This might not be the James Madison team of last year, but it’s the only Group of Six team that’s still unbeaten, the offense continues to dominate, and another trip to the College Football Playoff is there for the taking – maybe.
The Dukes have to be unbeaten, and it would help if Boise State tripped up along the way, but that’s for later. For now, they have to keep on rolling with a dangerous Thursday night trip to Boone to keep the momentum going.
The Mountaineers were able to get back on track after a two-game skid, with a win over Coastal Carolina to stay alive in the Sun Belt race. And now they need to slay the JMU dragon to be a true player.
James Madison vs App State: Quick Hits
- App State goes on the road for two of the next three games with a trip to Georgia Southern next.
- James Madison starts a run of three road games in four weeks with a home game against Troy next before going to Southern Miss and UConn.
- The two teams are 2-2 in the series over the last four years, but the Dukes took down the Mountaineers 58-10 last year.
How To Watch James Madison vs App State
Date: Thursday, October 22, 2026
Game Time: 7:00 PM ET
TV: ESPNU
Location: Kidd Brewer Stadium, Boone, NC
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Why James Madison Will Win
App State doesn’t generate enough of a pass rush to bother the James Madison passing game. Camden Coleman might not be consistently accurate, but he was terrific in the key win over Georgia State last week. Give him time to work, and he’ll produce. It also helps that the ground game is carrying the load.
The Dukes have rushed for over 200 yards in each of the last three games, and App State is 0-2 when allowing 200 rushing yards or more.
Why App State Will Win
The two Mountaineer losses can be explained away. One was in a decent 41-31 fight against NC State, and the other was a 10-3 loss to Old Dominion after turning the ball over three times. But App State doesn’t have a turnover issue.
Part of James Madison’s run is coming from takeaways, with two in each of the last six games. App State’s defense is also a turnover-forcing machine. It needs to at least stay even in the turnover margin battle.
James Madison vs App State Prediction, Betting Lines
The 2023 James Madison team was 10-0 under some Curt Cignetti guy. App State came into town and left with a 26-23 win over the Dukes.
The 2024 James Madison team was 8-1 under current UCLA head coach Bob Chesney. It went to App State and left with a 34-20 loss.
The Mountaineers have a way of hitting the Dukes with a big blow in moments like this, but JMU will run too well and won’t turn the ball over enough for the fun to stop here. It’ll be a fight, though.
James Madison 31, App State 24
Latest Consensus Line: James Madison -10.5, o/u: 56.5
ATS Confidence (out of 5): 3
Must See Rating (out of 5): 3.5
Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.