NEW ORLEANS — James Madison, which has rattled off a 19-5 record over its first two FBS campaigns, will kick off its 2024 season on Saturday, August 31, when it visits Charlotte at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
 
The Dukes are 2-0 all-time against the 49ers—with a victory in each of Charlotte’s two FCS seasons in 2013 and 2014. The programs have yet to meet since ascending to the FBS ranks.
 
James Madison’s non-conference schedule also includes home games against Gardner-Webb (Sept. 7) and Ball State (Sept. 28), bookending a road test at North Carolina (Sept. 21). In addition to annual dates with its East Division rivals, the Dukes’ conference slate features a trip to ULM (Oct. 5) and a home game against Southern Miss (Oct. 26) from the West Division. 
 
The Dukes were picked to finish second in the Sun Belt East Division, while claiming 2-of-14 first-place votes in last month’s 2024 Sun Belt Conference Football Preseason Coaches Poll. 
 
First-year head coach Bob Chesney will guide a roster that returns a pair of All-Sun Belt honorees from 2023 and had five players named to the 2024 Preseason All-Sun Belt teams. Among the key additions for James Madison is 2021 and 2023 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year redshirt senior linebacker Jacob Dobbs, who followed Chesney from Holy Cross. Dobbs was a 43-game starter for the Crusaders, where he is the program’s career leader in tackles for loss (46.5) and ranks second in tackles (432). 
 
James Madison went 11-2 overall in 2023, including a 36-35 victory over in-state autonomy five foe Virginia. The Dukes were part of the conference-record 12-team Sun Belt contingent to compete in Bowl Season, earning their first bowl berth in just their second FBS campaign.  
 
James Madison also hosted ESPN’s College GameDay ahead of its Nov. 18 conference matchup with App State, drawing the largest crowd in the program’s 30-year history at 26,000 fans. James Madison was the third Sun Belt campus to host the flagship college football pregame show over the past four seasons, joining Coastal Carolina (2020) and App State (2022). 
 
To listen to head coach Bob Chesney, redshirt junior wide receiver Taji Hudson and redshirt senior linebacker Jacob Dobbs’ comments from the 2024 Sun Belt Football Media Days, visit the Sun Belt Conference YouTube page. 

 

2024 SCHEDULE

8/31	at Charlotte
9/7	Gardner-Webb
9/21	at North Carolina
9/28	Ball State
10/5	at ULM*
10/10	Coastal Carolina*
10/19	at Georgia Southern*
10/26	Southern Miss*
11/9	Georgia State*
11/16	at Old Dominion*
11/23	at App State*
11/30	Marshall*

 
* Sun Belt Conference Game 
 
2023 ALL-SUN BELT RETURNERS
Second Team
P – Ryan Hanson, James Madison (RS Sr., P – Elgin, Texas)
 
Honorable Mention
DB – Chauncey Logan, James Madison (Jr., DB – Salem, Va.)
 
2024 PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS
First Team
OL – Cole Potts, James Madison (Sr., OL – Johnstown, Ohio)
P – Ryan Hanson, James Madison (RS Sr., P – Elgin, Texas)
 
Second Team
OL – Tyshawn Wyatt, James Madison (Sr., OL – Richmond, Va.) 
DL – Eric O’Neill, James Madison (RS Jr., DL – Staten Island, N.Y.)
DB – Chauncey Logan, James Madison (Jr., DB – Salem, Va.)