Dukes Open FCS Playoffs Saturday with In-State Battle Against VMI

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The No. 3 seed James Madison football team begins postseason play on Saturday April 24, with a matchup against Southern Conference champion VMI in the first round of the FCS playoffs.

The Dukes wrapped up the regular season ranked #1 in both the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and AFCA Division I Coaches' Poll, while the Keydets are ranked 11th in both polls.

The game kicks off at 2 p.m. at Bridgeforth Stadium and will be streamed on ESPN3. It can also be heard on the JMU Glo Fiber Broadcast Network, with pregame coverage beginning at 1 p.m.

JMU run through the FCS playoffs is presented by Excel Heating and Cooling.

James Madison Dukes (5-0) vs. VMI (6-1)
Saturday, April 24, 2021
Harrisonburg, Va. | Bridgeforth Stadium

Game Information
Online: ESPN3
Radio: WSVA 92.1 FM/550 AM
Listen: JMU Glo Fiber Broadcast Network
Live Stats
JMU Game Notes

SERIES HISTORY

14th meeting all-time between JMU and VMI
JMU leads 10-3, which includes 7-0 record at home
First matchup since 2009
JMU has won five in a row, with VMI's last victory coming back on Sept. 15, 1990.
In the previous 13 games against each other, JMU averages 30.0 points per game and VMI averages 13.5 per contest.
JMU owns two shutout victories – in 1988 and 1989.

DUKES IN THE POSTSEASON

JMU is making its 17th trip to the playoffs and for a program-record seventh straight year.
The Dukes are 20-14 all-time in the postseason and have won two national championships – 2004 and 2016. They also advanced to two other title games in 2017 and 2019.
JMU is a national seed for the sixth time ever and for the second consecutive playoff. The Dukes were also the No. 1 seed in both 2008 and 2017, No. 2 in 2019, No. 4 in 2016 and No. 5 in 2015.
JMU has won at least one playoff game the past four years and has multiple playoff victories in five postseasons. It went 4-0 in both national-title runs, 3-1 in its 2017 and 2019 runner-up finishes and 2-1 in 2008.
The Dukes are 12-4 at home in the postseason, 6-8 on the road and 2-2 in neutral-site games.
JMU has won nine straight home playoff games, stretch back to the 2016 season.

THREE DUKES NATIONAL AWARD FINALISTS

JMU had its head coach and two standouts named finalists for Stats Perform FCS Legacy Awards.
Head Coach Curt Cignetti is one of 16 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award, honoring the FCS' top coach.
Running back Percy Agyei-Obese is one of 16 finalists for the Walter Payton Award, given to the nation's top offensive player.
Defensive end Mike Greene was also one of 18 players tabbed a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is given to the country's top defensive player.
The Robinson Award winner will be announced May 4 and the winner of both the Payton and Buchanan will be unveiled on May 15.

GREENE, RATKE HIGHLIGHT CAA FOOTBALL AWARDS, 11 NAMED ALL-CAA

Mike Greene was voted CAA Co-Defensive Player of the Year and Ethan Ratke was tabbed Special Teams Player of the Year.
It's the fourth straight year JMU has won the league's top defender and the third Special Teams honor since 2016.
A total of 11 Dukes were honored on the All-CAA team, with seven making the First Team.
Joining Greene and Ratke on the All-CAA First Team were Percy Agyei-Obese, Kris Thornton, Raymond Gillespie, Truvell Wilson and MJ Hampton.
Earning Second Team All-CAA laurels were Kelvin Azanama, Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey, Harry O'Kelly and Kyle Davis.
Agyei-Obese and Ratke are repeat First Team All-CAA members. Ratke was also a Third Team honoree in 2018. Greene and Truvell Wilson earned honors for the second time - both Third Team in 2019.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Online: ESPN3
Listen: JMU Glo Fiber Broadcast Network

On the radio – WSVA 92.1 FM/550 AM
Online: www.wsvaonline.com

Broadcast Talent

Video: Bill Roth (pxp), Hutson Mason (analyst)
Radio: Dave Thomas (pxp), Clint Estes (analyst), Allie Barefoot (sideline)

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