JMU football’s schedule was released Friday, and it’s perhaps the most entertaining and challenging schedule in the program’s history.

Here’s the full slate:

Aug. 30 vs. Weber St
Sept. 6 at Louisville
Sept. 20 at Liberty
Sept. 27 vs. Georgia Southern
Oct. 4 at Georgia St
Oct. 11 vs. Louisiana
Oct. 18 vs. ODU
Oct. 28 (Tuesday) at Texas St
Nov. 8 at Marshall
Nov. 15 vs. App St
Nov. 22 vs. Washington St
Nov. 29 at Coastal

Let’s break down a few key takeaways from the schedule, which includes an incredible home slate of Weber State, Georgia Southern, Louisiana, ODU, App State, and Washington State.

The Tuesday game rocks

This might be a hot take, but I love the Tuesday Oct. 28 game against Texas State. Here’s why:

• National spotlight. While there’s no time or TV designation yet, this game will be on an ESPN network, and it’ll attract a national audience. There aren’t any Tuesday NFL games, and the competing college football games are UTEP at Kennesaw State and Sam Houston at Louisiana Tech. JMU-Texas State is clearly positioned to be the best game of the day.
• It’s on the road. It’s not easy for alumni and local fans to attend midweek games. I’m glad this game isn’t in Harrisonburg. JMU gets all its home games on Saturdays, and they’ll have one non-Saturday road game that presents a challenge to Texas State fans. That’s not bad for a team hoping to go undefeated in league play to make a run at the College Football Playoff.
• Rest. By playing on Oct. 28, it means the Dukes only play one game from Oct. 19 through Nov. 7. There’s meaningful rest before and after the game against the Bobcats, which could prove critical for helping players heal before a daunting November stretch.

Another November gauntlet

Speaking of that November stretch, how’s Marshall, App State, Washington State and Coastal Carolina for four straight games?

The first three of those teams have new head coaches, but I expect them to find some sort of rhythm come November. All three hired coaches with significant Power Conference experience or high-level FCS success, suggesting they could become dangerous as the season develops.

If nothing else, the atmosphere for home games against App State and Washington State should be electric. If the Dukes are in College Football Playoff contention when App State rolls into town, it could be one of the best home atmospheres in the history of JMU’s program.

There’s no easy part of JMU’s schedule, but November will be challenging given three games against SBC East rivals and a nonconference game against a Pac-12 squad.

We’ll learn a lot by Oct. 1

JMU faces Weber State, Louisville, Liberty, and Georgia Southern before the calendar flips to October. We’ll learn a ton about the Dukes in the first month of the season.

If JMU finishes September with a 3-1 or 4-0 record, the Dukes will march into October in College Football Playoff contention. A 2-2 record puts that in serious jeopardy, meaning the Dukes have little time to find a rhythm to open the season.

JMU needs to start fast to have a chance of being the highest-ranked Group of Five team come December. Fortunately for head coach Bob Chesney, he faces less roster turnover than a season ago. The Dukes are positioned to play good football in September, but they’ll need their best to stay undefeated.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications