The James Madison Dukes opened the 2026 season with another victory over their in-state rivals.
JMU defeated Liberty 20-6 on Saturday at Bridgeforth Stadium, controlling the game defensively and making enough plays offensively to pull away from the Flames. The victory gives the Dukes an early win in the Battle of the Blue Ridge and continues their recent dominance over Liberty.
JMU Controls the Game Early
The Dukes wasted little time getting on the scoreboard.
George Pettaway opened the scoring with a 7-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, capping an 80-yard drive and giving JMU an early 7-0 advantage.
Liberty answered with a field goal in the second quarter, but JMU quickly responded.
Morgan Suarez connected on a 46-yard field goal before JC Evans found C. Scott for a 5-yard touchdown, pushing the Dukes’ lead to 17-3.
Liberty added another field goal just before halftime, but JMU still entered the locker room with a 17-6 advantage.
The Defense Shuts the Door
The biggest story of the second half was the JMU defense.
After allowing Liberty to put together some drives early, the Dukes completely shut down the Flames after halftime.
JMU added another field goal from Suarez early in the third quarter to make it 20-6, and the defense took over from there.
Liberty couldn’t find the end zone in the second half, allowing the Dukes to comfortably protect their lead.
JMU Starts the Napier Era With a Win
The victory is especially important for new head coach Billy Napier, who begins his tenure at JMU with a rivalry victory.
The Dukes entered the season with enormous expectations after going 12-1 in 2025, winning the Sun Belt championship and becoming the first team from the conference to reach the College Football Playoff.
Saturday’s win won’t answer every question about whether JMU can repeat last year’s success, but it is certainly a good first step.
Another Win Over Liberty
JMU has now won back-to-back meetings with Liberty.
The Dukes defeated the Flames 31-13 last season and followed that up with another convincing defensive performance Saturday. JMU now leads the all-time series 14-6.
James Madison may have a new head coach, but the Dukes haven’t lost their edge. JMU opened 2026 with a rivalry victory, a strong defensive performance and another statement that last year’s historic season was no fluke.
