NEW ORLEANS – James Madison Athletics, in conjunction with the Sun Belt Conference, unveiled its full 2023 football schedule, which features 12 games with six at home and six on the road.

JMU will compete against four non-conference opponents and versus eight Sun Belt programs. The Dukes were also selected for one nationally televised midweek game for the first time as a member of the league.

The Dukes open the 2023 season on Saturday, Sept. 2 at Bridgeforth Stadium when they host Bucknell, a Football Championship Subdivision foe out of the Patriot League. This will mark the first meeting between the teams and is also Hall of Fame Weekend at JMU.

The following week, on Saturday, Sept. 9, JMU treks over the mountain to Charlottesville for a showdown at Virginia out of the Atlantic Coast Conference. This is the first meeting in 40 years, and U.Va. leads the series 2-1.

Week three begins conference play with a big test as the Dukes fly to Troy, Ala., to take on defending Sun Belt champion Troy on Saturday, Sept. 16. This will be the third meeting between the two with the series tied 1-1. It’s also the first time they’ve met in the regular season, with previous games occurring in the Division I-AA playoffs in 1994 and 1999.

JMU returns to non-conference play in week four with its third straight road trip and its longest of the season. The Dukes fly to Utah for the second time in three seasons to face Utah State in Logan on Saturday, Sept. 23. It will be the first meeting between the two programs.

The Dukes round out the month on Saturday, Sept. 30 when they resume Sun Belt play at home against South Alabama. The first meeting between the programs, this game will be Family Weekend at JMU.

After an open week, JMU remains in Harrisonburg on Saturday, Oct. 14 when it plays host to Georgia Southern. This will be the 10th all-time meeting, with Southern leading 8-1. JMU is seeking its first win over the Eagles since the inaugural game in 1985.

JMU has a short turnaround, as it travels to Huntington, W.Va. on Thursday, Oct. 19 for a nationally-televised game at Marshall. That game will be just the second Thursday game in program history for JMU, joining its 2018 Robert Morris bout. Marshall is 3-0 all-time against JMU.

Homecoming Weekend will be a big one this year for JMU, as it welcomes in-state foe Old Dominion to town on Saturday, Oct. 28. Part of the Towne Bank Royal Rivalry Challenge, ODU leads the series 2-1, as JMU is coming off its first win against the Monarchs this past season in Norfolk.

The Dukes begin the final stretch of the regular season in Atlanta, as they fly south to Georgia State on Saturday, Nov. 4. JMU leads the young series 2-0, and this will be JMU’s first trip to Atlanta.

JMU closes non-conference play on Saturday, Nov. 11 when it takes on UConn, an FBS independent program, in Harrisonburg. That matchup will be the first since 1999, and the Dukes lead the series 4-1 all-time.

For the first time since a memorable night in 2008, JMU hosts App State at Bridgeforth Stadium, as the two go toe-to-toe on Saturday, Nov. 18 for Senior Day. App State leads the series 12-5, though JMU is coming off a 32-28 win this past season in Boone, rallying from a 28-3 deficit.

The Dukes close the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 25 when they travel to Conway, S.C., to face off with Coastal Carolina. JMU has won two of three against the Chanticleers and is seeking its first victory at Brooks Stadium.

Season-ticket sales and information about re-parking for the 2023 season are available now at JMUTickets.com. Fans may also call 540-568-3853 or visit the JMU Athletics Ticket Office at the Atlantic Union Bank Center for all season-ticket orders.

The Duke Club Priority Deadline for the 2023 football season is May 15. Single-game tickets for both home and away games will go on sale to Duke Club members on June 28 and to the general public on July 5.

The 2023 JMU football season is presented by CarMax.

2023 JMU Football Schedule

Saturday, Sept. 2 BUCKNELL Harrisonburg, Va.
Saturday, Sept. 9 at Virginia Charlottesville, Va.
Saturday, Sept. 16 at Troy * Troy, Ala.
Saturday, Sept. 23 at Utah State Logan, Utah
Saturday, Sept. 30 SOUTH ALABAMA * Harrisonburg, Va.
Saturday, Oct. 7 OPEN WEEK
Saturday, Oct. 14 GEORGIA SOUTHERN * Harrisonburg, Va.
Thursday, Oct. 19 at Marshall * Huntington, W.Va.
Saturday, Oct. 28 OLD DOMINION * Harrisonburg, Va.
Saturday, Nov. 4 at Georgia State * Atlanta, Ga.
Saturday, Nov. 11 UCONN Harrisonburg, Va.
Saturday, Nov. 18 APP STATE * Harrisonburg, Va.
Saturday, Nov. 25 at Coastal Carolina * Conway, S.C.

Game times for the first three games will be announced by ESPN in late spring. All other remaining kickoff times will be announced by the Sun Belt and ESPN on Mondays, 12 days prior to each game.

Game Notes:

  • Sept. 2 vs. Bucknell – Hall of Fame Weekend
  • Sept. 30 vs. South Alabama – Family Weekend
  • Oct. 28 vs. Old Dominion – Homecoming

— JMU Athletics —