On Saturday at 12 p.m. ET, Liberty University will travel to Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Virginia, to open its football season against James Madison University in the second installment of the Battle for the Blue Ridge series.
Season Opener Stakes
The contest follows Liberty’s 31‑13 defeat to the Dukes in 2025, a loss that ended a seven‑game winning streak for James Madison at home and set the tone for the rivalry that now spans two meetings.
Liberty’s head coach Jamey Chadwell, who is 0‑2 against James Madison, will be looking to reverse that trend, while first‑year James Madison coach Billy Napier, with a 1‑1 record as a head coach, aims to protect his team’s home dominance.
A win for Liberty would not only capture the Battle of the Blue Ridge trophy but also give the Flames their seventh straight season‑opening victory and improve their all‑time series record to 7‑13, while snapping James Madison’s seven‑game home winning streak and marking the first time a non‑conference visitor has prevailed in Harrisonburg since Colgate in 2015.
The game will be televised on ESPNU and streamed locally on LFSN Radio, where seasoned play‑by‑play and analyst teams will provide coverage for fans across the region.