Dukes Return Home Saturday for Homecoming Matchup with Southern Miss

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison football returns home for a Homecoming Weekend matchup against Sun Belt Conference foe Southern Miss on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Bridgeforth Stadium, and the game will be streamed on ESPN+. Pregame radio coverage 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.

Southern Miss (1-6, 0-3 SBC) at James Madison (5-2, 1-2 SBC)
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Kickoff: 3:30 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

FIRST-TIME MEETING, HOMECOMING HISTORY

This is the inaugural matchup between JMU and Southern Miss.
It's also JMU's second game ever against a team from Mississippi, having played Alcorn State in 2012 - a game which JMU won 42-3.
Saturday will be the 50th Homecoming football game, and the Dukes are 33-16 all-time in those games.

ANOTHER SELLOUT THIS WEEKEND

JMU Nation has showed out in a big way this season, as Saturday will mark the fourth sellout of the season.
Bridgeforth Stadium is averaging 25,326 fans per game through the first three home games in 2024, which includes two of the top-10 attendances over the past two home weekends.
Back on Oct. 10, a total of 25,622 spectators were on hand for JMU's first Thursday night home game in its FBS era, which is the ninth-best attendance in Bridgeforth history.
Family Weekend on Sept. 28 versus Ball State saw 25,786 in attendance, which is seventh in stadium history.
Including this weekend, Saturday will be JMU's ninth straight sellout dating back to the 2023 season.

DUKES' SUCCESS AT BRIDGEFORTH

Since 2000, JMU has been historically solid in winning after its first defeat in the regular season.
The Dukes improved to 20-3 in weeks after their first setback of the season.
Two of the three times JMU has failed to win after its first loss was due in large to its starting quarterback being injured.
Of the 20 wins coming back from a loss, JMU has won 14 of those games by double digits, which includes Coastal Carolina in each of the past two years. In addition to the 39-7 win on Oct. 10, JMU ended the 2023 regular season with a resounding 56-14 victory in Conway to win the Sun Belt East.
JMU went unbeaten in the 2017 and 2020 regular seasons with its only losses occurring in the FCS playoffs.

TAKEAWAY KINGS

JMU has won the turnover battle in every game thus far to lead the country in turnover margin, total takeaways and interceptions.
The Dukes are first in the FBS with a +2.29 turnover margin.
They've created 21 total turnovers, which includes a nation-leading 15 interceptions. Their six fumble recoveries also rank 13th.
Additionally, after throwing an interception at Charlotte, Alonza Barnett III has gone without throwing a pick in the last six games.

JMU's turnover margin by 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 CAREER STARTS

A pair of JMU players started the 50th game of their respective careers last time out, including one who's started every game at JMU.
Cole Potts, who's started all but one game of his career, made his 50th start at right guard against Georgia Southern.
With his 50th start last Saturday, he tied the JMU record for most starts, matching JMU
Hall of Famer Tony LeZotte, who started all 50 career games from 2004 to 2007. A start this week against Southern Miss would set the outright record.
Jacob Dobbs also made his 50th start in his 50th career game. He started all 43 at Holy Cross before anchoring the JMU defense through the first seven in 2024.

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

On the radio – WSVA 92.1 FM/550 AM
Online: The Varsity Network

Broadcast Talent

ESPN+: Curt Dudley (pxp), Delvin Joyce (analyst), David Hulvey (sideline)
Radio: Dave Riggert (pxp), Kelvin Azanama (analyst)

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