JMU announces 2013 football schedule

The James Madison University football team announced its schedule for the 2013 season today, which includes six home games at Bridgeforth Stadium including defending Colonial Athletic Association champion Villanova. The home game times will be tentatively set in the coming weeks but will still be subject to change based on CAA Television contracts.

“We are pleased to once again have six home games for both our football program and the JMU Nation,” Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne said.  “It is important that we make sure that our schedule is as advantageous as possible to achieve our expectations for success which includes reaching and advancing in post-season play.”

“We are looking forward to the 2013 season with the addition of the two new CAA teams, Albany and Stony Brook, both of which will be coming to Harrisonburg for the first time,” Head Coach Mickey Matthews added. “It will once again be a challenging schedule for all.”

Coming off its ninth straight winning season, JMU will start the season with a pair of home games sandwiched around its Football Bowl Subdivision game, as the Dukes open with Central Connecticut State on August 31 and then are home against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Sept. 14. The road game between there will be to the Rubber Bowl to take on the Akron Zips of the Mid-American Conference, Sept. 7.

Following its first open date, Madison will open conference play on the road for the second straight season, traveling to  Delaware, Sept. 28, taking on the Blue Hens for the first time since the 2010 season. The Dukes will then have back-to-back home CAA contests, hosting newcomer Albany for Family Weekend on Oct. 5 and then the rivalry contest with Richmond, Oct. 12.

The second open date leads into the final five game stretch of the regular season, staring with JMU traveling to Williamsburg to take on William & Mary Oct. 26. Defending CAA champion Villanova comes to Bridgeforth Stadium for Homecoming Nov. 2, with Madison then traveling to New Hampshire the following weekend on Nov. 9. Madison will host Senior Day against the other league newcomer Stony Brook on Nov. 16 before wrapping up the regular season at Towson, Nov. 23.

The 2013 Division I Football Championship Playoffs will begin Nov. 30, with the expanded 24-team bracket wrapping up with the 2014 NCAA Championship Game in January 2014 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.