NEW ORLEANS — Coming off the first bowl victory in program history, James Madison will kick off its 2025 season on Saturday, August 30, when it hosts Weber State at 6:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. CT on ESPN+. 
 
The Dukes are 3-0 all-time against the Wildcats, including FCS playoff wins in 2017 and 2019 en route to a pair of FCS national championship game appearances. The programs have yet to meet since James Madison ascended to the FBS ranks. 
 
James Madison’s non-conference schedule also includes trips to Louisville (Sept. 5) and in-state foe Liberty (Sept. 20), ahead of a late-season home clash with Washington State (Nov. 22). In addition to annual dates with their East Division foes, the Dukes will host Sun Belt West Division favorite Louisiana (Oct. 11) and visit Texas State (Oct. 28). 
 
The Dukes were picked to finish atop the Sun Belt East Division and compete in their first Sun Belt Football Championship Game, while claiming 11-of-14 first-place votes in last month’s 2025 Sun Belt Conference Football Preseason Coaches Poll. 
 
Second-year head coach Bob Chesney will guide a roster that returns four All-Sun Belt picks from 2024 and had eight players named to the 2025 Preseason All-Sun Belt teams—the second-most in the conference. 
 
James Madison went 9-4 overall in 2024, including a thrilling 70-50 win over autonomy conference foe North Carolina. The Dukes were part of the Sun Belt’s eight-team Bowl Season contingent that paced the non-autonomy conferences for the third-straight year, earning their first bowl victory in just their third FBS campaign with a 27-17 win over Western Kentucky in the Boca Raton Bowl. 
 
The Dukes are 28-9 in three FBS seasons, reaching eight-or-more wins in 2022, 2023 and 2024. 
 
To listen to head coach Bob Chesney, graduate student offensive lineman Pat McMurtrie and senior linebacker Trent Hendrick’s comments from the 2025 Sun Belt Football Media Days, visit the Sun Belt Conference YouTube page. 



2025 SCHEDULE

8/30	Weber State
9/5	at Louisville
9/20	at Liberty
9/27	Georgia Southern*
10/4	at Georgia State*
10/11	Louisiana*
10/18	Old Dominion*
10/28	at Texas State*
11/8	at Marshall*
11/15	App State*
11/22	Washington State
11/29	at Coastal Carolina*

 
* Sun Belt Conference Game 
 
2024 ALL-SUN BELT RETURNERS
First Team
OL – Pat McMurtrie, James Madison (Gr., OL – Verona, N.J.) 
 
Second Team
DB – Jacob Thomas, James Madison (Sr., DB – Ashburn, Va.) 
 
Honorable Mention
QB – Alonza Barnett III, James Madison (RS Jr., QB – Whitsett, N.C.) 
DL – Immanuel Bush, James Madison (RS Sr., DL – Lancaster, S.C.) 

2025 PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS
First Team
RB – George Pettaway, James Madison (RS Jr., RB – Suffolk, Va.) 
OL – Pat McMurtrie, James Madison (Gr., OL – Verona, N.J.) 
DB – Jacob Thomas, James Madison (Sr., DB – Ashburn, Va.) 
 
Second Team
QB – Alonza Barnett III, James Madison (RS Jr., QB – Whitsett, N.C.) 
DL – Immanuel Bush, James Madison (RS Sr., DL – Lancaster, S.C.) 
LB – Trent Hendrick, James Madison (Sr., LB – Richmond, Va.)
DB – DJ Barksdale, James Madison (Jr., DB – Rock Hill, S.C.) 
AP – George Pettaway, James Madison (RS Jr., AP – Suffolk, Va.)