ESPN’s College GameDay Returns to Harrisonburg for JMU’s Big Game

Harrisonburg, Virginia — ESPN’s popular pregame show, “College GameDay,” is returning to Harrisonburg on Saturday for the James Madison University (JMU) football game against Washington State. This marks the fourth visit by GameDay to the JMU campus and its first since 2023.

JMU’s matchup against the Cougars is generating excitement, especially since Washington State nearly upset Ole Miss and Virginia earlier this season. With a less appealing lineup of Power Conference games this week, ESPN chose to highlight JMU’s remarkable season, as the Dukes hold a strong record of 9-1 and are vying for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Saturday’s game at Bridgeforth Stadium is expected to draw a sellout crowd. The buzz surrounding College GameDay will only enhance the atmosphere, promising an electric experience for fans. Previous GameDay shows at JMU have set attendance records, with more than 20,000 people gathering on the Quad in 2023.

This Saturday, JMU will celebrate “Marvel Day,” encouraging fans to dress as their favorite Marvel characters. Players will also sport superheroes on one side of their helmets. Disney, which owns both ESPN and Marvel, is likely to leverage this tie-in for promotional strategies during the event.

Securing a GameDay appearance in late November is a notable achievement for JMU, which is still establishing itself in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) just four years after making the jump. The Dukes have hosted GameDay episodes in 2015, 2017, and 2023, each of which has seen different coaching staffs, including Everett Withers, Mike Houston, Curt Cignetti, and current head coach Bob Chesney. In past GameDay games, JMU has a record of 1-2, winning against Villanova in 2017 but losing to Richmond in 2015 and App State in 2023.

As the anticipation grows, the JMU community is eager to enjoy another spotlight moment on national television with hopes of supporting their team to another victory.