Dukes Set for Battle at App State Saturday in Boone

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison hits the road for the second straight week and for the final time of the 2024 regular season, as it travels to App State on Saturday, Nov. 23 for a pivotal Sun Belt Conference East Division showdown.

Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. ET at Kidd Brewer Stadium, and the game will be streamed on ESPN+. Pregame radio coverage on the Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network begins at 12:30 p.m.

The 2024 JMU football season is presented by CarMax.

James Madison (8-2, 4-2 SBC) at App State (4-5, 2-4 SBC)
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Kickoff 2:30 PM ET
Boone, N.C. | Kidd Brewer stadium

Game Information
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 19th meeting all-time between JMU and App State, with the Mountaineers holding a 13-5 advantage in a series dating back to 1980.
App holds a 7-3 record in games played in Boone, though JMU won the previous matchup at Kidd Brewer Stadium in 2022. Trailing 28-3 in the second quarter, JMU scored 29 unanswered to storm back and claim a 32-28 triumph on Sept. 24, 2022 - JMU's first Sun Belt Conference game.
Last season, JMU, which was 10-0 at the time and hosting ESPN College GameDay, dropped a 26-23 overtime decision to App State on Nov. 18, 2023 at Bridgeforth Stadium.
The teams met regularly originally, facing off in 12 of 13 seasons from 1980-1992 before the Dukes joined a conference in the early 90's.
Prior to joining the Sun Belt Conference, JMU hadn't matched up with App since 2008.
Over the previous 18 meetings, JMU averages 18.3 points, as opposed to App's 26.3.

DUKES WIN THIRD STRAIGHT, STAY IN SBC EAST CONVERSATION

JMU used a stout defensive effort in the second half, a season high in rushing yards and a three-touchdown performance from Alonza Barnett III to upend Old Dominion, 35-32, last Saturday at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
Barnett threw for 192 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 70 and two scores, highlighted by a 50-yard touchdown run. The Knight brothers each had career days, as Yamir Knight had eight catches for 112 receiving yards and a 68-yard touchdown, while Wayne Knight rushed for 74 yards and a score.
Khairi Manns turned in a career-high 2.5 sacks while Eric O'Neill added 2.0, as the defense had held ODU to -9 fourth-quarter yards prior to the hosts final drive of the game.
JMU trailed 24-21 at halftime before Barnett's long touchdown to Yamir Knight in the third. After a hard count by Barnett to draw ODU offside late in the fourth, he capped off his day with a rushing touchdown, making it 35-24. ODU added a late touchdown, but the onside kick was recovered by JMU.
The win kept JMU within distance of the East Division title, staying a game back with two weeks to play.

SBC EAST DIVISION PICTURE

Entering this week's slate, three teams are in the mix to represent the East in the Sun Belt Championship game.
Marshall leads the way at 5-1 and controls its own destiny to clinch the East. It plays at Old Dominion before traveling to JMU in the final week.
JMU and Georgia Southern are both 4-2.
The Dukes can clinch the East with wins in each of their last two games, including Marshall on Senior Day and one loss by Georgia Southern.
The Eagles could win the East with a pair of victories and a JMU win over Marshall, which would tie every team at 6-2. In that scenario, GS beat both teams to win the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Georgia Southern travels to Coastal Carolina this week before hosting App State in the finale.

OUR STATE. 20 IN A ROW VS. VIRGINIA TEAMS

JMU's victory at ODU marked the program's 20th straight win against teams from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Dukes are now 3-0 versus ODU since moving up to FBS and 5-0 as a team over Virginia teams in the FBS era, adding in the 2023 win at UVA and the 2022 home triumph over Norfolk State.
JMU has played 160 games all-time against Commonwealth foes, holding a 99-61 record (.619).
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.
Next season, JMU has the opportunity to win game No. 100 against the state when it travels to Liberty on Sept. 20, 2025.

10-FOR-10 IN THE TURNOVER BATTLE

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 +1.9-turnover margin, 25 total turnovers forced and 17 interceptions.
Their eight fumble recoveries rank tied for 15th.
JMU as also thrown just two picks, which is second nationally, tied for the Sun Belt lead and first among teams not running the triple option.
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)
- Southern Miss - 2-1 (1 INT, 1 FR)
- Georgia State - 1-0 (1 FR)
- Old Dominion - 1-0 (1 INT)

BROADCAST INFORMATION
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

ESPN+: David Jackson (pxp), Avery Hall (analyst)
Radio: Dave Riggert (pxp), Cole Johnson (analyst)

Calendar

Players Mentioned

Alonza Barnett III

Wayne Knight

Yamir Knight

Khairi Manns

Eric O'Neill

JMU Footer

Scoreboard

Calendar

Upcoming Event: Football versus Liberty on September 5, 2026 at Noon

Upcoming Event: Football versus Wagner on September 12, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Football at San Diego State on September 19, 2026 at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT)

Upcoming Event: Football at Old Dominion on September 26, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football versus Marshall on October 3, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football at Georgia Southern on October 10, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football versus Georgia State on October 17, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football at App State on October 22, 2026 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Football versus Troy on October 29, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Football at Southern Miss on November 5, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT)

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