JMU Returns Home to Host Ball State Saturday for Family Weekend

Saturday, September 28

Harrisonburg, Va.

1:30 p.m.

James Madison University

Ball State

JMU Returns Home to Host Ball State Saturday for Family Weekend

9/25/2024 9:30:00 AM | Football

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison, which is coming off a record-breaking win at North Carolina, returns home on Saturday, Sept. 28 to host Ball State out of the Mid-American Conference for Family Weekend.

Kickoff is set for 1:30 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 11:30 a.m.

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

Ball State (1-2) at James Madison (3-0)
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Kickoff: 1:30 PM
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

This will be the second all-time meeting between the teams and the first since a 24-6 BSU win back on Sept. 6, 1997, in Muncie, Ind.
The Dukes are seeking their first victory against a MAC squad in three tries, as they also fell just short at Akron, 35-33, back on Sept. 7, 2013.

DUKES DROP 70 IN WIN AT UNC

JMU produced points in all three phases and set multiple records en route to a 70-50 win at North Carolina.
Alonza Barnett III set a school record with seven total touchdowns, as he became the first Sun Belt player to throw for five touchdowns passes and rush for two more in the same game.•Barnett III finished 22-of-34 for 388 yards with no interceptions, while rushing for a career-best 99 yards on 13 carries (7.6 avg.). His 487 total yards ranked third in JMU single-game history, while his 388 passing total was tied for seventh.
The Dukes set multiple team records, recording their most points in a game against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent and as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. It nearly doubled the previous record of points scored against an autonomy five team, besting the 36 they scored at Virginia last season.
JMU lit up the scoreboard early, scoring a school-record 53 points in the first half, as the 70 it scored matched the most UNC had ever given up in a game and a Kenan Stadium record for a road team.
It was also the most points a Group of Five team has ever scored on the road at a power-conference program.
In a game featuring over 1,200 combined total yards, the 120 points was the most points scored by both teams in a single game in JMU history, besting the 108 JMU and Richmond scored at Bridgeforth Stadium in 2015.

NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK NODS FOR ZO

Alonza Barnett's performance in JMU's win at North Carolina earned him numerous individual accolades, including a trio of national awards.
He was first named Associated Press National Player of the Week and followed that up with the Walter Camp National FBS Offensive Player of the Week and the Davey O'Brien National Co-Quarterback of the Week honor.
In addition to winning Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week, Barnett was also honored as one of eight Manning Award Stars of the Week and the Davey O'Brien Award Great 8.
By virtue of his honor from Davey O'Brien, Barnett has been added to the midseason watch list for the 2024 Davey O'Brien Award, honoring the nation's best quarterback.

NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK

James Madison's win at UNC earned it a national team distinction, as it was named the Cheez-It National Team of the Week.
The award was selected by the All-America Committee of the FWAA.
This is the first time JMU has earned the accolade from the FWAA, which originated in 2002.
It's the first award for a Sun Belt Conference team since Sept. 10, 2022, when App State, Georgia Southern and Marshall all earned wins at power-conference opponents.

SPENCE HONORED BY SUN BELT

Alonza Barnett III wasn't the only individual honored following JMU's win at Carolina, as cornerback Terrence Spence was voted Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Week.
Spence aided the Dukes in scoring points both on defense and on special teams in the 70-50 triumph in Chapel Hill.
He recorded four tackles with two interceptions, which included a 33-yard pick six. His pick six gave JMU a 53-21 lead, which set the JMU single-half scoring record.
Spence also got in untouched and blocked a first-quarter punt, which resulted in a Jayden Mines return for a touchdown. It was Spence's first block at JMU and the seventh of his career, having had six at Holy Cross.

RECEIVING VOTES IN BOTH POLLS

JMU is receiving votes in both major FBS polls for the first time this season.
The Dukes have garnered at least one vote in every US LBM Coaches Poll since the preseason, but their win at UNC vaulted them into the conversation in this week's AP Top 25.
The Dukes received 11 votes in the AP Top 25, which represents the eighth team outside the top 25.
On the coaches' side, JMU received 13 votes, good for 10th outside the polls.
JMU has previously been nationally ranked in each of its first two seasons, ranking as high as #18 in November of last season.

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