James Madison at Georgia State - 2025 Matchup Preview
James Madison logo James Madison Dukes at Georgia State PanthersGeorgia State logo
Saturday, October 4th 2025 (12:00 AM EDT)
Georgia State Stadium - Atlanta, GA  (Sun Belt)

 
Dukes (1 - 1) (2 - 0 - 0)
Coach Bob Chesney (9 - 4)
Avg Score : 30 - 19 (14 - 28 on Road)
Record Prediction: 9.4 - 2.6 (#15)
Wins: (Elite: 0) (Good: 0) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 1)
Losses: (Elite: 0) (Good: 1) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 0)
Future: (Elite: 0) (Good: 0) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 10)
GAST coming off BYE
Our Line: James Madison -21.5   (SP+ JMU -22.5)

Projected Score: JMU: 37 - GAST: 15 (52)
JMU Win prob: 95% | Cover: 49%
JMU Travel: 447 miles
Panthers (1 - 2) (0 - 3 - 0)
Coach Dell McGee (3 - 9)
Avg Score : 20 - 41 (27 - 30 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 3 - 9 (#128)
Wins: (Elite: 0) (Good: 0) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 1)
Losses: (Elite: 1) (Good: 1) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 0)
Future: (Elite: 1) (Good: 0) (Avg: 2) (Bad: 6)
 
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-9.548.5
Sat 9/27 James Madison vs Georgia Southern-24
Sat 10/4 James Madison at Georgia State-21.5
Sat 10/11 James Madison vs Louisiana-16
Sat 10/18 James Madison vs Old Dominion-6.5
BYE WEEK
Tue 10/28 James Madison at Texas State-2.5
Sat 11/8 James Madison at Marshall-14.5
Sat 11/15 James Madison vs App State-16
Sat 11/22 James Madison vs Washington State-14
Sat 11/29 James Madison at Coastal Carolina-15

Total: Elite: 0, Good: 1, Avg 0, Bad 4, Poor 7
Played: Elite: 0, Good: 1, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 1
Future: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 4, Poor 6
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 1
Losses: Elite: 0, Good: 1, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0

Predictions for James Madison's Schedule
Georgia State's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30 Georgia State at Ole Miss+38.562.5L 7 - 63ON
Sat 9/6 Georgia State vs Memphis+14.557.5L 16 - 38UN
Sat 9/13 Georgia State vs Murray State-31.563.5W 37 - 21UN
Sat 9/20 Georgia State at Vanderbilt+26.553.5
BYE WEEK
Sat 10/4 Georgia State vs James Madison+21.5
Sat 10/11 Georgia State vs App State+8
Sat 10/18 Georgia State at Georgia Southern+5
Thu 10/23 Georgia State vs South Alabama+12.5
BYE WEEK
Sat 11/8 Georgia State at Coastal Carolina+9
Sat 11/15 Georgia State vs Marshall+4.5
Sat 11/22 Georgia State at Troy+16
Sat 11/29 Georgia State at Old Dominion+22.5

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

Predictions for Georgia State's Schedule

Important Stats (2025)
 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
JMU#97 (.12)44% (68)29.548% (46)3.3 (36)22039% (97)1413.69 (85)#16 (-.05)24% (2)1924% (5)24% (5)2.29 (25)8522
GAST#94 (.13)37% (116)2030% (131)2.11 (128)13542% (76)2321.17 (134)#128 (.39)54% (133)40.753% (128)59% (134)4.88 (117)80.71.71
 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
JMU#88 (.16)44% (61)47% (29)3.28 (30)19440% (87)2163.93 (66)#4 (.03)34% (1)34% (5)34% (3)3.64 (53)54.80.72.5
GAST#92 (.15)41% (90)42% (92)2.94 (86)13441% (79)2563.85 (76)#121 (.28)48% (123)49% (119)46% (118)4.42 (120)49.11.61.4



Overall Stats 2025
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
JMU Offense229.51443.8%3.692213612201414.856%43%48%39%17%.12
GAST Defense340.729.554%4.881 - - - - - 57%41%53%59%16%.39
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
JMU Defense2192824.1%2.292 - - - - - 53%47%24%24%25%-.05
GAST Offense32026.536.6%1.171.7163681352324.347%53%30%42%20%.13

Additional Stats 2025
 Teams                  GamesPossession Time1st Downs PG3rd Down %4th Down %Penalties PGPenalty Yds PGOff TO PGDef TO PGTFL PGSacks PGD/ST TDsAvg Field Pos
James Madison234:492147%33%985226.51.5034.8
Georgia State330:4815.732%56%1080.71.716.71.7026.4
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
JMU Offense256% (37)48% (46)45.5219.54.85 (62).25 (39)3.3 (36)70% (79)11% (110)1.02 (54)
GAST Defense357% (113)53% (128) - - - - .41 (133)3.42 (127)90% (123)10% (61)1.14 (105)
 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
JMU Defense253% (97)24% (5) - - - - -.13 (16)1.26 (3)38% (4)13% (35)1.26 (119)
GAST Offense347% (88)30% (131)31.3135.34.32 (109)-.18 (134)2.11 (128)56% (118)12% (117)1.2 (29)

Pass Game Stats (2025)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
JMU Offense243% (101)39% (97)17.5291414.98.13 (90)2 (60).02 (126)1.3 (113)31% (69)36% (40).19 (103)5% (76)1.4 (129)
GAST Defense341% (17)59% (134) - - - - - - 2 (56).61 (130)1.6 (76)23% (133)42% (129).41 (99)6% (73)1.7 (42)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
JMU Defense247% (42)24% (5) - - - - - - 3 (28).04 (27)1.8 (115)37% (34)9% (1)-.19 (4)12% (2)1.3 (3)
GAST Offense353% (47)42% (76)20.732232.37.311.26 (34)4 (121).41 (43)1.8 (14)35% (109)33% (54).42 (50)7% (114)2.6 (10)

James Madison's Power Ratings
James Madison's Power Rating: 3.49 #71
James Madison's Offense Rating: 6.87 #93
James Madison's Defense Rating: 3.38 #46
2025 Talent Rating: 482.00 #120
Blue Chip Ratio: 2% #79
James Madison's 2025 Expected Record: 9.4 - 2.6
James Madison's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: 3.6 #63
James Madison's Offense SP+ Rating: 28.7 #60
James Madison's Defense SP+ Rating: 25.1 #56

Average Talent
Average Sun Belt Talent Rating is 574.86
Average Power Five Talent: 877.82
Average FBS Talent: 715.85

Power Ratings Matchup
James Madison: 3.49   Georgia State: -18.005

SP+ Ratings Matchup
James Madison: 3.6   Georgia State: -18.8




Georgia State's Power Ratings
Georgia State's Power Rating: -18.005 #135
Georgia State's Offense Rating: 2.00 #121
Georgia State's Defense Rating: 26.96 #132
2025 Talent Rating: 596.00 #94
Blue Chip Ratio: 4 #56
Georgia State's 2025 Expected Record: 3.0 - 9.0
Georgia State's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: -18.8 #127
Georgia State's Offense SP+ Rating: 21.5 #108
Georgia State's Defense SP+ Rating: 40.1 #133

Average Talent
Average Sun Belt Talent Rating is 574.86
Average Power Five Talent: 877.82
Average FBS Talent: 715.85


James Madison Scoring
Offense: 29.5 PPG
Offense on Road: 14
Defense: 19 PPG
Defense on Road: 28

James Madison's 2025 Record
Record: 1 - 1
Record vs Spread: 2 - 0 - 0
Record on Road: 0 - 1
Record vs Spread on Road: 1 - 0 - 0
Projected Score
James Madison 37
Georgia State 15


Total Points: 52

Georgia State Scoring
Offense: 20 PPG
Offense at Home: 26.5
Defense: 40.7 PPG
Defense at Home: 29.5

Georgia State's 2025 Record
Record: 1 - 2
Record vs Spread: 0 - 3 - 0
Record at home: 1 - 1
Record vs Spread at home: 0 - 2 - 0


YearDateHomeScoreAwayScoreWinnerSpreadCoverTotalO/U
202411/09James Madison38Georgia State7James MadisonJames Madison -14.5James Madison53.5Under
202311/04Georgia State14James Madison42James MadisonJames Madison -6.0James Madison53.0Over
202211/19James Madison42Georgia State40James MadisonJames Madison -10Georgia State51.5Over
TeamWinsCoversO/U
Georgia State012 Overs
James Madison321 Unders

WinsCoversFavsDogs
Home Teams2 - 11 - 21 - 10 - 1
Road Teams1 - 22 - 11 - 01 - 1

(#71) James Madison Info
Power Rating: 3.49 #71
Offense Rating: 6.87 #93
Defense Rating: 3.38 #46
Overall SP+ Rating: 3.6 #63
Offense SP+ Rating: 28.7 #60
Defense SP+ Rating: 25.1 #56
Talent Rating: 482.00 #120
Blue Chip Ratio: 2% #79
Expected Record: 9.4 - 2.6

Team Profile
Run heavy Offense 56%, Pass: 43%
Bad Offense Success Rate of 44%
Poor Offensive Explosiveness
Bad in Scoring Position 3.69 PPO
Avg Run Success 48%
Poor Pass Success 39%
Bad OL Grades, Good OL Yds Per Rush
Good DL Grades, Good Sacks/Turnovers
Great Defense Success Rate of 24%
Good in Scoring Position 2.29 PPO
Great Run Def Success 24%
Great Pass Def Success 24%
Great Pressure/Havoc/Forcing TOs
Good Field Position

James Madison has lost 3 straight
James Madison has lost 2 straight on the Road
Record on Road: 0 - 1 (1 - 0 - 0 vs Spread )

James Madison Notes
(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
(8/1) New DC Hitschler was co-DC at Bama/Wisc/Cincy
(8/1) Class of the Sun Belt, good on both sides + staff
(8/1) Great QB depth big w/ Barnett inj, QB run game
(7/13) QB1 Sluka (UNLV) played for Chesney at H.C.
(7/12) HC Chesney taking lots of FCS portals w/ exp
(5/29) RB loaded w/ Pettaway & Knight back. Top SBC?
(5/29) WR portal losses, 6 portals, good FCS adds

James Madison Highlights
James Madison is Undefeated vs Spread

James Madison offense is good on 3rd downs
James Madison has a really good defense (#2)
James Madison defense is really good in red zone (#25)
James Madison has a good run defense (#5)
James Madison has a good pass defense (#5)
James Madison Stuffs a lot of Run Plays (#2)
James Madison Defensive Line is very good (#3)
James Madison Secondary is very good (#2)
James Madison defense Intercepts a lot of Passes (#28)

James Madison Deficiencies
James Madison offense is not Explosive (#105)
James Madison does not Sack the QB (#112)
James Madison gives up a Lot of Explosive Plays (#119)

Performance GradesPerf Grades
CategoryCatGASTJMU
OverallOver#93#65
OffenseOff#80#97
DefenseDef#93#28
Special TeamsST#104#79
PassingPass#49#113
RushingRush#74#44
Run BlockRBLK#96#56
Pass BlockPBLK#104#109
Route RunningWR Rt#44#96
TacklingTkl#59#18
Run DefenseR Def#93#21
Pass Rush DefPRush#95#48
Coverage DefCov#84#31

Previous Matchups
James Madison beat Georgia State last year (38-7)
James Madison beat Georgia State in 2023 (42-14)
James Madison beat Georgia State in 2022 (42-40)

Weather Forecast
Playing in Georgia State Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

Team Information
Injuries: JMU | GAST
Depth Chart: JMU | GAST
Rosters: JMU | GAST
(#135) Georgia State Info
Power Rating: -18.005 #135
Offense Rating: 2.00 #121
Defense Rating: 26.96 #132
Overall SP+ Rating: -18.8 #127
Offense SP+ Rating: 21.5 #108
Defense SP+ Rating: 40.1 #133
Talent Rating: 596.00 #94
Blue Chip Ratio: 4 #56
Expected Record: 3.0 - 9.0

Team Profile
Balanced offense, Pass: 53%, Run: 47%
Awful Offense Success Rate of 37%
Poor Offensive Explosiveness
Awful in Scoring Position 1.17 PPO
Awful Run Success 30%
Bad Pass Success 42%
Poor OL Grades, Awful OL Yds Per Rush
Bad DL Grades, Avg Sacks/Turnovers
Awful Defense Success Rate of 54%
Awful in Scoring Position 4.88 PPO
Awful Run Def Success 53%
Awful Pass Def Success 59%
Bad Pressure/Havoc/Forcing TOs
Bad Field Position

Georgia State has lost 1 straight
Georgia State has won 1 straight at Home
Record at home: 1 - 1 (0 - 2 - 0 vs Spread)

Georgia State Notes
(8/1) DBs full rebuild, could struggle badly early
(8/1) RB all new, decent portal adds, have depth
(8/1) OL poor LY, 1/5 back. 8 portals, 4 P4. Jump?
(8/1) Def poor LY, only 9 portals? Can't stop run
(8/1) Probably a year away from bowl, 3-4 win team
(7/13) HC McGee crootin big, #1 SBC class
(5/2) WR 3 portals, retaining Ted Hurst a huge win
(3/24) QB Veilleux back, JAG. 2 portals added.
(3/24) New OC Jackson former Browns HC (NFL)
(3/24) New DC Pearson 1st time FBS DC.

Georgia State Highlights
Georgia State offense is explosive (#7)

Georgia State Deficiencies
Georgia State has a really bad Offense
Georgia State has a bad TO Margin (#107)
Georgia State Commits a Lot of Penalties (#133)
Georgia State throws a Lot of Interceptions (#121)
Georgia State offense is really bad (#116)
Georgia State Runs Get Stuffed a Lot (#131)
Georgia State offense is bad in Scoring Opportunities (#134)
Georgia State run game is really bad (#131)
Georgia State offense is bad on 3rd Downs
Georgia State Defense Gives up a Lot of Points
Georgia State has a bad defense (#133)
Georgia State Does Not Stuff Runs (#127)
Georgia State has a bad defensive line (#127)
Georgia State has a bad red zone defense (#117)


  
James Madison's OC Dean Kennedy
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Alonza Barnett294762%232204.9
Matthew Sluka (Tr)6967%50125.6
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
George Pettaway1512008.035
Matthew Sluka (Tr)2711324.218
Wayne Knight1210118.459
Jordan Fuller (Tr)73104.48
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Landon Ellis (Tr)575115.026
Wayne Knight64307.212
Michael Scott43809.514
Logan Kyle338012.723

View James Madison's Full Roster
James Madison's DC Colin Hitschler
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Trent Hendrick132000
Gannon Weathersby111100
Jacob Thomas91102
Mychal Mcmullin91000
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Immanuel Bush62120
Jacob Thomas91102
Gannon Weathersby111100
Trent Hendrick132000
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
DJ Barksdale62003
Jacob Thomas91102
Tyler Brown80002

Georgia State's OC Hue Jackson
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
TJ Finley (Tr)324768%351137.5
Cameran Brown (Tr)253768%257406.9
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Rashad Amos (Tr)2614015.429
Branson Robinson (Tr)187904.447
Cameran Brown (Tr)135814.522
TJ Peyton455013.849
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Ted Hurst18275215.352
Javon Robinson (Tr)10146214.644
Leo Blackburn (Tr)75818.321
Camden Overton (Tr)552110.420

View Georgia State's Full Roster
Georgia State's DC Travis Pearson
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Josiah Robinson204100
Jordan Huff (Tr)151002
Deuce Fillmore140001
Deuce Walker130000
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Josiah Robinson204100
Alex Mullings21100
D-Icey Hopkins103100
Marlin Dean (Tr)103120
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Damaine Wilson110003
Jordan Huff (Tr)151002
Bernard Causey III (Tr)62102