By james art
football
HARRISONBURG, Virginia – James Madison football returns home for a Homecoming Weekend game against Sun Belt Conference opponent Southern Miss on Saturday, October 26.
Kick-off is scheduled for 15:30 at Bridgeforth Stadium and the match will be broadcast on ESPN+. A pregame radio broadcast on the Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network begins at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday’s game is sponsored by University Outpost and the 2024 JMU football season is presented by CarMax.
FIRST MEETING, HOMECOMING STORY
- This is the opening game between JMU and Southern Miss.
- It is also JMU’s second game against a Mississippi team since playing Alcorn State in 2012, a game JMU won 42-3.
- Saturday will be the 50th Homecoming football game, and the Dukes are 33-16 all-time in those games.
ANOTHER SALE THIS WEEKEND
- JMU Nation has come out in a big way this season as Saturday will mark the fourth sellout of the season.
- Bridgeforth Stadium has averaged 25,326 fans per game over the first three home games in 2024, which includes two of the top 10 attendances over the last two home weekends.
- On Oct. 10, a total of 25,622 attended JMU’s first Thursday night home game in the FBS era, the ninth-best attendance in Bridgeforth history.
- Family Weekend on Sept. 28 against Ball State saw 25,786 in attendance, the seventh-most in stadium history.
- Including this weekend, Saturday will be JMU’s ninth straight sellout dating back to the 2023 season.
DUKE’S SUCCESS AT BRIDGEFORT
- Since 2000, JMU has been historically solid in wins following its first regular season loss.
- The Dukes improved to 20-3 in weeks following their first loss of the season.
- Two of the three times JMU failed to win after its first loss was due in large part to an injury to the starting quarterback.
- Of the 20 wins after a loss, JMU has won 14 of those games by double digits, which includes Coastal Carolina each of the last two years. In addition to the 39-7 victory on Oct. 10, JMU closed out the 2023 regular season with an emphatic 56-14 victory at Conway to win the Sun Belt East.
- JMU went undefeated through the 2017 and 2020 regular seasons, with its only losses coming in the FCS playoffs.
KINGS FOR THE OUTSIDE
- JMU has won the turnover battle in every game so far to lead the country in turnover margin, total turnovers and interceptions.
- The Dukes are first in the FBS with a +2.29 turnover margin.
- They have created 21 total turnovers, which includes a nation-leading 15 interceptions. Their six fumble recoveries also rank 13th.
- Also, after throwing an interception to Charlotte, Alonza Barnett III has not thrown a pick in the last six games.
JMU’s turnover margin per game:
- Charlotte (8/31) – 3-2 (2 INT, 1 FR)
- Gardner-Webb (9/7) – 2-0 (2 INT)
- North Carolina (9/21) – 5-1 (2 INT, 3 FR)
- Ball State (9/28) – 3-0 (3 INT)
- ULM (10/5) – 2-1 (1 INT, 1 FR)
- Coastal Carolina – 2-1 (2 INT)
- Georgia Southern – 4-0 (3 INT, 1 FR)
50 START OF CAREER
- Two JMU players started the 50th game of their respective careers last time out, including one who has started every JMU game.
- Cole Pottswho has started all but one game in his career, made his 50th start at right guard against Georgia Southern.
- With his 50th start last Saturday, he tied JMU’s record for most starts, tying JMU
- Hall of Famer Tony Lezot, who started all 50 games in his career from 2004 to 2007. A start this week against Southern Miss would set an outright record.
- Jacob Dobbs also made his 50th start in his 50th career game. He started all 43 at Holy Cross before anchoring JMU’s front seven defense in 2024.
RELEASE INFORMATION
Online: ESPN+ (subscription required)
Listen: Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network Broadcast Talent
- ESPN+: Kurt Dudley (pxp), Delvin Joyce (analyst), David Hulvey (sideline)
- Radio: Dave Riegert (pxp), Kelvin Azanama (analyst)