JMU Announces Full Promotional Schedule for 2026 Football Season

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison Athletics announced its full promotional schedule for the 2026 football season, which features six home games at Bridgeforth Stadium.

The promotional slate kicks off on Sept. 5 at noon, as JMU welcomes Liberty to Harrisonburg for the Battle of the Blue Ridge and 20th all-time meeting. Bridgeforth's general admission sections will be covered in purple and gold metallic pompoms in anticipation for the season opener. First-year JMU students are welcome to register for the Sunchase First Year Charge at JMUSports.com/FYC for the opportunity to run on the field pregame!

The following week, on Sept. 12, JMU hosts Wagner at 3:30 p.m. for Heroes Day, presented by Urgie'sCheesesteaks. Community Day returns, as local fans can take advantage of discounted single-game tickets, presented by UVA Community Credit Union. Parents are also encouraged to register their child for the Puppy Pound, presented by Chick-fil-A Harrisonburg. The official kids club of JMU Athletics will host a pregame Puppy Pound Party and on-field Puppy Run. Upcoming 2026-27 Puppy Pound registration will open in late summer.

JMU spans the country with trips to both the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean with road games at San Diego State and Old Dominion before returning home for Family Weekend against Marshall on Oct. 3. Visit the Family Weekend info page to learn more about tickets and events that weekend. Purple and gold metallic pompoms will be on seats of general admission sections.

After a road trip to Georgia Southern, JMU is back home on Oct. 17 for Homecoming Weekend when it welcomes Georgia State to the Valley. Wear purple against the Panthers for Homecoming! Purple and gold metallic pompoms will be on the seats of general admission sections.

Three consecutive Thursday night games await the Dukes following Homecoming, which includes a rematch of the 2025 Sun Belt Football Championship. JMU hosts Troy on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. for a white out under the lights. That game is sandwiched between road trips to App State on Oct. 22 and Southern Miss on Nov. 5.

The Troy matchup will be JMU's Brighten the Lights of Madison game. White pompoms will be placed on the seats of general admission sections. Courtesy of CommonWealth One Federal Credit Union, JMU faculty and staff will receive a link to their JMU.edu email to claim free tickets for the game against Troy closer to game day.

Another road trip is in the stars for JMU, as it heads to Storrs, Conn. to take on UConn on Nov. 14 before an open weekend on Nov. 21. The Dukes finish the regular season at home for Senior Day on Nov. 21 against Coastal Carolina. Join us in welcoming back Marching Royal Dukes alumni for MRD Alumni Day.

For a full list of promotions this upcoming season, CLICK HERE.

Galvanized by the power of the Marching Royal Dukes, we have extracted lyrics from the JMU Fight Song and the legendary "Start Wearing Purple" to help direct fans for color rush games. To exalt an already excellent game day experience, three lyric excerpts have been identified to aid fans in picking their game day attire.

"Start Wearing Purple" Wear Purple! Grab your best JMU purple and pack Bridgeforth!
- Oct. 17 vs. Georgia State
"Brighten the Lights of Madison" Wear White! This lyric from the fight song inspires the white out!
- Oct. 29 vs. Troy
"Show Your Colors Proud and True" Fan's Choice! We are the Dukes of JMU! Wear your favorite JMU purple, gold, white or black attire!
- Sept. 5 vs. Liberty; Sept. 12 vs. Wagner; Oct. 3 vs. Marshall; Nov. 28 vs. Coastal Carolina

James Madison Athletics will continue cashless operations for all home athletics competitions. The cashless operations apply to stadium ticketing operations as well as all concessions, which are operated by campus dining vendor, JMU Dining, and stadium bookstore merchandise sales, which are managed by Follett.

Fans looking to make purchases at any JMU Athletics events will need to have a debit or credit card accessible. Concessions and Team Stores will accept all versions of mobile pay (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay). Reverse ATM's will not be offered at any venues, fans are encouraged to make sure they have a debit or credit card available prior to entry.

TICKET INFORMATION
Single game tickets for the 2026 season go on sale beginning June 22 for Duke Club members, and on June 29 to the general public. Student tickets are made available for claim beginning two weeks prior to each home game.