Dukes and Panthers Set for Saturday Matchup at Bridgeforth

Saturday, November 9

Harrisonburg, Va.

3:30 p.m.

James Madison University

Georgia State

Dukes and Panthers Set for Saturday Matchup at Bridgeforth

11/5/2024 3:15:00 PM | Football

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison football is back in action this week after its second open week and will host Sun Belt Conference foe Georgia State on Saturday Nov. 9 at Bridgeforth Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. 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 Glo Fiber, and the 2024 JMU football season is presented by CarMax.

Georgia State (2-6, 0-4 SBC) at James Madison (6-2, 2-2 SBC)
Saturday, November 4, 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

BREAKING DOWN THE SERIES

Saturday marks the fourth meeting all-time between JMU and Georgia State, as the Dukes hold a 3-0 lead.
The series began in 2012 while the teams were members of the FCS's Colonial Athletic Association - a 28-21 home win for the Dukes.
Since both teams became conference mates in the Sun Belt, scoring has not been an issue, with a combined 138 points over the past two seasons.
JMU won last season's matchup in Atlanta, 42-14, while taking the 2022 home meeting by a 42-40 margin, a game that featured JMU rallying back from a 34-14 halftime deficit.

BOWL ELIGIBLE FOR THE FIRST TIME

JMU is bowl eligible for the first time after improving to 6-2 with its win on Oct. 26 against Southern Miss.
While the Dukes are bowl bound for the second time in as many years, JMU was not technically considered bowl eligible in 2023 due to the FCS to FBS reclassification.
The Dukes competed in the 2023 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl versus Air Force due to there not being enough bowl eligible programs, coupled with JMU being in year two of the reclassification process with at least six wins.
Last season, a record 12 Sun Belt Conference teams competed in bowl season, and JMU became the second conference school to clinch eligibility, behind SBC West leader Louisiana.
Entering this week, three Sun Belt teams are eligible, adding in Georgia Southern, while three others are 5-3.

SPENCE UP FOR THORPE AWARD

Cornerback Terrence Spence became JMU's first semifinalists for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, which is given annually to college football's top defensive back.
He's additionally the only Sun Belt athlete to make the 15-man list.
Through eight games, Spence leads the league and ranks second nationally with five interceptions.
He's just one shy of Cal's Nohl Williams (6) for the FBS lead. Spence also ranks third in the Sun Belt with eight total passes defended (5 INT, 3 PBU).
The award was established in 1986 and is named after history's greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe.

POTTS, ALL-TIME STARTS LEADER

Cole Potts is in a league of his own for JMU football, as he stands as the program's all-time starts leader, with 51.
He made his 51st start at right guard on Oct. 26 against Southern Miss, surpassing JMU Hall of Fame safety Tony LeZotte, who started 50 games from 2004-07.
Potts has started all but one game, as he appeared as a reserve in JMU's 2020-21 spring opener against Morehead State.
Since April 17, 2021, when he made his first start against Richmond, Potts has started every JMU game since then.

SOLD OUT ONCE AGAIN

This Saturday marks the fifth sellout of the 2024 season and the 10th consecutive sellout dating back to last season.
JMU is averaging 25,344 fans at Bridgeforth Stadium this year, which includes two of the top-10 attendances ever.
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.

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