Individually, wide receiver Michael Scott has earned another week as the nation's leader in combined return yardage, with 734. He's No. 1 in the country in kickoff returns (38.8) and No. 3 in punt returns (15.8).
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Additionally, Scott's 125.6 all-purpose yards per game is No. 1 in the Sun Belt.
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Cornerback DJ Kelly's four interceptions remain tied for No. 6 nationally. He also sits No. 12 in the nation in passes defended (1.22).
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In the kicking game, kicker Morgan Suarez is No. 9 in the nation in points (82) and No. 22 in scoring per game (9.1).
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UP NEXT
JMU plays in its final road game of the 2026 regular season with a trip to UConn on Saturday, Nov. 14. Kickoff is set for noon ET, with the game airing on CBS Sports Network.
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JMU is coming off back-to-back overtime setbacks. Last week, the Dukes fell, 24-21, to Troy in a 2025 Sun Belt Conference Championship Game rematch at Bridgeforth Stadium.
Â
JMU scored touchdowns on its first three offensive possessions of the night but couldn't overcome five turnovers in the loss. The squad finished with 408 yards of total offense and held the Trojans to 349, including just 179 through the air.
Â
Running back Seth Cromwell finished with a season-high 135 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries in his first start as a Duke, becoming the squad's third different 100-yard rusher this season. Wide receiver Braeden Wisloski caught a 31-yard touchdown and finished with 62 yards on four receptions.
Â
Defensively, a trio of Dukes shared the team lead with seven tackles: Linebacker Nakian Jackson, defensive lineman Rasheed Lovelace and safety TJ McGill. Edge Amar Thomas added six tackles, including two sacks.
Â
JMU enters the contest with a 7-2 mark, including 4-2 in conference play. The Dukes are one of 18 FBS programs and one of seven Group of Six squads with at least seven wins this season.
Â
Southern Miss is riding a two-game win streak entering Thursday's matchup. The Golden Eagles (3-5, 2-2 Sun Belt) topped ULM, 35-21, on the road last weekend.
Â
Blake Anderson is in his first full season leading USM. He served as the program's offensive coordinator a year ago and was later promoted to head coach.
Â
Pregame radio coverage of Thursday's game begins at 6 p.m., on the Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network.
Â
The 2026 JMU football season is presented by CarMax.
Â
BROADCAST INFO
Watch: ESPN2 (Mike Corey – PXP, Henry Burris – Analyst)
Listen: Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network (Dave Riggert – PXP, Isai Bradshaw – Analyst)
Radio: WSVA 550 AM | 92.1 FM | SiriusXM Channel 967
Online: The Varsity Network
Â
THE MATCHUP
Thursday marks just the second meeting between the Dukes and Golden Eagles. JMU won the only previous matchup, 32-15, on Oct. 25, 2024, in Harrisonburg.
Â
The Dukes are 7-2 against Sun Belt West Division foes since entering the league in 2022. They'll play in Hattiesburg for the first time, leaving only Louisiana, Louisiana Tech and South Alabama as the only conference destinations that JMU hasn't visited.
Â
HIT THE ROAD
JMU has been one of the most successful road teams in the country in recent years. The squad enters this week's game with 20 road wins since 2022, which is tied with Tulane for the most in the nation.
Â
In all, the Dukes are 20-8 away from home in the FBS era, good for a .714 winning percentage. That's the fifth-best mark nationally and tied with Tulane as the best among Group of Six programs. Of note, only Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon and Texas have better road marks (by winning percentage) than JMU from 2022-26.
Â
This season, the Dukes are 3-1 in road games.
Â
SUN BELT SUCCESS
JMU is 29-9 in Sun Belt play since entering the league, including 14-5 on the road. Despite two straight overtime losses, the Dukes have won 12 of their last 14 regular-season conference games, as well as the 2025 Sun Belt Championship Game.
Â
James Madison continues to have the most wins of any Sun Belt team since 2022, with 47. Troy is second with 39 victories in that time. JMU also is one of two SBC squads with four conference wins this season, joining Louisiana Tech.
Â
The Dukes are the only Sun Belt program to garner votes in either the AP or US LBM Coaches poll at any point in 2026.
Â
STANDOUTS
JMU ranks in the top 25 nationally in a variety of key offensive categories. The Dukes are No. 6 in the country in fourth-down conversions (.750), No. 10 in scoring offense (39.1), No. 13 in red zone offense (.932), No. 19 in total offense (450.9) and No. 23 in rushing offense (202.1).
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On the defensive side of the ball, JMU is allowing just 18.9 points per game, good for No. 1 in the Sun Belt.
Â
JMU also continues to boast one of the nation's best return games. It ranks No. 2 in the country in kick returns (35.43) and No. 16 in punt returns (15.58).
Â
Individually, wide receiver Michael Scott has earned another week as the nation's leader in combined return yardage, with 734. He's No. 1 in the country in kickoff returns (38.8) and No. 3 in punt returns (15.8).
Â
Additionally, Scott's 125.6 all-purpose yards per game is No. 1 in the Sun Belt.
Â
Cornerback DJ Kelly's four interceptions remain tied for No. 6 nationally. He also sits No. 12 in the nation in passes defended (1.22).
Â
In the kicking game, kicker Morgan Suarez is No. 9 in the nation in points (82) and No. 22 in scoring per game (9.1).
Â
UP NEXT
JMU plays in its final road game of the 2026 regular season with a trip to UConn on Saturday, Nov. 14. Kickoff is set for noon ET, with the game airing on CBS Sports Network.
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Players Mentioned
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LB
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DL
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WR
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K
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EDGE
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WR
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