NEW ORLEANS — James Madison defeated North Carolina, 70-50, to give the Sun Belt back-to-back weeks with a win over an autonomy conference opponent, following up on Georgia State’s 36-32 win over Vanderbilt a week ago.
The victory is the Sun Belt’s 21st over an autonomy conference foe since 2016—with 10 of those wins coming since 2022, when the league expanded to its current 14-member configuration.
The Dukes jumped out to a 53-21 halftime lead, setting the program record for points scored in a half and accruing the most points North Carolina has ever allowed in a half. James Madison’s final tally was also a program record for points scored against an FBS foe and matched the most North Carolina has ever conceded in a game.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Alonza Barnett III accounted for a single-game program record seven touchdowns—five passing and two rushing—while completing 22-of-34 passes for 388 yards and rushing for a team-high and career-best 99 yards. Two Dukes receivers—senior Omarion Dollison (125 yards, 1 touchdown) and redshirt senior Cam Ross (107 yards, 1 touchdown)—went over the century mark.
Senior defensive back Terrence Spence headlined the defensive unit with two interceptions and a blocked punt, which resulted in a special teams scoop and score for redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jayden Mines. Spence also contributed to the Dukes scoring, returning one of his interceptions 33 yards for a pick six. James Madison forced five turnovers in the game, with two interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
South Alabama scored on four of its first five possessions to secure a lead it would never relinquish and spoil the evening for a sold-out Thursday night crowd of 34,133 at Kidd Brewer Stadium with a 48-14 victory over App State in the Sun Belt Conference opener.
Redshirt freshman dual-threat quarterback Gio Lopez completed 16-of-24 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns through the air and rushed for 105 yards and a score in the ground game. True freshman running back Fluff Bothwell paced the rushing attack with 116 yards and two scores. Redshirt junior defensive back Jordan Scruggs produced the defensive highlight, stepping in front of an App State pass in the end zone and returning it 96 yards. The program-record return set up a touchdown run from junior running back Kentrel Bullock that gave South Alabama a 28-0 lead late in the second quarter. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Blayne Myrick tallied a team-high nine tackles in the win.
App State senior quarterback Joey Aguilar threw for 266 yards—including a 47-yard Hail Mary touchdown to redshirt junior wide receiver Dalton Stroman as time expired in the first half. Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Santana Hopper forced a fumble on a sack for a second-straight week for the Mountaineers in defeat.
Behind a second-straight three-touchdown performance from junior wide receiver Devonte Ross, Troy picked up the first victory of the Gerad Parker era, 34-12, over Florida A&M. Ross amassed a single-game program record 229 receiving yards on 11 catches, surpassing a 56-year-old mark held by Danny Grant (225 vs. McNeese State in 1968). Junior running back Damien Taylor also carded a multi-touchdown effort, while leading the Trojans with 109 rushing yards on 15 carries. Junior quarterback Goose Crowder completed 18-of-25 passes for 295 yards and four touchdowns, punctuated by a 98-yard fourth-quarter bomb to Ross. Junior linebacker Jordan Stringer posted a team-high eight tackles and two tackles for loss in the win.
The victory ran the Sun Belt’s record to 13-0 against FCS opponents, with the conference outscoring those opponents 496-189 on the year.
Louisiana had an opportunity to force overtime against in-state foe Tulane on its final drive of the game, but a desperation fourth-down pass was intercepted to preserve a 41-33 Green Wave win. Redshirt freshman running back Bill Davis rushed for a team-high 103 yards—with much of the yardage coming on a career-long 73-yard scamper. Ragin’ Cajuns redshirt senior quarterback Ben Wooldridge accounted for four touchdowns—two passing and two rushing—but his two interceptions, including a momentum-shifting pick six, proved costly.
Senior running back Ethan Payne punched in a 1-yard score to cap a 13-play, 75-yard opening drive that allowed Marshall to jump out to a 7-0 advantage on No. 3/3 Ohio State. After conceding 28-straight points to the Buckeyes, the Thundering Herd answered with a highlight-reel 13-yard connection from redshirt senior quarterback Stone Earle to redshirt junior wide receiver Elijah Metcalf in the back of the end zone to trim the halftime advantage to 28-14. Ohio State held the Thundering Herd scoreless in the second half, en route to a 49-14 win.
Facing a Top 20 opponent on the road for the second-straight week, Arkansas State made it back-to-back weeks with multiple interceptions behind takeaways from sophomore defensive back Dontay Joyner and redshirt sophomore defensive back Websley Etienne. Redshirt junior quarterback Timmy McClain found redshirt freshman wide receiver Hunter Summers on a 27-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown strike for the lone Red Wolves score in a 52-7 loss to No. 20/21 Iowa State.
Coastal Carolina fell to Virginia, 43-24, in front of a Brooks Stadium record crowd of 22,104 fans. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Ethan Vasko completed 10-of-21 passes for 222 yards and a score, while also leading the Chanticleers with 24 yards and a score in the ground game. Junior wide receiver Tray Taylor accumulated 115 all-purpose yards. Redshirt senior linebacker Shane Bruce matched his career-high with a team-leading 11 tackles.
Six turnovers sank Southern Miss in a 44-7 loss to Jacksonville State. Freshman quarterback John White scored the lone Golden Eagles touchdown on a two-yard scamper, while freshman linebacker Chris Jones led the defense with eight tackles and an interception.
A 12-yard touchdown connection from junior running back OJ Arnold to senior wide receiver Derwin Burgess Jr. on a halfback pass highlighted the Georgia Southern performance in a 52-13 loss to No. 5/5 Ole Miss. Redshirt sophomore quarterback JC French completed 20-of-28 passes for 109 yards, while redshirt junior defensive back Chance Gamble paced the defense with seven tackles and an interception.
A 35-yard field goal from redshirt junior kicker Max Larson provided the lone score for ULM in a 51-3 loss to No. 1/2 Texas. The Warhawk defense recorded a pair of takeaways on interceptions by junior defensive back Wydett Williams Jr.—who also led the unit with 10 tackles—and junior defensive back Carl Fauntroy.
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SUN BELT FOOTBALL – WEEK 4 RESULTS
South Alabama def. App State, 48-14
Tulane def. Louisiana, 41-33
No. 3/3 Ohio State def. Marshall, 49-14
James Madison def. North Carolina, 70-50
No. 20/21 Iowa State def. Arkansas State, 52-7
Virginia def. Coastal Carolina, 43-24
Jacksonville State def. Southern Miss, 44-7
Troy def. Florida A&M, 34-12
No. 5/5 Ole Miss def. Georgia Southern, 52-13
No. 1/2 Texas def. ULM, 51-3