Dukes Begin New Era Saturday, Host Middle Tennessee in 2022 Opener

Saturday, September 3

Harrisonburg, Va.

6 p.m.

James Madison University

Middle Tennessee

Tickets

Dukes Begin New Era Saturday, Host Middle Tennessee in 2022 Opener

8/31/2022 9:30:00 AM | Football

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison opens its 51st season of football and its first as a member of the Sun Belt Conference when it hosts Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Sept. 3.

Kickoff from Bridgeforth Stadium is set for 6 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+. Pregame radio coverage on the Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network begins at 5 p.m.

Saturday's game is sponsored by United Bank, and the 2022 season is presented by CarMax.

James Madison (0-0) vs. Middle Tennessee (0-0)
Saturday, September 3, 2022
Kickoff: 6:00 PM ET
Harrisonburg, Va. | Bridgeforth Stadium

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

THE SUN HAS RISEN IN HARRISONBURG

James Madison University has ushered in a new era, as it officially joined the Sun Belt Conference on July 1.
The Dukes are one of 14 full-time members of the Sun Belt, and with the additions of JMU, Old Dominion, Marshall and Southern Miss, the league unveiled its east and west divisions.
The east consists of App State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, JMU, Marshall and ODU.
The west is comprised of Arkansas State, Louisiana, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Texas State, Troy and ULM.
James Madison is first institution to host five FBS opponents in the first year of its FBS transition since the NCAA implemented the two-year transition process for reclassifying institutions in 1997.
With the transition, JMU will not be SBC championship or bowl eligible in 2022.

JMU IN SEASON & HOME OPENERS

The Dukes are 27-22-1 all-time in season openers, dating back to their 1972 inaugural campaign.
JMU has won its past two season openers, both at home against FCS foe Morehead State, with an average score of 60-5. JMU won 52-0 in the spring 2020-21 opener and 68-10 last season.
In home openers, JMU is 39-11, which includes 19 straight home-opening victories.
During its current 19-game win streak to begin the Bridgeforth slate, JMU has outscored its opponents by an average of 49.3 to 8.8.
JMU has scored more than 40 points in 15 of those wins, including 80 in the 2016 opener.
The last opposing team to win JMU's home opener was Hampton back on Aug. 31, 2002 (31-28).

BREAKING DOWN THE SERIES

Saturday marks just the second between JMU and Middle Tennessee, with the Dukes leading 1-0.
In the first meeting, back on Sept. 10, 1994, JMU held off a late comeback attempt, upending the Blue Raiders 24-22. MTSU out-gained the Dukes by nearly 100 yards, but JMU opened up a 24-6 halftime lead.
Middle Tennessee scored 16 second-half points to pull within two early in the fourth, but three field-goal misses, including a 38-yard attempt with 1:24 to play, gave JMU the win.

FIRST MATCHUP VS. C-USA

This weekend's game marks JMU's first game against a member of Conference USA.
JMU's previous matchup with MTSU occurred when the Blue Raiders were an FCS program.
The Dukes also had other matchups with teams that at one time were C-USA members, but not while they were in that conference.

HOME COOKING AT BRIDGEFORTH

Since the start of the 2016 season, JMU has treated its fans well at Bridgeforth Stadium.
Over the past six seasons, the Dukes have gone 43-2 on their home turf.
That includes four unbeaten seasons, going 9-0 in 2017 and 2019, 8-0 in 2016 and 5-0 in 2020.
During the span, JMU has scored 50+ points in 21 games, had nine over 60 points, four over 70 and two with at least 80.
JMU's first home loss from 2016-21 came on Oct. 6, 2018 when current head coach Curt Cignetti led Elon to a 27-24 win.
The Dukes saw a 19-game home win streak end last season on Oct. 9, 2021, falling 28-27 to Villanova.

CIGNETTI ENTERS SEASON #4

Curt Cignetti enters his fourth season at the helm in 2022 and his 12th overall as a head coach.
Over his first three seasons, he's guided JMU to a 33-4 record, three conference championships and three trips to the FCS semifinals, with a title-game berth in his first season.
JMU's most recent win on Dec. 10, 2021, a 28-6 triumph over Montana in the FCS quarterfinals, was the 100th career victory for Cignetti.
The two-time VaSID State Coach of the Year has coached three Consensus All-Americans at JMU and 25 total since the 2019 season.
Prior to JMU, Cignetti spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons at Elon, going 14-9. He was first a head coach at Division II Indiana (Pa.), where he was 53-17 from 2011-16.

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