Louisiana at James Madison - 2025 Matchup Preview
Louisiana logo Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns at James Madison DukesJames Madison logo
Saturday, October 11th 2025 (12:00 AM EDT)
Bridgeforth Stadium - Harrisonburg, VA  (Sun Belt)

 
Ragin' Cajuns (1 - 2) (1 - 2 - 0)
Coach Michael Desormeaux (23 - 17)
Avg Score : 19 - 25 (10 - 52 on Road)
Record Prediction: 5.4 - 6.6 (#90)
Wins: (Elite: 0) (Good: 0) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 1)
Losses: (Elite: 1) (Good: 0) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 1)
Future: (Elite: 0) (Good: 0) (Avg: 1) (Bad: 8)
ULL coming off BYE
JMU is playing their 4th straight game
Our Line: James Madison -16   (SP+ JMU -12)

Projected Score: ULL: 19 - JMU: 35 (53)
JMU Win prob: 88% | Cover: 54%
ULL Travel: 940 miles, 1 hrs behind
Dukes (1 - 1) (2 - 0 - 0)
Coach Bob Chesney (9 - 4)
Avg Score : 30 - 19 (45 - 10 @ Home)
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)
 
Louisiana's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30 Louisiana vs Rice-14.549.5L 12 - 14UN
Sat 9/6 Louisiana vs McNeese-19.050.0W 34 - 10UY
Sat 9/13 Louisiana at Missouri+27.547.5L 10 - 52ON
Sat 9/20 Louisiana at Eastern Michigan-2.551.5
Sat 9/27 Louisiana vs Marshall-6
BYE WEEK
Sat 10/11 Louisiana at James Madison+16
Sat 10/18 Louisiana vs Southern Miss+3
Sat 10/25 Louisiana at Troy+5.5
Sat 11/1 Louisiana at South Alabama+7
Sat 11/8 Louisiana vs Texas State+6
BYE WEEK
Thu 11/20 Louisiana at Arkansas State-3
Sat 11/29 Louisiana vs UL Monroe-12.5

Total: Elite: 1, Good: 0, Avg 1, Bad 4, Poor 6
Played: Elite: 1, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 2
Future: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 1, Bad 4, Poor 4
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 1
Losses: Elite: 1, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 1

Predictions for Louisiana'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-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

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
ULL#104 (.1)35% (125)18.746% (59)3.05 (62)19423% (133)593.57 (93)#88 (.17)48% (119)25.352% (127)43% (92)4.06 (92)43.70.71
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
 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
ULL#16 (.3)45% (47)42% (91)3.24 (35)15947% (17)2424.27 (32)#97 (.22)48% (126)53% (133)44% (105)4.43 (121)44.50.61.4
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



Overall Stats 2025
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
ULL Offense318.71035.4%3.570.71525419459656%43%46%23%20%.1
JMU Defense2191024.1%2.292 - - - - - 53%47%24%24%25%-.05
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
ULL Defense325.35248.2%4.061 - - - - - 62%37%52%43%10%.17
JMU Offense229.54543.8%3.692213612201414.856%43%48%39%17%.12

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
Louisiana325:001532%40%643.70.714.31.7026.6
James Madison234:492147%33%985226.51.5034.8
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
ULL Offense356% (34)46% (59)32.7194.365 (62).33 (26)3.05 (62)38% (135)15% (130)1.37 (13)
JMU Defense253% (97)24% (5) - - - - -.13 (16)1.26 (3)38% (4)13% (35)1.26 (119)
 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
ULL Defense362% (127)52% (127) - - - - .24 (115)3.16 (108)78% (100)8% (98)0.99 (80)
JMU Offense256% (37)48% (46)45.5219.54.85 (62).25 (39)3.3 (36)70% (79)11% (110)1.02 (54)

Pass Game Stats (2025)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
ULL Offense343% (102)23% (133)8.721.359.32.86.91 (123)1 (23)-.2 (134)0.9 (136)35% (113)27% (97).23 (95)5% (68)1.8 (99)
JMU Defense247% (42)24% (5) - - - - - - 3 (28).04 (27)1.8 (115)37% (34)9% (1)-.19 (4)12% (2)1.3 (3)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
ULL Defense337% (9)43% (92) - - - - - - 2 (56).18 (59)1.2 (19)25% (129)26% (48).13 (37)3% (131)1.6 (26)
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)

Louisiana's Power Ratings
Louisiana's Power Rating: -11.49 #108
Louisiana's Offense Rating: 6.10 #98
Louisiana's Defense Rating: 17.58 #110
2025 Talent Rating: 568.00 #102
Blue Chip Ratio: 1% #88
Louisiana's 2025 Expected Record: 5.4 - 6.6
Louisiana's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: -8.7 #94
Louisiana's Offense SP+ Rating: 22.2 #103
Louisiana's Defense SP+ Rating: 31.2 #95

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

Power Ratings Matchup
Louisiana: -11.49   James Madison: 6.045

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Louisiana: -8.7   James Madison: 3.6




James Madison's Power Ratings
James Madison's Power Rating: 6.045 #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


Louisiana Scoring
Offense: 18.7 PPG
Offense on Road: 10
Defense: 25.3 PPG
Defense on Road: 52

Louisiana's 2025 Record
Record: 1 - 2
Record vs Spread: 1 - 2 - 0
Record on Road: 0 - 1
Record vs Spread on Road: 0 - 1 - 0
Projected Score
James Madison 35
Louisiana 19


Total Points: 53

James Madison Scoring
Offense: 29.5 PPG
Offense at Home: 45
Defense: 19 PPG
Defense at Home: 10

James Madison's 2025 Record
Record: 1 - 1
Record vs Spread: 2 - 0 - 0
Record at home: 1 - 0
Record vs Spread at home: 1 - 0 - 0


YearDateHomeScoreAwayScoreWinnerSpreadCoverTotalO/U
TeamWinsCoversO/U
James Madison000 Overs
Louisiana000 Unders

WinsCoversFavsDogs
Home Teams0 - 00 - 00 - 00 - 0
Road Teams0 - 00 - 00 - 00 - 0

(#108) Louisiana Info
Power Rating: -11.49 #108
Offense Rating: 6.10 #98
Defense Rating: 17.58 #110
Overall SP+ Rating: -8.7 #94
Offense SP+ Rating: 22.2 #103
Defense SP+ Rating: 31.2 #95
Talent Rating: 568.00 #102
Blue Chip Ratio: 1% #88
Expected Record: 5.4 - 6.6

Team Profile
Run heavy Offense 56%, Pass: 43%
Awful Offense Success Rate of 35%
Poor Offensive Explosiveness
Poor in Scoring Position 3.57 PPO
Avg Run Success 46%
Awful Pass Success 23%
Bad OL Grades, Avg OL Yds Per Rush
Bad DL Grades, Poor Sacks/Turnovers
Awful Defense Success Rate of 48%
Poor in Scoring Position 4.06 PPO
Awful Run Def Success 52%
Poor Pass Def Success 43%
Awful Pressure/Havoc/Forcing TOs
Avg Field Position

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

Louisiana Notes
(9/4) QB Walker Howard likely out for the season
(9/4) 4 straight years starting QB has been injured
(8/30) Offense awful in bad L to Rice, Howard terrible
(8/28) Don't love HC Desormeaux so far
(8/19) QB1 Walker Howard named starter Aug 19th
(8/1) Off has great potential, but slow & methodical
(8/1) Pot. co favs in SB West, but Def must improve
(8/1) QB W Howard (Miss) huge pickup, 5* croot.
(8/1) Def real bad LY, replacing a ton, 1 portal?
(7/13) Little return but only 5 portals. Trust depth

Louisiana Highlights
Louisiana defense does not give up big plays (#26)
Louisiana has a great TO Margin (#28)

Louisiana Deficiencies
Louisiana has a really bad Offense
Louisiana offense is really bad (#125)
Louisiana Runs Get Stuffed a Lot (#101)
Louisiana pass game is really bad (#133)
Louisiana offense is bad on 3rd Downs
Louisiana has a bad defense (#119)
Louisiana Does Not Stuff Runs (#106)
Louisiana has a bad defensive line (#108)

Performance GradesPerf Grades
CategoryCatJMUULL
OverallOver#65#106
OffenseOff#97#103
DefenseDef#28#100
Special TeamsST#79#115
PassingPass#113#112
RushingRush#44#24
Run BlockRBLK#56#36
Pass BlockPBLK#109#83
Route RunningWR Rt#96#107
TacklingTkl#18#103
Run DefenseR Def#21#102
Pass Rush DefPRush#48#62
Coverage DefCov#31#71

Weather Forecast
Playing in Bridgeforth Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

Team Information
Injuries: ULL | JMU
Depth Chart: ULL | JMU
Rosters: ULL | JMU
(#71) James Madison Info
Power Rating: 6.045 #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 4 straight
James Madison has lost 1 straight at Home
Record at home: 1 - 0 (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 is Undefeated at Home
James Madison is Undefeated vs Spread at Home

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)


  
Louisiana's OC Tim Leger
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Daniel Beale153642%91102.5
Walker Howard (Tr)102246%88014.0
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Zylan Perry3022617.584
Bill Davis3619125.336
Steven Blanco1310017.734
Walker Howard (Tr)94715.225
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Shelton Sampson Jr. (Tr)563012.625
Kedarius Wade225012.519
Caden Jensen51803.65
Robert Williams21809.09

View Louisiana's Full Roster
Louisiana's DC Jim Salgado
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Jaden Dugger243100
Terrence Williams212100
Jake St. Andre151000
Tyree Skipper140001
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Jaden Dugger243100
Caleb Kibodi111100
Jaelen Crider41100
Trae Tomlinson (Tr)81110
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Brent Gordon Jr.80001
Tyree Skipper140001
Jalen Clark121001

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