🏈 Fan Watch

James Madison Dukes

0–0 · 0–0 SUN BELT
In the books
WEEK 1 · 2026
Week 1 pregame guide

Liberty will show whether JMU still looks like JMU

The Dukes are heavily favored, but Week 1 is really about whether a rebuilt roster can carry last season’s physical identity forward.

Read the rooting guide →
Bridgeforth Stadium, home to James Madison University's football team.
Bridgeforth Stadium, home to James Madison University's football team.
CreditPhoto creditQuintin SolovievWikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0Cropped to 16:9, resized and converted to WebP by Fan Watch.

Your game

Liberty at James Madison
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ESPNU
Final
Liberty
Final · Liberty 13–20 James MadisonWish granted ✓
James Madison

Other impactful games

the highlighted team was the result James Madison wanted
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ESPN+
Impact 1
Rooted for
Florida International
at
South Florida
Final · Florida International 9–19 South FloridaWent the other way ✗
Projected 1.9-point playoff boost

South Florida won instead, so James Madison did not get the result it wanted.

Entering-week projection40% if Florida International won38% with the other result1.9-point differenceJames Madison playoff chance
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ESPN+
Impact 2
Rooted for
Arkansas State
at
Memphis
Final · Arkansas State 24–42 MemphisWent the other way ✗
Projected 1.7-point playoff boost

Memphis won instead, so James Madison did not get the result it wanted.

Entering-week projection40% if Arkansas State won38% with the other result1.7-point differenceJames Madison playoff chance
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ACC Network
Impact 3
Tulane
at
Rooted for
Duke
Final · Tulane 3–17 DukeWish granted ✓
Projected 1.2-point playoff boost

Duke won, thinning out the at-large competition for James Madison's playoff spot.

Entering-week projection39% if Duke won38% with the other result1.2-point differenceJames Madison playoff chance
39 other games had little impact
Massachusetts at Rutgers · BTN
Akron at Wake Forest · ACC Network
Colorado at Georgia Tech · ESPN
UAB at Illinois · BTN
San José State at Eastern Michigan · ESPN+
UTEP at Oklahoma · SECN+
Toledo at Michigan State · FS1
Miami at Stanford · ESPN
Fresno State at USC · FOX
East Carolina at Alabama · ABC
Oregon State at Houston · ESPN
Coastal Carolina at West Virginia · TNT
North Texas at Indiana · FOX
Ohio at Nebraska · FS1
Miami (OH) at Pittsburgh · The CW Network
Ball State at Ohio State · BTN
Kent State at South Carolina · SEC Network
Baylor at Auburn · ABC
Texas State at Texas · ESPN
Boston College at Cincinnati · FOX
Boise State at Oregon · CBS
Marshall at Penn State · FS1
Oklahoma State at Tulsa · ESPNU
Northern Illinois at Iowa · BTN
Wyoming at Colorado State · USA Network
Missouri State at Texas A&M · ESPN
Sam Houston at Troy · ESPN+
Clemson at LSU · ABC
UL Monroe at Mississippi State · ESPNU
Western Michigan at Michigan · NBC
Florida Atlantic at Florida · SEC Network
UNLV at Hawai'i · The CW Network
Central Michigan at New Mexico · FS1
UCLA at California · ESPN
Western Kentucky at Nevada · CBSSN
Washington State at Washington · NBC
Louisville at Ole Miss · ABC
Wisconsin at Notre Dame · NBC
SMU at Florida State · ESPN
The rooting list was:James Madison, then Florida International, Arkansas State, Duke.

Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 1, anchored to the AP Top 25 (preseason). How the model works.