Georgia State Edged Out By James Madison

Georgia State kept it close against Sun Belt powerhouse James Madison, but a late touchdown was too much to overcome for the Panthers as they fell to the Dukes 14-7. Ever since the two programs started facing each other back in 2012, the Panthers are 0-5 against the Dukes, with three of those games being a one score affair.

The game started off well for the Panthers, forcing two James Madison punts in the first quarter and put themselves on the board with a 19-yard touchdown pass from TJ Finley to Caden Overton-Howard and making the score 7-0.

TURN US UP, CAM 💯 #LightItBlue | #NewAtlanta pic.twitter.com/OTPoTSdpMA

— GSU Football (@GeorgiaStateFB) October 4, 2025

The Georgia State defense stood tall the first half, forcing JMU to punt three times and generating a turnover on downs. Junior linebacker Josiah Robinson, 11 tackles (two solo), and junior defensive tackle Bishop Thomas, five tackles (one solo) and one sack, led the Panthers effort in stopping the Dukes. Despite being gashed for 218 total yards by the Dukes rushing attack, the defense remained strong in the air, only allowing junior quarterback Alonza Barnet III to go 11-for-22 and throw for 72 total yards.

Lowest Air Yards per attempt in a victory against an FBS opponent this season

1. Dylan Raiola vs Michigan St: 3.1
2. Jalon Daniels vs Fresno: 3.3
3. Joe Labas vs EMU: 3.4
4. Jayden Denegal vs Cal: 3.4
5. Alonza Barnett at Georgia St: 3.6

It was very windy in Lincoln yesterday.

— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) October 5, 2025

In the third quarter, the James Madison rushing attack would prove to be the difference with an eight play drive that went 85 yards (31 yards on the ground) and would be capped off with a one-yard touchdown run by Alonza Barnett III. Jordan Fuller was the leading rusher all day for the Dukes with 18 carries for 94 yards, but it would be junior running back Wayne Knight that put JMU over the top with a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. This would cap off a productive day for the Knight who had 85 yards on 13 carries.

4Q | 9:49

Three Jordan Fuller rushes set up a nine yard Wayne Knight scamper and score who gets rewarded for his 23 yard run to set up the Dukes earlier score. JMU pulls ahead by a touchdown late here in this one.

JMU 14
GA State 7

— Breeze Sports (@TheBreezeSports) October 4, 2025

Georgia State would get one shot at overtime with a final drive that took seven plays and just over two minutes to complete, ultimately ending in a turnover on downs. JMU would get the ball back and run down the clock to hand GSU their first conference loss of the season. The Georgia State rushing defense proving to be the difference against JMU, ranked 128th in all FBS for rushing defense and allowing 1120 rushing yards so far this season.

Third-year head coach Bob Chesney was all smiles after his Dukes grinded out a win and credited Georgia State for being a strong opponent despite their record.

“We know this was a tough team,” said Chesney in his postgame interview. “Their record’s nowhere near, you know, the caliber of players that they have.”

Chesney additionally noted that he knew the Dukes needed to establish the run if they wanted to walk out of Atlanta with the win.

Dell McGee, second-year head coach of Georgia State expressed disappointment and said that even with the solid defensive play, the penalties are what made the difference.

“I thought our defense played well,” McGee stated in his postgame press conference. “Still too many penalties in the game at critical times.”

McGee also spoke about the importance of the run game and that whoever executed it better would win the game.

Georgia State will next host the Appalachian State Mountaineers this Saturday. Like JMU, App State is another team the Panthers are currently winless against in their all time series. That game will kick at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.