Apologies for missing last week’s preview, as life got in the way. 

But we’re back this week to preview JMU football’s rivalry showdown with App State. The Mountaineers have JMU’s number, beating the Dukes in 2023 and 2024, but this App State team is in full rebuilding mode. If there was ever a time to beat App State, it’s 2025.

How to watch

Kickoff time: 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN+ with Curt Dudley and Brian Barlow on the call

Weather: The forecasted high temperature is 69 degrees. It’s a surprisingly comfortable temperature for mid-November in Harrisonburg. It’ll be cloudy, but no rain is expected. Not a bad afternoon for football.

Opponent preview: App State

Record: 4-5, 1-4 SBC

Coach: Dowell Loggains, 4-5 career record (this is his 1st season as a head coach)

Top players

Jaden Barnes, WR: App State’s leading wide receiver with 54 catches for 605 yards and seven touchdowns, the 5-8 playmaker caught 13 passes for 160 yards last week against Georgia Southern. The Mountaineers love to get him the ball. 

Rashod Dubinion, RB: He leads the team with 796 rushing yards, but he hasn’t topped 60 yards in the past few weeks. As a result, the Mountaineers are getting him the ball more in the passing game. He caught seven passes last week. 

Aiden Benton, DE: Keep an eye on No. 33. He leads the Mountaineers with three sacks and is a menace at edge rusher despite being just a redshirt sophomore. He has a bright future. 

Key to the Game: Sling it

App State allows a Sun Belt-worst 271.8 passing yards per game, with opposing QBs throwing for 18 TDs and nine INTs. They’ve completed over 60% of their passes, as the Mountaineers really have no answer to opposing passing attacks. 

With Alonza Barnett playing his best football of the season recently, JMU needs to let its QB cook. The passing game should open up the running game this weekend. 

Score prediction

I imagine there’s some frustration internally about letting Marshall hang around last week. Add in USF being ranked by the College Football Playoff selection committee and the Dukes being left out of the top 25, and I think you have an angry JMU team playing its first home game in a month. 

Marshall has improved weekly under first-year coach Tony Gibson. App State? It’s harder to see obvious signs of progress, other than good second-half effort in recent losses. The Mountaineers are probably the second-worst team in the East this fall behind only Georgia State, and the Panthers are yet to beat an FBS opponent. 

JMU makes a statement this weekend.

The pick: JMU 49, App State 17

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications