Dukes Head to Norfolk Saturday to Face In-State Rival ODU

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison hits the road for its penultimate road game, as it travels to Norfolk on Saturday, Nov. 16 to face in-state rival Old Dominion at S.B. Ballard Stadium.

The game is part of the TowneBank Royal Rivalry Challenge, which is currently tied at 3-3 heading into the final JMU-ODU matchup of the fall sports season.

Kickoff is set for 4 p.m., and the game will be nationally televised on ESPNU. Pregame radio coverage on the Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network begins at 2 p.m.

Saturday's game is sponsored by TowneBank, and the 2024 JMU football season is presented by CarMax.

James Madison (7-2, 3-2 SBC) at Old Dominion (4-5, 3-2 SBC)
Saturday, November 16, 2024
Kickoff 4 PM ET
Norfolk, Va. | S.B. Ballard Stadium

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

BREAKING DOWN THE SERIES

Saturday marks the fifth meeting all-time between JMU and Old Dominion, with the series knotted at 2-2.
Old Dominion won the first two meetings while both squads were FCS members in the Colonial Athletic Association, but each of the past two games with them as Sun Belt Conference foes have gone in JMU's favor.
JMU is 1-1 all-time in Norfolk, which includes a 37-3 victory for the Dukes on Nov. 12, 2022 - the most lopsided result in the series.
Last season, JMU held off ODU by a 30-27 margin in Harrisonburg. Clinging to a three-point lead in the fourth, JMU forced ODU into a three-and-out, a turnover on downs and a strip sack over its final three possessions.
While in the FCS, the Monarchs claimed a 23-20 home win in 2011 and a 38-28 victory in Harrisonburg in 2012.
Over the four meetings, JMU averages 28.75 points to ODU's 22.75

SUN BELT EAST DIVISION PICTURE

Entering the regular-season's final three weeks, four teams are separated by a game in the Sun Belt East Division and JMU plays two of the three teams it's in contention with.
Georgia Southern and Marshall are currently tied for first with 4-1 Sun Belt records, but the Eagles own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Thundering Herd.
JMU and ODU are both even at 3-2 with this week's winner having a shot to catch GS down the stretch.
While Georgia Southern controls its own destiny to make the Sun Belt Championship Game, should JMU win out and GS lose two of three (vs. Troy, at Coastal Carolina, vs. App State), JMU would win the East.
Marshall sits a game ahead of JMU as well, but after this week's home game with Coastal, the Herd travel to ODU and JMU to close the regular season.

DOMINANT WIN OVER GA STATE

JMU jumped out to an early 14-0 lead and shut out Georgia State in the second half to roll to a 38-7 victory on Nov. 9.
Alonza Barnett III threw for 241 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 33 more.
JMU out-gained GSU by a 211-46 margin in the run game, led by George Pettaway's 95 rushing yards and a touchdown. Jobi Malary had 60.
Wayne Knight had his first two-TD game of his career, rushing for 18 yards and a touchdown and catching three passes for 26 yards and a score.
Yamir Knight also caught four balls for 65 yards, and Omarion Dollison caught a 52-yard touchdown pass, finishing with three grabs for 59 receiving yards.
GSU was limited to just 259 yards and JMU's defense was paced by Eric O'Neill, who had 3.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and four hurries.
JMU also blocked its third kick of the season on a Terrence Spence blocked field goal.
The win improved JMU to 4-0 all-time against the Panthers and kept JMU unbeaten at home, with a 5-0 mark in 2024.

19 STRAIGHT VS. THE COMMONWEALTH

JMU enters Saturday's game with 19 straight victories against teams from the state of Virginia.
Last season, JMU rallied to beat Virginia (36-35) in Charlottesville before later upending ODU (30-27) for its 2023 Homecoming game.
Saturday also marks the 160th game ever for JMU against an in-state foe, as it holds a 98-61 record (.616) versus the Commonwealth.
The Dukes have faced 15 teams from Virginia, dating back to its 1972 inaugural season.
The Dukes have played William & Mary (27-17) more than any other state team, at 44 games, and have faced Richmond (21-18) 39 times and Liberty (12-6) on 18 occasions.
The Tribe was the last state team to beat JMU in a 44-41 triumph on Oct. 31, 2015, in Williamsburg.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: ESPNU
Online: Watch ESPN (cable subscription required)
Listen: Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network

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

Broadcast Talent

ESPNU: Courtney Lyle (pxp), Rene Ingoglia (analyst)
Radio: Dave Riggert (pxp), Harry O'Kelly (analyst)

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