James Madison University has unveiled the kickoff times and television partners for seven of its 12 football contests in the 2026 season, laying out a slate that blends early‑season road tests with a series of high‑profile Thursday night showdowns.
Opening the season on the national stage
The Dukes will open against Liberty on September 5, with the noon kickoff streaming on ESPNU. The matchup marks the first of several early‑season contests that will test the team’s depth before conference play begins.
A week later, JMU travels to face Wagner in Boone, North Carolina, at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+, before heading to San Diego State for a 10 p.m. Eastern showdown on The CW. Those games illustrate the program’s effort to schedule competitive opponents across different time zones and broadcasting platforms.
A stretch of Thursday night battles
October and November bring three consecutive Thursday night games, beginning with a 7 p.m. contest against Appalachian State on ESPNU, followed by a 7:30 p.m. clash with Troy on either ESPN or ESPN2, and concluding with an 8 p.m. encounter versus Southern Miss also on one of those two networks. The schedule clusters the team’s non‑conference slate into a compact window that maximizes exposure.
The regular season wraps on November 14 with a noon game against UConn, broadcast on CBS Sports Network, giving the Dukes a final non‑conference tune‑up before diving into Sun Belt Conference play.