Homecoming Weekend on Tap, JMU to Host ODU Saturday

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison football remains home this weekend, as it hosts conference rival Old Dominion for Homecoming Weekend on Saturday, Oct. 18.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Bridgeforth Stadium, and the game will be nationally televised on ESPNU.

The game is also part of the TowneBank Royal Rivalry Challenge, now in its fourth year.

Saturday's game is sponsored by Glo Fiber, and the 2025 season is presented by CarMax.

James Madison (5-1, 3-0 SBC) vs. Old Dominion (4-2, 1-1 SBC)
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Kickoff: 3:30 PM
Harrisonburg, Va. | Bridgeforth Stadium

Game Information
TV: ESPNU
Online: Watch 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 RIVALRY

Saturday marks the sixth all-time meeting between the teams, as JMU holds a 3-2 series lead.
The Dukes have won all three games against the Monarchs since reclassifying to the Football Bowl Subdivision and joining the Sun Belt Conference. ODU won the first two matchups in 2011 and 2012 while both teams were in the FCS and league mates in the Colonial Athletic Association.
The last two games have been decided by three points, and three of five bouts have been a one-score game.
JMU is 1-1 in home games, winning the 2023 meeting (30-27) while falling in 2012 (38-28). The Dukes are also 2-1 at ODU, claiming wins in both 2022 (37-3) and 2024 (35-32) while dropping the 2011 decision (23-20).
In the history of the series, JMU averages 30.0 points a game, as opposed to ODU's 24.6.

CONFERENCE HISTORY MADE BY JMU

In last weekend's victory against Louisiana, JMU became the first team in Sun Belt history to accomplish a pair of feats, and it did so in its first four seasons in the league and through the first six games of the 2025 season.
JMU is now the only team in Sun Belt history to ever start 5-1 in four consecutive seasons.
The defense has also proved to be one of the nation's best, as no team has gained 300 yards this season, making JMU the first SBC team ever to hold opponents to less than 300 yards in six consecutive games.

300 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER

No, this is not Sparta, but it is the JMU defense that proves week in and week out to be a thorn in the sides of opposing offenses.
Following games on Oct. 11, JMU is now the only team in America to have not allowed a single team to gain 300 yards in a single game in 2025. Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Missouri each allowed 300+ yards on Saturday.
Through six games, JMU concedes 229.0 yards per game, and Louisiana's 288 is a season-high allowed.

LET'S TALK DEFENSE

JMU's defense ranks top 25 nationally in nine statistical categories at the halfway point of the regular season.
That includes being in the top five in rushing defense, total defense and fewest first downs allowed to the opposition.
JMU ranks third in the FBS by conceding just 74.0 rushing yards per game. That includes three straight games holding teams under 50 rushing yards. Teams average just 2.48 per rush.
The Dukes are also fourth in total defense, at 229.0 yards per outing. As previously mentioned, JMU is the only team in the country to not allow 300 yards in a game this year, and four have been limited to less than 250.
JMU also gives up just 12.2 first downs per game, good for fourth in the FBS.
Additionally, JMU is 10th in scoring defense, at 13.7 points per game, 13th in passing defense (155.0), 14th in sacks (3.0), 17th on third down (29.8%), 18th in pass efficiency (109.63) and 21st in the red zone (75%).

KNIGHT LEADS RUSHING ATTACK

JMU's run game is on pace for its best rushing season since moving up to the FBS, as it enters the week ranked 15th with 232.5 yards per game.
The Dukes average 5.2 yards per rush and have scored 13 touchdowns on the ground.
Wayne Knight leads the way for the running back room, as he's rushed for 537 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 6.6 per carry.
Knight ranks 14th in yards per rush and 25th in rushing yards per game (89.5). He's also proven to be one of the most versatile players in the nation, ranking third in all-purpose yards per game (147.5), due in large to catching a JMU-best 21 passes and also serving as JMU's punt returner, in which he averages 8.6 per return.
Jordan Fuller has emerged as a key contributor in the run game, rushing for 312 yards and a score while averaging 5.9 per carry.
JMU has six players over 100 rushing yards, adding in running backs George Pettaway (132) and Ayo Adeyi (120) and quarterbacks Matthew Sluka (126) and Alonza Barnett III (113).
Barnett leads JMU with five rushing scores, while Sluka has two.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR JMU

JMU has a few extra days to prepare for its longest road trip of the season, as it takes on Texas State on Tuesday, Oct. 28 in San Marcos.
This will be JMU's first Tuesday night game in program history.
The game kicks off at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT) from UCFU Stadium and will be televised on ESPN2.
JMU and TXST match up for the second time, as JMU won the inaugural meeting, 40-13, on Oct. 1, 2022, in Harrisonburg.
This is the first West Division team that JMU faces for the second time since joining the Sun Belt.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: ESPNU
Online: Watch ESPN (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+: Jay Alter (pxp), Rocky Boiman (analyst)
Radio: Dave Riggert (pxp), Que Reid (analyst), Cole Potts (analyst)

Calendar

Players Mentioned

Ayo Adeyi

Alonza Barnett III

Jordan Fuller

Wayne Knight

George Pettaway

Cole Potts

Matthew Sluka

JMU Footer

Scoreboard

Calendar

Completed Event: Football at Liberty on September 20, 2025 , Win , 31, to, 13

Completed Event: Football versus Georgia Southern on September 27, 2025 , Win , 35, to, 10

Completed Event: Football at Georgia State on October 4, 2025 , Win , 14, to, 7

Completed Event: Football versus Louisiana on October 11, 2025 , Win , 24, to, 14

Completed Event: Football versus Old Dominion on October 18, 2025 , Win , 63, to, 27

Upcoming Event: Football at Texas State on October 28, 2025 at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT)

Upcoming Event: Football at Marshall on November 8, 2025

Upcoming Event: Football versus App State on November 15, 2025

Upcoming Event: Football versus Washington State on November 22, 2025

Upcoming Event: Football at Coastal Carolina on November 29, 2025

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