Georgia Southern at James Madison - 2025 Matchup Preview
Georgia Southern logo   Georgia Southern Eagles at James Madison Dukes  James Madison logo
Saturday, September 27th 2025 (1:30 PM EDT)
James Madison -14.5 (54.5) (-675)  Open: -12.5
James Madison 35 - Georgia Southern: 10  (Sun Belt)

 
Eagles (7 - 6) (7 - 5 - 1)
Coach Clay Helton (20 - 18)
Avg Score : 28 - 32 (20 - 35 on Road)
Record Prediction: 6.5 - 6.5 (#75)
'25 Opponents: (Elite: 0) (Good: 1) (Avg: 1) (Bad: 6)
GASO is playing their 5th straight game
Our Line: James Madison -18.5  (SP+ JMU -22)

Projected Score: GASO: 18 - JMU: 37 (55)
JMU Win prob: 85% | Cover: 47%
GASO Travel: 447 miles
Dukes (12 - 2) (9 - 5 - 0)
Coach Bob Chesney (8 - 4)
Avg Score : 37 - 18 (40 - 15 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 12.1 - 1.9 (#2)
'25 Opponents: (Elite: 0) (Good: 0) (Avg: 2) (Bad: 7)
 
Georgia Southern's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30 Georgia Southern at Fresno State+2.554.5L 14 - 42ON
Sat 9/6 Georgia Southern at USC+29.061.5L 20 - 59ON
Sat 9/13 Georgia Southern vs Jacksonville State-3.059.0W 41 - 34OY
Sat 9/20 Georgia Southern vs Maine-22.057.5W 45 - 17OY
Sat 9/27 Georgia Southern at James Madison+14.554.5L 10 - 35UN
BYE WEEK
Thu 10/9 Georgia Southern vs Southern Miss+3.059.5L 35 - 38OY
Sat 10/18 Georgia Southern vs Georgia State-6.558.5W 41 - 24OY
Sat 10/25 Georgia Southern at Arkansas State-1.559.5L 24 - 34UN
BYE WEEK
Thu 11/6 Georgia Southern at App State+4.562.5W 25 - 23UY
Sat 11/15 Georgia Southern vs Coastal Carolina-3.059.5W 45 - 40OY
Sat 11/22 Georgia Southern vs Old Dominion+10.062.0L 10 - 45UN
Sat 11/29 Georgia Southern at Marshall+10.561.5W 24 - 19UY
Mon 12/29 Georgia Southern vs App State-10.058.5W 29 - 10UY

Total: Elite: 1, Good: 1, Avg 1, Bad 4, Poor 5
Played: Elite: 1, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 2, Poor 1
Future: Elite: 0, Good: 1, Avg 1, Bad 2, Poor 4
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 1, Poor: 1
Losses: Elite: 1, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 1, Poor: 0

Predictions for Georgia Southern's Schedule
James Madison's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30 James Madison vs Weber State-26.554.5W 45 - 10OY
Fri 9/5 James Madison at Louisville+15.057.0L 14 - 28UY
BYE WEEK
Sat 9/20 James Madison at Liberty-7.546.5W 31 - 13UY
Sat 9/27 James Madison vs Georgia Southern-14.554.5W 35 - 10UY
Sat 10/4 James Madison at Georgia State-19.552.5W 14 - 7UN
Sat 10/11 James Madison vs Louisiana-18.544.5W 24 - 14UN
Sat 10/18 James Madison vs Old Dominion-3.047.5W 63 - 27OY
BYE WEEK
Tue 10/28 James Madison at Texas State-7.555.5W 52 - 20OY
Sat 11/8 James Madison at Marshall-13.553.5W 35 - 23ON
Sat 11/15 James Madison vs App State-21.053.5W 58 - 10OY
Sat 11/22 James Madison vs Washington State-15.044.5W 24 - 20UN
Sat 11/29 James Madison at Coastal Carolina-24.054.5W 59 - 10OY
Fri 12/5 James Madison vs Troy-24.547.5W 31 - 14UN
Sat 12/20 James Madison at Oregon+22.547.5L 34 - 51OY

Total: Elite: 1, Good: 0, Avg 2, Bad 1, Poor 8
Played: Elite: 1, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 1, Poor 1
Future: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 2, Bad 0, Poor 7
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 1, Poor: 1
Losses: Elite: 1, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0

Predictions for James Madison's Schedule
Important Stats (2024)
 Teams                  Off Explosive.Off SuccessPPGRush SuccessOL Yds Per AttRush YPGPass SuccessPass YPGOff ScoreZoneDef Explosive.Def SuccessDef PPGRunD SuccessPass D SuccessDef ScoreZonePenalty YPGTO PGDef TO PG
GASO#68 (.19)43% (65)27.946% (44)2.84 (101)12840% (85)2384.57 (17)#105 (.23)45% (108)32.347% (109)44% (102)3.81 (71)48.31.71.5
JMU#88 (.16)44% (61)37.147% (29)3.28 (30)19440% (87)2163.93 (66)#4 (.03)34% (1)18.434% (5)34% (3)3.64 (53)54.80.72.5
 Teams                  Off Explosive.Off SuccessPPGRush SuccessOL Yds Per AttRush YPGPass SuccessPass YPGOff ScoreZoneDef Explosive.Def SuccessDef PPGRunD SuccessPass D SuccessDef ScoreZonePenalty YPGTO PGDef TO PG
GASO0%0%000%000%0%0%0000
JMU0%0%000%000%0%0%0000



Overall Stats 2024
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
GASO Offense1327.919.542.9%4.571.7223661282383.846%53%46%40%17%.19
JMU Defense1318.41533.9%3.642.5 - - - - - 46%54%34%34%20%.03
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
GASO Defense1332.335.345.5%3.811.5 - - - - - 47%53%47%44%14%.23
JMU Offense1337.14043.6%3.930.7214101942164.952%48%47%40%14%.16

Additional Stats 2024
 Teams                  GamesPossession Time1st Downs PG3rd Down %4th Down %Penalties PGPenalty Yds PGOff TO PGDef TO PGTFL PGSacks PGD/ST TDsAvg Field Pos
Georgia Southern1330:0921.845%75%5.648.31.71.54.61.6127.7
James Madison1331:4520.841%40%754.80.72.57.13.2632.9
Run Game Stats (2025)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
GASO Offense1346% (95)46% (44)33.8128.23.824 (45).15 (57)2.84 (101)78% (36)11% (94)0.99 (57)
JMU Defense1346% (19)34% (5) - - - - (14)2.46 (5)65% (26)13% (15)1.07 (106)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
GASO Defense1347% (27)47% (109) - - - - .18 (99)3.1 (87)72% (60)8% (106)1 (79)
JMU Offense1352% (54)47% (29)39.8193.74.920 (67).17 (45)3.28 (30)72% (82)10% (61)0.98 (58)

Pass Game Stats (2025)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
GASO Offense1353% (39)40% (85)22.234.2237.8710.721 (51)11 (72).23 (86)1.5 (84)31% (60)33% (48).39 (43)6% (65)2 (90)
JMU Defense1354% (116)34% (3) - - - - - - 17 (5).07 (10)1.8 (118)40% (1)26% (18).16 (11)7% (24)2.3 (125)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
GASO Defense1353% (108)44% (102) - - - - - - 13 (31).28 (97)1.5 (52)31% (89)32% (94).35 (89)5% (100)2 (54)
JMU Offense1348% (79)40% (87)17.829.3215.97.412.228 (15)4 (1).18 (99)1.5 (103)31% (61)29% (95).26 (95)4% (18)2.1 (38)

Georgia Southern's Power Ratings
Georgia Southern's Power Rating: -8.32  #93
Georgia Southern's Offense Rating: 15.06  #56
Georgia Southern's Defense Rating: 23.38  #129
2025 Talent Rating: 586.00  #99
Blue Chip Ratio: 3%  #65
Georgia Southern's 2025 Expected Record: 6.5 - 6.5
Georgia Southern's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: -9.4  #103
Georgia Southern's Offense SP+ Rating: 28.3  #59
Georgia Southern's Defense SP+ Rating: 37.7  #130

Average Talent
Average Sun Belt Talent Rating is 564.29
Average Power Five Talent: 877.82
Average FBS Talent: 715.76

Power Ratings Matchup
Georgia Southern: -8.32   James Madison: 9.515

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Georgia Southern: -9.4   James Madison: 12.3




James Madison's Power Ratings
James Madison's Power Rating: 9.515  #59
James Madison's Offense Rating: 13.81  #63
James Madison's Defense Rating: 12.08  #56
2025 Talent Rating: 482.00  #120
Blue Chip Ratio: 2  #79
James Madison's 2025 Expected Record: 12.1 - 1.9
James Madison's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: 12.3  #27
James Madison's Offense SP+ Rating: 34.9  #18
James Madison's Defense SP+ Rating: 21.4  #39

Average Talent
Average Sun Belt Talent Rating is 564.29
Average Power Five Talent: 877.82
Average FBS Talent: 715.76


Georgia Southern Scoring
Offense: 27.9 PPG
Offense on Road: 19.5
Defense: 32.3 PPG
Defense on Road: 35.3

Georgia Southern's 2025 Record
Record: 7 - 6
Record vs Spread: 7 - 5 - 1
Over/Under Record: 7 - 6
Record on Road: 3 - 4
Record vs Spread on Road: 2 - 4 - 0
Record as Dog vs Spread: 3 - 4 - 1
Record as Road Dog vs Spread: 2 - 3 - 0
Projected Score
James Madison 37
Georgia Southern 18


Projected Total Points: 55
James Madison Scoring
Offense: 37.1 PPG
Offense at Home: 40
Defense: 18.4 PPG
Defense at Home: 15

James Madison's 2025 Record
Record: 12 - 2
Record vs Spread: 9 - 5 - 0
Over/Under Record: 7 - 7
Record at home: 7 - 0
Record vs Spread at home: 4 - 3 - 0
Record as Fav vs Spread: 7 - 5 - 0
Record as Home Fav vs Spread: 4 - 3 - 0


YearDateHomeScoreAwayScoreSpreadCoverTotalO/U
202509/27James Madison35Georgia Southern10James Madison -14.5James Madison54.5Under
202410/19Georgia Southern28James Madison14James Madison -9.5Georgia Southern58.5Under
202310/14James Madison41Georgia Southern13James Madison -5.5James Madison60.0Under
202210/15Georgia Southern45James Madison38James Madison -13Georgia Southern68.0Over
TeamWinsCoversO/U
James Madison221 Overs
Georgia Southern223 Unders

WinsCoversFavsDogs
Home Teams4 - 04 - 02 - 02 - 0
Road Teams0 - 40 - 40 - 20 - 2

(#93) GASO at (#59) JMU
Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCatGASOJMU
Net PPPPPPNRNR
Power RatePwr #93 #59
SP+SP+ #103 #27
Perf GradeGrade #108 #10
OffenseOff #58 #32
DefenseDef #131 #9
Spec TeamsST #118 #50
TalentTal #99 #120
Blue ChipsBC% #65 #79
Georgia Southern Notes
(10/22) DL is statistically bottom 5 in CFB, line yds & havoc
(10/22) Defense is worst in CFB in Success Rate, Off Avg
(10/9) French 3 INT, team 12 flags, comeback short vs USM
(8/25) Will stay out West between @ Fresno & USC
(8/1) Two West coast games to open. Impact?
(8/1) QB French way to many TOs under pressure LY
(8/1) QB/RB/WR combo great potential as tops in SBC
(8/1) DBs could be strong TY but F7 has lots of ?
(7/12) Helton QBs are historically TO prone
(4/7) WR Brown (Aub) impressive. QB as good depth
(3/24) QB French back. Helton (WKU) added
(3/24) RB Arnold, Mbadinga exp'd. Gibbs big croot
Georgia Southern Injury Report
James Madison Notes
(12/6) Sun Belt champs, beat Troy. Could be CFP bound?
(12/5) Hiring Billy Napier (UF) after Chesney took UCLA job
(12/4) Only its 4th FBS season & could make CFP. Incredible
(12/3) HC Bob Chesney has taken UCLA job, will coach '25
(10/29) Just murdering SBC, very much a G5 CFP threat
(10/22) Leads CFB in Defensive Success Rate, Off Good
(10/21) Off shredded ODU for 624, 311 rushing, 12-16 on 3rd
(9/20) Good W @ Liberty, Def incredible. Run Off good
(9/5) QB Barnett holds too long, not pocket aware
(9/5) Def front 7 dominant. Shut down Louisville
(9/2) QB Barnett started opener, Run Off mauled FCS
(8/25) QB Barnett cleared to play, is a top SBC QB
James Madison Injury Report
Georgia Southern on Offense
Balanced offense, Pass: 49%, Run: 49%
CategoryCat
GASO OffJMU Def
PPPOffPPPNRNR
Perf GradePerf #58 #9
SuccessSuc #65 #1
ExplosiveExp #77 #125
PPAPPA #68 #4
PowerPwr #56 #56
SP+SP+ #59 #39
Pts POPPO #17 #53
HavocHav #87 #8
Georgia Southern Run Game
Balanced offense, Pass: 49%, Run: 49%
CategoryCat
GASO OffJMU Def
Run GameRun #51 #9
Run SuccessRSuc #44 #5
Run ExplRExp #57 #106
PPAExp #57 #14
Run BlockR Blk #90 -
OL YdsOLY #101 #5
Stuff RateStuff #98 #9
TackleTak -  #20
Georgia Southern Pass Game
Balanced offense, Pass: 49%, Run: 49%
CategoryCat
GASO OffJMU Def
Pass GamePass #74 #11
Pass SuccessPSuc #85 #3
Pass ExplPExl #84 #118
PPAExp #86 #10
Pass Rush/BlockP Blk #12 #19
F7 HavocF7 #94 #15
DB HavocDB #65 #24
James Madison on Offense
Run heavy Offense 58%, Pass: 40%
CategoryCatJMU OffGASO Def
PPPDefPPPNRNR
Perf GradePerf #32 #131
SuccessSuc #61 #108
ExplosiveExp #104 #70
PPAPPA #88 #105
PowerPwr #63 #129
SP+SP+ #18 #130
Pts POPPO #66 #71
HavocHav #35 #110
James Madison Run Game
Run heavy Offense 58%, Pass: 40%
CategoryCat
JMU OffGASO Def
Run GameRun #8 #135
Run SuccessRSuc #29 #109
Run ExplRExp #58 #79
PPAExp #45 #99
Run BlockR Blk #20 -
OL YdsOLY #30 #87
Stuff RateStuff #33 #52
TackleTak -  #59
James Madison Pass Game
Run heavy Offense 58%, Pass: 40%
CategoryCatJMU OffGASO Def
Pass GamePass #96 #78
Pass SuccessPSuc #87 #102
Pass ExplPExl #103 #52
PPAExp #99 #97
Pass Block/RushP Blk #43 #134
F7 HavocF7 #61 #106
DB HavocDB #18 #100
Program Comparison
JMU 5 Year Profile: Improving Below Avg G5
'25 Profile: Up to Average P4

GASO 5 Year Profile: Declining Average G5
'25 Profile: Down to Below Avg G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in Bridgeforth Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 0°
Rematch from Week 5
James Madison -14.5 (54.5)
James Madison won vs Georgia Southern this year (35-10)

Previous Matchups
James Madison beat Georgia Southern last year (35-10)
Georgia Southern beat James Madison in 2024 (28-14)
James Madison beat Georgia Southern in 2023 (41-13)

  
GASO's OC Ryan Aplin (in his second season)
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
JC French24939064%29242087.5
Turner Helton (Tr)142654%74102.8
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
OJ Arnold144103757.262
JC French13331562.421
David Mbadinga4919614.016
Weston Bryan3111133.611
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Camden Brown (Tr)6510791416.673
Marcus Sanders Jr.50797515.952
Dalen Cobb5750638.943
OJ Arnold21212110.141

View Georgia Southern's Full Roster

GASO's DC Brandon Bailey (been DC for 3 years)
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Jusfin Meyers901015
Brendan Harrington (Tr)852013
Brandon Tyson (Tr)843062
Ayden Jackson744013
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
MJ Stroud3316762
Caleb Moore (Tr)274221
Devin Collier241100
CJ Allen162110
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Tracy Hill Jr.414107
Jusfin Meyers901015
Elijah McDowell90004

JMU's OC Dean Kennedy (in his second season)
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Alonza Barnett21637058%28062387.6
Matthew Sluka (Tr)81173%100329.1
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Wayne Knight207137396.673
Alonza Barnett127589154.658
Jordan Fuller (Tr)8241555.126
Jobi Malary4334948.173
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Landon Ellis (Tr)36624517.362
Nick DeGennaro (Tr)28500517.976
Wayne Knight4039719.957
Jaylan Sanchez (Tr)30396113.280

View James Madison's Full Roster

JMU's DC Lyle Hemphill (in his second season)
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Trent Hendrick967323
Tyler Brown715105
Jacob Thomas653237
Drew Spinogatti517163
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Sahir West4614774
Xavier Holmes (Tr)317664
Aiden Gobaira (Tr)338530
Trent Hendrick967323
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
DJ Barksdale3630112
Justin Eaglin350008
Elijah Culp (Tr)444017