James Madison University (JMU) achieved a historic football victory, defeating the University of North Carolina (UNC) 70-50 at Kenan Stadium. With this win, the Dukes improved to 3-0 in the season and secured their second consecutive win against an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent. Meanwhile, UNC fell to 3-1. This victory marked JMU’s first win at UNC in four attempts, and they now own four victories against ACC teams.
Quarterback Barnett III set a school record by throwing for seven total touchdowns, becoming the first player in program history to exceed six touchdowns in a single game. He finished 22-of-34 in passing for 388 yards, with no interceptions, while also rushing for 99 yards on 13 carries. His total of 487 yards placed him third in JMU’s single-game history.
The Dukes lit up the scoreboard with an impressive first-half performance, scoring a school-record 53 points. JMU’s 70 points equaled the most ever allowed by UNC in a game. The 20-point margin of victory is also the largest JMU has achieved against an ACC opponent.
In a game showcasing over 1,200 total yards, the combined score of 120 points set a new record for the most points scored in a single game in JMU’s history. Notable offensive performances included two JMU players surpassing 100 receiving yards, with one player making seven catches for 107 yards and another having three catches for a career-high 125 yards.
On the ground, JMU averaged 5.7 yards per carry, accumulating 223 rushing yards. Barnett III was ably supported by fellow teammates who contributed significant rushing performances against their former team.
Defensively, JMU was led by players with standout performances, including two interceptions and a blocked punt that resulted in a touchdown. The team will return home next to host Ball State on Family Weekend on September 28, with kickoff scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and the game streaming on ESPN+.