Miller Moss (left) and the Louisville Cardinals host Alonza Barnett III (right) and the James Madison Dukes.
James Madison will play at ACC foe Louisville Friday night in a game that is predicted to be the most difficult one on the schedule for the Dukes.
After JMU handled their business last Saturday against former FCS foe Weber State 45-10, they’ll look to win their third win in a row against an ACC opponent.
James Madison
The game was never in doubt for JMU as they scored four touchdowns on the first four drives of the game with relative ease.
Alonza Barnett III was the starting quarterback, fully recovering from a leg injury to end the 2024 season that had many questioning if he would even return in 2025. His leg looked just fine in the first quarter, running in an 11-yard touchdown to open up the scoring.
Barnett’s counterpart, Matthew Sluka, also contributed a rushing and passing touchdown of his own on the subsequent drives. While Barnett is likely the starter moving forward, there are clearly packages where Sluka can be utilized.
In total, JMU rushed for 313 yard and four touchdowns— three of which from three different quarterbacks. Running back Wayne Knight punched in the fourth— a 59-yard run to the house to start off the fourth quarter that put the game out of reach for good.
Defensively, the Dukes only allowed 148 yards total— JMU’s lowest yard total allowed since its inaugural FBS game against Middle Tennessee State. The safeties also snatched three interceptions as a unit, shutting down Weber State’s passing attack.
The only points Weber State scored were off of a turnover that put them deep in the Dukes’ territory, converting on a 51-yard field goal.
Louisville
Louisville also made light work of their FCS opponent, clobbering Eastern Kentucky 51-17 at home.
Sophomore running back Isaac Brown was as good as advertised, rushing for 126 yards and two house calls on just six carries.
Quarterback Miller Moss went 17-of-25 for 233 yards and two total touchdowns. However, he also threw two picks— one being returned for a pick-six.
Like the Dukes, the performance from the Cardinals was anything but perfect, but enough to handle a in-state FCS foe.
On special teams, wide receiver Caullin Lacy had a 93-yard punt return for a touchdown. He would also contribute on offense with four catches for 62 yards.
Lacy, of course, was formally a star wideout for South Alabama. After redshirting with Louisville in 2024, he is playing in his final season of eligibility this year with the Cardinals.
Defensively, Louisville would hold EKU to just 150 yards of total offense. All of the offensive scoring would come from the Colonels in the fourth quarter when the game was clearly in hand.
James Madison at Louisville
Kickoff: 7:00 PM EST
TV: ESPN 2
Radio: WSVA 550 AM/92.1 FM locally (also on Varsity Network app)
Click here for information on tickets. JMU fans can also contact the ticketing office at (540) 568-3853 or email the ticketing office at athletic-ticket@jmu.edu.
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