Fresh off a comeback victory at Coastal Carolina, Appalachian State will try to hand unbeaten James Madison its first loss of the season Thursday night before a sold-out crowd at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone.
The Sun Belt East showdown kicks off at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.
App State (4-2, 1-1 Sun Belt) has won two of its last three meetings against the Dukes, but JMU (7-0, 4-0) dominated last year’s matchup 58-10. The Mountaineers will be looking for another signature home victory against one of the conference’s top programs – and the biggest victory in Dowell Loggains coaching era.
Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup, including TV and radio information, betting lines, injury updates, series history, statistical comparisons and storylines to follow.
🔄 Last Updated: October 20, 2026 11:07 am
🏟️ How to Watch App State Football vs. James Madison
Matchup: James Madison (7-0, 4-0 Sun Belt) at Appalachian State (4-2, 1-1 Sun Belt)
Date: Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Kidd Brewer Stadium (Boone, NC)
TV Station: ESPNU
Broadcast Crew: Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Jeff Woody (analyst), Michella Chester (sideline)
📻 How to Listen to App State Football
App State Radio Affiliates: 97.3 FM (North Wilkesboro), 950 AM/92.7 FM (Greensboro), 980 AM/96.7 FM (Winston-Salem), 790 AM/93.7 FM (Johnson City), 1450 AM/107.7 FM (Hendersonville)
Online: AppStateSports.com
Radio Crew: Adam Witten (play-by-play), Brandon Turner (analyst), Matt Present (sideline)
📊 App State at James Madison Betting Odds
Spread: James Madison -10.5
Over/Under Total: 55.5 points
Moneyline: James Madison -420 | Appalachian State +320
Lines courtesy FanDuel Sportsbook. Odds will be refreshed periodically during the week. All lines are subject to change.
🩹 Injury & Availability Updates
The Sun Belt Conference released its first injury and availability report for App State-James Madison on Monday night.
App State quarterback Malachi Singleton is among those listed as questionable. Also questionable are running backs J’Marion Burnette and Treyaun Webb, which could affect depth in the backfield.
App State
J’Marion Burnette, RB – Questionable
Dillon Galloway, TE – Questionable
Daz James, WR – Questionable
Malachi Singleton, QB – Questionable
Keshawn Thomas, LB – Questionable
Treyaun Webb, RB – Questionable
Aiden Benton, DL – Out
Jordan Harris, DL – Out for Season
James Madison
Deacon Rawls, OL – Questionable
Jayden Studio, ILB – Doubtful
Frankie Tinilau, OL – Doubtful
⏪ 2026 Season Rewind
Appalachian State Results (4-2, 1-1)
App State 55, Maine 3
App State 27, East Carolina 24
App State 26, Charlotte 21
NC State 41, App State 31
Old Dominion 10, App State 3
App State 35, Coastal Carolina 32
James Madison Results (7-0, 4-0)
James Madison 20, Liberty 13
James Madison 87, Wagner 3
James Madison 26, San Diego State 13
James Madison 46, Old Dominion 20
James Madison 45, Marshall 17
James Madison 27, Georgia Southern 24
James Madison 49, Georgia State 22
The Mountaineers and Dukes have one common opponent thus far, Old Dominion.
🔍 What to Know About App State-James Madison
Big upset opportunity for Appalachian State
The Mountaineers will face one of the nation’s premier Group of Six programs on Thursday night in front of a sold out Kidd Brewer Stadium and national ESPNU audience.
James Madison will bring a 7-0 overall record to Boone, 4-0 in Sun Belt play. The Dukes are one of just six remaining unbeaten teams in FBS football, though the only one not ranked in either the AP or coaches polls. The program has won 17 consecutive games in the regular season.
App State spoiled JMU’s ESPN College Game Day experience during the 2023 season, winning 26-23 in overtime. The Mountaineers won again in 2024 by a 34-20 count, but James Madison rolled in last year’s meeting 58-10.
This will be one of the last App State-James Madison games as Sun Belt rivals. JMU announced earlier this month its intentions of leaving the conference by July 1, 2028 to join the American Conference with schools like ECU, Charlotte, Memphis, Tulane and South Florida.
Malachi Singleton’s status uncertain once again
For the second week in a row, App State quarterback Malachi Singleton is on the questionable list with injury concerns.
Singleton played in spots during the first half of last Friday’s win at Coastal Carolina, completing 12 of 14 passes for 151 yards. But he did not see the field in the second half after taking a hard hit right before the break.
Hasselbeck, the son of former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, provided a definitive spark during his time on the field. He completed nine of 12 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for a team-high 125 yards on 21 attempts, keeping several plays alive and the Chanticleers off balance.
Can App State run against JMU’s defense?
App State piled up 253 rushing yards in its 35-32 comeback victory at Coastal Carolina, with Jaquari Lewis scoring four rushing touchdowns. Backup quarterback Henry Hasselbeck led the way in yards, finishing with 125 on several shifty runs.
JMU, however, allows just 114.3 rushing yards per game. Can the Mountaineers crack one of the top run defenses in the Sun Belt? Even if Singleton is available, will Hasselbeck’s dual-threat ability lead to more snaps for him at the quarterback position to provide a different look?
App State’s defense is forcing turnovers
Appalachian State’s defense has been a ball-hawking unit this far, coming up with nine interceptions through six games. That is tops in the Sun Belt and seventh in all of FBS. The Mountaineers have recorded 11 total takeaways.
James Madison, on the other hand, has protected the ball relatively well. The Dukes have thrown just one interception and lost only four fumbles in their first seven contests. They have a turnover margin of +7.
📊 App State vs. James Madison Stat Comparison
Appalachian State Team Highlights
- Points For: 29.5 points per game
- Points Against: 21.8 points per game
- Passing Offense: 267.7 yards per game
- Rushing Offense: 154.2 yards per game
- Passing Defense: 214.5 yards per game
- Rushing Defense: 137.8 yards per game
Appalachian State Individual Leaders
- Passing: Malachi Singleton – 113-of-169, 1,429 yards, 7 TDs, 2 INTs
- Rushing: Jaquari Lewis – 70 carries, 346 yards, 8 TDs
- Receiving: Sam Pickett III – 21 catches, 335 yards, 2 TDs
- Tackles: Colton Phares – 38 tackles (20 solo)
- Interceptions: Dre Walker, Devin Henderson – 2 interceptions each
- Scoring: Jaquari Lewis – 48 points (8 TDs)
James Madison Team Highlights
- Points For: 42.9 points per game
- Points Against: 16.0 points per game
- Passing Offense: 237.3 passing yards per game
- Rushing Offense: 223.7 rushing yards per game
- Passing Defense: 236.4 passing yards per game
- Rushing Defense: 114.3 rushing yards per game
James Madison Individual Leaders
- Passing: Camden Coleman – 109-of-173, 1,335 yards, 13 TDs, 1 INT
- Rushing: George Pettaway – 109 carries, 767 yards, 7 TDs
- Receiving: Corey Scott – 22 catches, 333 yards, 4 TDs
- Tackles: Nakian Jackson – 50 tackles (21 solo)
- Interceptions: DJ Kelly – 4 interceptions
- Scoring: Morgan Suarez – 72 points (12 FGs, 36 PATs)
By the Numbers
- JMU running back George Pettaway’s 767 rushing yards ranks eighth nationally and first in the Sun Belt.
- James Madison averages 42.9 points per game, third-highest in FBS football behind Miami and Georgia. The Dukes have averaged 35.5 points per game against FBS competition, an 87-point outburst against FCS Wagner skewing the overall average upward quite a bit.
- JMU has a top-20 scoring defense, allowing only 16 points per contest.
- Appalachian State has the third-best scoring defense in the Sun Belt, allowing only 21.8 points per game.
- The Mountaineers have the second-best passing offense in the league, completing 67.3 percent of its passes and averaging 267.7 passing yards per game.
- Morgan Suarez of JMU is tied for fifth in scoring with 72 points. He’s 12-of-15 on field goals and has hit all 36 point-after attempts.
- Jaquari Lewis, App State’s top running back, scored four touchdowns against Coastal Carolina, giving him eight TDs for the season. Only one other Sun Belt player, Louisiana’s Lunch Winfield, has tallied eight TDs.
- James Madison has been almost automatic in the red zone, scoring on 36 of 38 chances inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. The Dukes have 15 passing touchdowns, 12 rushing TDs and nine field goals.
- James Madison scored 87 points against FCS Wagner earlier in the season, setting a new program record.
- JMU has had success on fourth-down plays, converting eight of 10 chances.
📚 Series History
- Appalachian State leads the all-time series 14-6 (2-2 as FBS teams)
- Last meeting: James Madison 58, App State 10 (Nov. 15, 2025)
- App State has won eight of 11 showdowns in Boone, including the last matchup – a 34-20 Mountaineers triumph on Nov. 23, 2024.
- The teams have played every since 2022 when James Madison moved up to FBS football and joined the Sun Belt Conference. Both teams have won two games during this recent stretch.
- Despite proximity, App State and James Madison did not play between 1995 and 2022. The teams met nine times between 1985 and 1995.
🔗 More North Carolina College Football Coverage
- Appalachian State Football Schedule
- Sun Belt Standings
- 2026 week-by-week schedule
- North Carolina college football scores
