Dukes Return Home for Family Weekend Showdown with Jaguars

Saturday, September 30

Harrisonburg, Va.

Noon

James Madison University

South Alabama

Dukes Return Home for Family Weekend Showdown with Jaguars

9/26/2023 3:30:00 PM | Football

HARRISONBURG, Va. – After three weeks on the road, James Madison returns home to take on Sun Belt Conference foe South Alabama in front of a sold-out crowd on Saturday, Sept. 30.

Kickoff from Bridgeforth Stadium is set for noon and will be nationally televised on ESPNU. Pregame radio coverage on the Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network begins at 10 a.m. Saturday's game is sponsored by United Bank, and the 2023 season is presented by CarMax. The matchup will also serve as JMU's Family Weekend game.

James Madison (4-0, 1-0 SBC) vs. South Alabama (2-2, 0-0 SBC)
Saturday, September 30, 2023
Kickoff: 12:00 PM
Harrisonburg, Va. | Bridgeforth Stadium

Game Information
Television: ESPNU
Radio: WSVA 92.1 FM/550 AM
Listen: Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network
Live Stats
JMU Game Notes

FIRST-TIME MATCHUP WITH THE JAGS

This Saturday marks the first meeting between JMU and South Alabama.
It's the second time in three weeks JMU faces a team from Alabama, winning 16-14 at Troy back on Sept. 16.

LEADING THE COUNTRY

Through four games, JMU leads the FBS in rushing defense, allowing 41.5 yards per game.
The Dukes also pace the country in yards per rush allowed, as teams manage just 1.39 per carry.
JMU limited Troy to -12 rushing yards in week three's win and held Virginia to just 18 rushing yards in week two.
Utah State reeled off 98 yards on the ground last week, the most yards JMU has allowed during its current seven-game win streak that dates back to Nov. 12, 2022.
JMU has also produced 10.2 tackles for loss per game, which is tied for first nationally, and recorded 4.5 sacks per outing, which is tied for second in the FBS.

DUKES COMPLETE ROAD TRIP WITH THRILLER AT UTAH STATE

JMU built a 24-point lead in the first half and held off a furious comeback to beat Utah State, 45-38, last week.
The Dukes led 38-14 before USU scored 24 unanswered to tie the game with 11:01 to play.
Jordan McCloud connected on a 74-yard touchdown to Reggie Brown with 5:52 to go and the defense produced interceptions by Aiden Fisher and D'Angelo Ponds in the final minutes to secure the win.
McCloud passed for 364 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 26 yards and two scores. His six total touchdowns were a career high and his passing and rushing scores tied his respective career highs.
Brown caught five passes for a career-high 160 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while Phoenix Sproles and Omarion Dollison caught touchdowns.
Fisher had another career night, making nine tackles with his interception and two pass breakups. The defense produced 12 tackles for loss and five sacks while forcing a season-high three interceptions.
Utah State was led by McCae Hillstead, who threw for 399 yards and four scores with his three picks. Terrell Vaughn caught a pair of second-half touchdowns and had 10 grabs for 124 receiving yards.

McCLOUD HONORED BY O'BRIEN & MANNING AWARDS

Following his six-TD performance in JMU's win at Utah State, Jordan McCloud was selected to the Davey O'Brien Award Great 8 and was named one of the eight Manning Award Stars of the Week.
His 364 passing yards were the 10th-most in JMU single-game history, and his six total touchdowns tied the program's single-game mark.
With his recognition on this week's Great 8, he was added to the Davey O'Brien Award midseason watch list.

EIGHTH LONGEST WIN STREAK

JMU's 45-38 win at Utah State extended its active win streak to seven games, dating back to last season.
With both BYU and Oregon State falling last Saturday, JMU now has the eighth-longest win streak in the FBS.
It's also the second-best win streak in the Sun Belt, trailing Marshall, which won its eighth in a row last weekend against Virginia Tech.
Defending national champion Georgia paces the FBS with 21 straight wins going back to 2021.
Seven of the eight are in action this week, with Florida State on a bye.
Three are on the road in #1 Georgia, #6 Penn State and #7 Washington.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television: ESPNU
Listen: Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network