James Madison’s Homecoming football game against Georgia State will begin at noon Saturday, Oct. 17, at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg and air live on ESPNU, James Madison University Athletics announced Oct. 5.
JMU Athletics said the Dukes are 5-0 all time against Georgia State, including 3-0 at home. The announcement noted that JMU beat the Panthers 14-7 in Atlanta on Oct. 4, 2025.
Tailgating lots will open at 7 a.m. on game day, JMU Athletics said, to give fans more time to tailgate and celebrate with returning alumni and to encourage fans to enter the stadium in time for kickoff. The department said the earlier opening is specific to this season’s circumstances and does not set a precedent for future games.
A limited number of tickets remain, according to JMU Athletics, which said tickets are available through JMUTickets.com. The department asked fans to wear purple for the Sun Belt Conference game.
The game will be JMU’s fifth on linear television this season and its fourth on ESPNU, according to the announcement. Augusta Health is sponsoring the game, and CarMax is presenting the 2026 football season, JMU Athletics said.