HARRISONBURG, Va. – As James Madison football prepares for its first season in the Sun Belt Conference, the program has announced 12 upcoming contract games against eight institutions. As part of the announced games, JMU has now completed its 2023 and 2024 non-conference schedules.
Between 2023 and 2034, the Dukes will play home-and-home series against Miami (OH), UConn, Charlotte and Liberty, while also hosting Bucknell, Gardner-Webb and Ball State in one-game deals. JMU also signed a road game contract with Maryland from the Big Ten for the 2027 season.
“It’s been a heavy lift to cancel some of our previous games and fill as many upcoming games in our schedule as possible,” Athletic Director. Jeff Bourne said. “My thanks to Associate AD Kevin White for his continued work in this field. It’s good to fill our non-conference slates for 2023 and 2024 with series against quality peer competition. The addition of Maryland is an attractive Power 5 opponent with regional interest, especially with so many student-athletes and alumni from the DMV region.”
In 2023, JMU will host Bucknell (Sept. 2) and UConn (Nov. 11) while traveling to Oxford, Ohio to face Miami (Sept. 23). This is in addition to the previously announced game in Virginia (September 9).
The 2024 nonconference slate includes a season-opening trip to Charlotte (Aug. 31) and home games with Gardner-Webb (Sept. 7) and Ball State (Sept. 28). The Dukes will also face North Carolina (Sept. 21) in Chapel Hill, NC, a game that was also previously announced.
The 2026 non-conference schedule features return games with Miami (Ohio) and UConn. The Dukes will host the RedHawks (Sept. 26) while traveling to Storrs, Conn., to take on the Huskies (Nov. 14).
The 2027 season opens in College Park, Md., when JMU takes on Maryland (Sept. 4). The Dukes also host Charlotte in the second home-and-home game in 2029 (Sept. 22).
The final series features an in-state matchup against Liberty, with the Dukes traveling to Lynchburg in 2033 (Sept. 17) and hosting the Flames in 2034 (Sept. 16). With JMU moving to the Football Bowl Subdivision and Liberty joining Conference USA, the two programs mutually agreed to complete the originally scheduled 2026 game in Lynchburg.
Other matches that were previously announced include:
- 2025 – vs. Norfolk State (Aug. 30), at Virginia Tech (Sept. 20)
- 2028 – in North Carolina (September 23)
JMU opens the 2022 season, presented by CarMax, on Saturday, Sept. 3, when it hosts Middle Tennessee at Bridgeforth Stadium. The game is scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+.
Both season and single-game tickets for the 2022 season are still available at JMUTickets.com or by calling 540-568-3853. Tickets for the 2023 campaign will go on sale at a later date. The Sun Belt Conference schedule is announced each year in early March.
Upcoming James Madison Football Non-Conference Games
2023 season
September 2 – Bucknell Stadium – Bridgeforth
September 9 – in Virginia – Charlottesville, Va.
September 23 – at Miami (Ohio) – Oxford, Ohio
Nov. 11 – UConn – Bridgeforth Stadium
2024 season
August 31 – at Charlotte – Charlotte, NC
Sept. 7 – Gardner-Webb – Bridgeforth Stadium
September 21 – at North Carolina – Chapel Hill, NC
Sept. 28 – Ball State – Bridgeforth Stadium
2025 season
Aug. 30 – Norfolk State – Bridgeforth Stadium
Sept. 20 – at Virginia Tech – Blacksburg, Va.
2026 season
September 26 – Miami (Ohio) – Bridgeforth Stadium
Nov. 14 – at UConn – Storrs, Conn.
2027 season
September 4 – at Maryland – College Park, Md.
2028 season
September 23 – at North Carolina – Chapel Hill, NC
2029 season
September 22 – Charlotte Stadium – Bridgeforth
2033 season
Sept. 17 – at Liberty – Lynchburg, Va.
2034 season
September 16 – Liberty Stadium – Bridgeforth