#25 JMU Travels to Statesboro Saturday for SBC Bout with Georgia Southern

HARRISONBURG, Va. – #25 James Madison hits the road for the second straight week, as it heads to Statesboro, Ga., to take on Georgia Southern Saturday, Oct. 15 in Sun Belt Conference action.

Kickoff from Allen E. Paulson Stadium is set for 4 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
Pregame radio coverage on the Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network will begin at 3 p.m.

The 2022 JMU football season is presented by CarMax.

#25 James Madison (5-0, 3-0 SBC) vs. Georgia Southern (3-3, 0-2 SBC)
Saturday, October 15, 2022
Kickoff: 4 p.m.
Statesboro, Ga. | Allen E. Paulson Stadium (25,000)

Game Information
Online: ESPN+ (subscription required)
Radio: WSVA 92.1 FM/550 AM
Listen: Varsity Network
Live Stats
JMU Game Notes

JMU-GEORGIA SOUTHERN FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS

This isn't the first meeting between JMU and Georgia Southern, but it's been 30 years since they last met.
Saturday marks the ninth all-time meeting, with the Eagles holding a 7-1 lead.
That includes a 4-0 mark in games played in Statesboro.
The Dukes and Eagles began the series in 1985, playing every season until 1992.
JMU won the inaugural meeting, 21-6, at home on Nov. 2, 1985. Southern would go on to win the next seven, taking five of the games by double-digit points.

NATIONALLY RANKED FOR FIRST TIME AT FBS LEVEL

Following its 5-0 start, JMU earned its first national ranking in the FBS ranks, coming in at #25 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 College Football Poll.
JMU received 105 points from the AP's 63 voters, as it became the first FBS-transitioning team to garner a national ranking in its first season.
It is one of just two non-autonomy five programs to rank in the top 25, as Cincinnati is also #21.
The Dukes are just the third first-year FBS squad to start a season 5-0, joining UTSA in 2012 and Florida Atlantic in 2004. JMU pursues the first 6-0 start by a first-year FBS program this upcoming week.
JMU also received 70 votes in the USA Today Sports AFCA Coaches' Poll and is the third team outside that top 25.

HUGE OFFENSIVE NUMBERS PUSH JMU PAST A-STATE

JMU's offenses exploded for nearly 600 total yards, as Todd Centeio threw for 394 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Dukes to a 42-20 victory at Arkansas State last Saturday.
Multiple Dukes turned in career outings, as Kris Thornton made nine catches for 173 yards, which included 115 after the catch. He surpassed 2,000 receiving yards for his JMU career, moving into sixth place all-time.
On the ground, Percy Agyei-Obese rushed for a career-best 158 yards and two touchdowns, as he moved into third place all-time at JMU with 35 total touchdowns.
Five Dukes had at least 40 receiving yards, including Drew Painter (5 rec, 44 yards, TD) and Zach Horton (3 rec, 47 yards, TD), who both had career-high numbers.
JMU outgained A-State by a 598-267 margin, including 204-20 in rushing. The defense was led by Taurus Jones, who made a career-high 13 tackles with 2.5 TFL and a sack. JMU registered six sacks and had five three-and-outs, as well as one takeaway.

CENTEIO HONORED BY SUN BELT AND MANNING AWARD

Following his performance at Arkansas State, in which he gained more than 400 total yards and scored four touchdowns, Todd Centeio was named Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
It's his second SBC honor of the season, joining his Sept. 26 accolade.
He was also recognized as one of the eight Manning Award Stars of the Week, the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced Monday. Centeio was previously honored by the Manning Award after throwing for six touchdowns in JMU's opener versus Middle Tennessee.

15 UNBEATENS REMAIN

After six full weeks of college football, JMU is one of just 15 remaining unbeatens in FBS.
This is down one from last week after TCU defeated Kansas in Lawrence.
The Sun Belt Conference boasts two of 15 undefeated squads, as JMU is joined by 6-0 Coastal Carolina.
Those two are also the only two teams without a loss from a non-autonomy five conference.
The SEC leads the way with four teams, while the Big Ten has three.
The SBC is tied with the Big 12, ACC and Pac 12 with two unbeatens apiece.
This week, there will be a minimum of three teams to suffer its first loss in battles of unbeatens.
#10 Penn State visits #5 Michigan, #3 Alabama takes on #6 Tennessee and #8 Oklahoma State heads to #13 TCU.
Six other teams, JMU included, face opponents with at least a .500 record this week.

OLD FRIENDS

This Saturday, the Dukes will be on opposite sidelines of a few former colleagues.
Bryan Schor, offensive analyst for GS, was a two-year starting QB for JMU, leading the Dukes to the 2016 national championship and was an FCS All-American who set multiple passing records.
Matt Merritt, running backs coach for GS, served as JMU's running backs coach in 2019.
Ezrah Archie, a sixth-year receiver, played three seasons for JMU (2017-19).

JMU ACTIVE STREAKS

11 straight regular season wins
Eight straight conference wins (including FCS)
14 straight regular-season road wins
13 straight conference road wins (including FCS)
28 straight games holding opponents under 50% on third down
Five straight games outgaining opponents
Five straight games out-rushing opponents
Eight straight home wins
20 straight wins in home openers
Eight straight wins in conference openers (2015-22)

JMU IN THE NATIONAL RANKS

Entering week seven of the college football season, JMU leads the country in two categories while ranking top 10 in 10 areas.
The Dukes pace the FBS in rushing defense (41.0) and fewest first downs allowed (11.4)
They are second in total defense (227.4), third in tackles for loss (9.6) and fourth in fewest interceptions thrown (1).
JMU is also fifth on third-down defense (25.4%), sixth in scoring offense (44.2), seventh in pass efficiency rating (178.67), time of possession (34:20) and fourth-down defense (16.7%) and ninth in sacks per outing (3.6).
Individually, Todd Centeio is sixth in point responsibility (20.8), eighth in efficiency (177.8) and ninth in passing touchdowns (15).
Kris Thornton is seventh in receiving yards per game (103.2), while Taurus Jones is ninth in forced fumbles (2).

JMU IN SUN BELT RANKS ONLY

Through its first three league games, JMU is tops in the Sun Belt in eight statistical areas in conference-play only.
The Dukes average 38.0 points per Sun Belt game, while also pacing the SBC in total defense (270.44), rushing defense (63.0) and yards per play (7.08).
It also leads the conference in rushing scores (8), first downs (24.67), pass efficiency (164.88) and fumble recoveries (4).

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Online: ESPN+ (subscription required)
Listen: Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network

On the radio – WSVA 92.1 FM/550 AM
On mobile – The Varsity Network
Online: WSVAOnline.com

Broadcast Talent

ESPN+: Danny Waugh (pxp), Cole Neely (analyst), Emily Grace McWhorter (sideline)
Radio: Dave Riggert (pxp), Alex Miller (analyst), Corey Spector (sideline)

WHAT'S UP NEXT
JMU returns home on Saturday, Oct. 22 when it hosts Marshall for Homecoming. Kickoff from Bridgeforth Stadium is set for 3:30 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.

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