JMU’s 2025 football schedule just got way more interesting. The Dukes will welcome Washington State, a Pac-12 member, into Bridgeforth Stadium on Nov. 22, 2025. The game replaces a Sept. 13 matchup with Utah State, which has now been canceled.

“As we strategically target attractive and impactful opponents for James Madison football and our loyal fans, Washington State presents a unique opportunity to test ourselves at home against a Pac-12 opponent in front of the greatest fans in college football,” JMU AD Matt Roan said in a press release. “This will no doubt be a game to remember in the rise of our program, and I can’t wait for next November in Bridgeforth Stadium!”

It’ll be the first time JMU hosts a team from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, or Pac-12. While the Pac-12 isn’t considered a Power Four conference after its many recent departures, the league will build itself back up with programs like Boise State for the 2026 season. Currently, however, just Washington State and Oregon State are Pac-12 members. The Cougars still look the part of a Power Four team, and their name carries more national significance than most teams that have visited JMU. 

The game is meaningful for JMU not only because a program of Washington State’s caliber is visiting Bridgeforth Stadium, but also because the Cougars are a darn good program. They’re currently 7-1 and ranked 22nd in the latest AP Top 25. The game will certainly boost JMU’s strength of schedule, which should be respectable in 2025.

In addition to a November game with Washington State, JMU football faces both Louisville (Sept. 6) and Liberty (Sept. 20) on the road in its 2025 nonconference FBS games. The Dukes will be tested significantly next fall.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications