Completed Event: Baseball at Georgetown on March 31, 2026 , Win , 12, to, 7
BASE
Final
James Madison
12
at Georgetown
7
James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
JMU Claims TowneBank Royal Rivalry Challenge for Second Straight Year
6/6/2024 2:00:00 PM | Administration
HARRISONBURG, Va. – Competing as Sun Belt Conference members for the second year, James Madison captured the TowneBank Royal Rivalry Challenge, pulling away from Old Dominion by a 14.5-7.5 margin in the all-sports competition between the schools.
The TowneBank Royal Rivalry Challenge is in its second year, and JMU has now won both years by a combined score of 31.0-15.0.
The Royal Rivalry title derives from the royalty implied in the "Dukes" and "Monarchs" nicknames and the presence of crowns in various logos of both schools. The two were previously conference foes in the Colonial Athletic Association from 1991 to 2013 when ODU exited for Conference USA.
Matchups continued occasionally in some sports, but with both institutions joining the Sun Belt in 2022, it allowed for a head-to-head competition in all sports to resume and the rivalry to be forged. Information on the Royal Rivalry trophy presentation will be made at a later date.
Royal Rivalry points are awarded for head-to-head competition or for the best finish in mutual conference championship events in sports where head-to-head competition does not occur. Half points are granted in case of a tie. Both regular season and postseason matches are included in head-to-head calculations.
Highlights of JMU's year-two victory of the rivalry include:
TowneBank agreed to an initial three-year commitment to sponsor the challenge, a partnership secured by LEARFIELD's JMU Sports Properties and Playfly's ODU Sports Properties.
2023-24 TowneBank Royal Rivalry Challenge Results
The TowneBank Royal Rivalry Challenge is in its second year, and JMU has now won both years by a combined score of 31.0-15.0.
The Royal Rivalry title derives from the royalty implied in the "Dukes" and "Monarchs" nicknames and the presence of crowns in various logos of both schools. The two were previously conference foes in the Colonial Athletic Association from 1991 to 2013 when ODU exited for Conference USA.
Matchups continued occasionally in some sports, but with both institutions joining the Sun Belt in 2022, it allowed for a head-to-head competition in all sports to resume and the rivalry to be forged. Information on the Royal Rivalry trophy presentation will be made at a later date.
Royal Rivalry points are awarded for head-to-head competition or for the best finish in mutual conference championship events in sports where head-to-head competition does not occur. Half points are granted in case of a tie. Both regular season and postseason matches are included in head-to-head calculations.
Highlights of JMU's year-two victory of the rivalry include:
- A 5-0 record in basketball (men's and women's) for the second straight year.
- A 30-27 football victory on Homecoming, evening the all-time series at 2-2.
- Pair of three-set volleyball wins, as JMU has won all 12 sets across two years.
- A 3-1 men's soccer victory, extending the program's unbeaten streak with ODU to five matches dating back to 2010.
- Higher finishes at championship events for swimming & diving and men's golf, which includes JMU winning the Sun Belt title in swim & dive.
- Lacrosse's 18-9 road win in the regular-season finale to wrap up the AAC No. 2 seed.
- Concluding the year with a 15-5 victory in the Sun Belt Baseball Championship.
TowneBank agreed to an initial three-year commitment to sponsor the challenge, a partnership secured by LEARFIELD's JMU Sports Properties and Playfly's ODU Sports Properties.
2023-24 TowneBank Royal Rivalry Challenge Results
| SPORT | DATE | RESULT | JMU | ODU |
| Volleyball | 10/6 | JMU 3-0 | 1 | 0 |
| Volleyball | 10/7 | JMU 3-0 | 1 | 0 |
| Women's Soccer | 10/8 | Tied 0-0 | .5 | .5 |
| Men's Soccer | 10/18 | JMU 3-1 | 1 | 0 |
| Field Hockey | 10/22 | ODU 3-0 | 0 | 1 |
| Football | 10/28 | JMU 30-27 | 1 | 0 |
| Women's Soccer | 11/5 | ODU 2-1 OT | 0 | 1 |
| Men's Basketball | 12/9 | JMU 84-69 | 1 | 0 |
| Women's Basketball | 1/20 | JMU 72-64 | 1 | 0 |
| Men's Basketball | 1/24 | JMU 78-62 | 1 | 0 |
| Men's Basketball | 2/3 | JMU 78-63 | 1 | 0 |
| Swimming & Diving | 2/14-17 | JMU 1st, ODU 4th | 1 | 0 |
| Women's Basketball | 3/1 | JMU 70-58 | 1 | 0 |
| Women's Tennis | 4/6 | ODU 7-0 | 0 | 1 |
| Baseball | 4/12 | ODU 7-1 | 0 | 1 |
| Men's Tennis | 4/13 | ODU 4-0 | 0 | 1 |
| Baseball | 4/13 | JMU 7-5 | 1 | 0 |
| Baseball | 4/14 | ODU 6-3 | 0 | 1 |
| Women's Golf | 4/15-18 | ODU 4th, JMU 10th | 0 | 1 |
| Men's Golf | 4/22-25 | JMU 6th, ODU t-12th | 1 | 0 |
| Lacrosse | 4/27 | JMU 18-9 | 1 | 0 |
| Baseball | 5/25 | JMU 15-5 | 1 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 14.5 | 7.5 |
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