Kickoff: 7:30 PM ET
Venue: Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, Virginia
Broadcast: CBS Sports Network
Weather Forecast (Lynchburg, VA)
Temperature: ~78°F (26°C) at kickoff
Conditions: Mostly clear skies, light humidity, winds 4–7 mph
Impact: Ideal football weather; no disruptions expected for passing or kicking.
Injury Report
James Madison Dukes (Sun Belt):
QB Alonza Barnett III (starter, 612 passing yards, 5 TDs, 2 INTs through three games) healthy.
RB Kaelon Black (245 rushing yards, 3 TDs) available.
WR Reggie Brown (215 yards, 2 TDs) active.
Defense intact, led by LB Jalen Walker (28 tackles).
Liberty Flames (Conference USA):
QB Kaidon Salter (725 passing yards, 8 TDs, 1 INT; 210 rushing yards, 3 TDs) healthy and in top form.
RB Quinton Cooley (312 rushing yards, 4 TDs) available.
WR CJ Daniels (280 yards, 3 TDs) active.
No major defensive absences reported; DB Brylan Green (2 INTs) anchors the secondary.
Key Player Matchups
QB Alonza Barnett III (JMU) vs. Liberty Secondary
Barnett has been efficient but turnover-prone; Liberty’s DBs have 5 INTs already this season.
RB Kaelon Black (JMU) vs. Liberty Front Seven
Black’s ability to churn out yards will be critical to keeping Salter off the field.
QB Kaidon Salter (Liberty) vs. JMU Linebackers
Salter’s dual-threat ability makes him the most dangerous player on the field; JMU must contain his scrambling.
WR Reggie Brown (JMU) vs. CB Brylan Green (Liberty)
Brown is JMU’s top deep threat; Green has been a ballhawk in coverage.
Recent Team Form
James Madison Dukes (2–1, Sun Belt)
8/30/25: W 38–10 vs. Bucknell
9/6/25: L 27–24 @ North Carolina State
9/13/25: W 41–14 vs. Coastal Carolina
Trend: Offense balanced, defense stout against the run; only loss came in a close road game vs. a Power Five opponent.
Liberty Flames (3–0, C-USA)
8/30/25: W 34–17 vs. Bowling Green
9/6/25: W 45–21 @ East Carolina
9/13/25: W 38–20 vs. UTEP
Trend: Offense explosive (averaging 39 PPG), defense opportunistic with 7 takeaways in three games.
Series History
James Madison leads the all-time series 6–1.
Last meeting: 2021, JMU defeated Liberty 27–24 in Harrisonburg.
Liberty’s lone win came in 1999.
This is the first meeting since JMU’s move to the FBS.
Betting Trends
James Madison:
2–1 ATS in 2025.
Unders hit in 2 of 3 games.
7–3 ATS in last 10 road games.
Liberty:
3–0 ATS in 2025.
Overs hit in 2 of 3 games.
8–2 ATS in last 10 home games.
Head-to-Head:
JMU 6–1 SU all-time vs. Liberty.
Last three meetings decided by 7 points or fewer.
Historical Betting Results
James Madison: One of the most profitable ATS teams since joining FBS (covering 65% of games since 2022).
Liberty: Excellent ATS at home, especially as a small favorite (–3 to –7 range).
Sun Belt vs. C-USA: Sun Belt teams cover ~58% of the time in these matchups.
Game Odds
James Madison Dukes – 9
Liberty Flames 46.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 19, 2025
