🏈 Fan Watch

James Madison Dukes

2–0 · 0–0 SUN BELT
In the books
WEEK 3 · 2026
Week 3 pregame guide

JMU has a road win and playoff help to chase

James Madison visits San Diego State with a chance to strengthen its playoff position, while four outside games offer help.

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

James Madison at San Diego State
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The CW Network
Final
James Madison
Final · James Madison 26–13 San Diego StateWish granted ✓
San Diego State

Other impactful games

the highlighted team was the result James Madison wanted
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USA Network
Impact 1
North Texas
at
Rooted for
Texas State
Final · North Texas 35–49 Texas StateWish granted ✓
Projected 2.4-point playoff boost

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

Entering-week projection37% if Texas State won34% with the other result2.4-point differenceJames Madison playoff chance
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ESPN+
Impact 2
Rooted for
Georgia Southern
at
Jacksonville State
Final · Georgia Southern 27–31 Jacksonville StateWent the other way ✗
Projected 1.9-point playoff boost

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

Entering-week projection36% if Georgia Southern won34% with the other result1.9-point differenceJames Madison playoff chance
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SECN+
Impact 3
Rooted for
Troy
at
Missouri
Final · Troy 17–27 MissouriWent the other way ✗
Projected 1.9-point playoff boost

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

Entering-week projection37% if Troy won35% with the other result1.9-point differenceJames Madison playoff chance
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CBSSN
Impact 4
Rooted for
Coastal Carolina
at
Delaware
Final · Coastal Carolina 14–22 DelawareWent the other way ✗
Projected 1.7-point playoff boost

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

Entering-week projection36% if Coastal Carolina won35% with the other result1.7-point differenceJames Madison playoff chance
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ESPN+
Impact 5
East Carolina
at
Rooted for
Old Dominion
Final · East Carolina 20–17 Old DominionWent the other way ✗
Projected 1.7-point playoff boost

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

Entering-week projection36% if Old Dominion won34% with the other result1.7-point differenceJames Madison playoff chance
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ESPN+
Impact 6
Rooted for
Miami (OH)
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Cincinnati
Final · Miami (OH) 31–35 CincinnatiWent the other way ✗
Projected 1.6-point playoff boost

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

Entering-week projection36% if Miami (OH) won35% with the other result1.6-point differenceJames Madison playoff chance
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ESPN+
Impact 7
Charlotte
at
Rooted for
App State
Final · Charlotte 21–26 App StateWish granted ✓
Projected 1.6-point playoff boost

App State won and stayed ranked ahead of its Week 8 game against James Madison.

Entering-week projection35% if App State won34% with the other result1.6-point differenceJames Madison playoff chance
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ESPN+
Impact 8
UAB
at
Rooted for
Louisiana
Final · UAB 14–21 LouisianaWish granted ✓
Projected 1.6-point playoff boost

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

Entering-week projection36% if Louisiana won34% with the other result1.6-point differenceJames Madison playoff chance
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SEC Network
Impact 9
Rooted for
Mississippi State
at
South Carolina
Final · Mississippi State 41–34 South CarolinaWish granted ✓
Projected 1.5-point playoff boost

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

Entering-week projection36% if Mississippi State won35% with the other result1.5-point differenceJames Madison playoff chance
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CBSSN
Impact 10
Rooted for
Marshall
at
Missouri State
Final · Marshall 30–24 Missouri StateWish granted ✓
Projected 1.5-point playoff boost

Marshall won and stayed ranked ahead of its Week 5 game against James Madison.

Entering-week projection36% if Marshall won34% with the other result1.5-point differenceJames Madison playoff chance
46 other games had little impact
Syracuse at Pittsburgh · ESPN
Miami at Wake Forest · ESPN
Houston at Texas Tech · FOX
Georgia at Arkansas · ABC
Tulane at Kansas State · ESPN2
Bowling Green at Iowa State · ESPNU
Arizona State at Kansas · FS1
North Carolina at Clemson · ESPN
Akron at Minnesota · BTN
Kent State at Ohio State · FOX
Buffalo at Penn State · BTN
Eastern Michigan at Wisconsin · Peacock
NC State at Vanderbilt · SEC Network
Wyoming at Central Michigan · ESPN+
Temple at Toledo · CBSSN
Florida State at Alabama · ABC
Kentucky at Texas A&M · ESPN
Utah State at Utah · FOX
SMU at Louisville · ESPN2
UTEP at Michigan · BTN
USC at Rutgers · CBS
Stanford at Duke · The CW Network
Western Kentucky at Indiana · Peacock
Ball State at Liberty · ESPN+
Louisiana Tech at Baylor · ESPNU
Florida International at Florida Atlantic · ESPN+
Florida at Auburn · ESPN
Georgia State at UCF · ESPN+
UConn at Southern Miss · ESPN+
Western Michigan at Rice · ESPN+
Nevada at Middle Tennessee · ESPN+
Ohio at South Alabama · ESPN+
LSU at Ole Miss · ABC
New Mexico at Oklahoma · ESPN2
BYU at Colorado State · CBS
Colorado at Northwestern · FOX
West Virginia at Virginia · ACC Network
Virginia Tech at Maryland · FS1
Michigan State at Notre Dame · NBC
Kennesaw State at Tennessee · SEC Network
UTSA at Texas · SECN+
Arkansas State at TCU · ESPNU
Northern Illinois at Arizona · TNT
North Dakota State at Sacramento State · ESPN
Purdue at UCLA · BTN
Fresno State at San José State · FS1
The rooting list was:James Madison, then Texas State, Georgia Southern, Troy, Coastal Carolina, Old Dominion, Miami (OH), App State, Louisiana, Mississippi State, Marshall.

Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 3, anchored to the AP Top 25 (week 3). How the model works.