James Madison–Richmond football rivalry

The James Madison–Richmond football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the James Madison Dukes and the Richmond Spiders.[1][2][3] Previously, it was a divisional game in the South division of the Colonial Athletic Association, and conference game in the Yankee Conference and Atlantic 10 beginning with the Dukes entry in 1993. During this period, the teams have combined for three National Championships[4] (James Madison in 2004 and 2016, Richmond in 2008) and fourteen Conference Championships (James Madison in 1998, 2004, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019; Richmond in 1998, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2015).[5] All of James Madison's home games have been hosted at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Virginia while Richmond hosted its contests at City Stadium until 2009, and from 2010 onward at Robins Stadium, both in Richmond, Virginia; as of 2016, only one game has been played on a neutral field, a 1985 matchup in Norfolk, Virginia. The rivalry has become increasingly intense over the years, likely due to the stark differences between the two institutions (Large Public School vs. Small Private School), and the continued success of both programs.

James Madison–Richmond football rivalry
SportFootball
First meetingOctober 3, 1981
Richmond, 24–7
Latest meetingOctober 16, 2021
James Madison, 19–3
Statistics
Meetings total39
All-time seriesJames Madison, 21–18
Largest victoryJames Madison, 63–10 (2018)
Longest win streakJames Madison, 6 (2016–present)
Current win streakJames Madison, 6 (2016–present)
Locations of James Madison and Richmond

On October 24, 2015, the rivalry played host to ESPN College Gameday,[6] as the show was broadcast from the campus of James Madison University before the two teams squared off. The result of the game was the highest scoring affair to date, with the Spiders beating the Dukes 59–49.[7][8]

One interesting note in this matchup is the frequency with which the visiting team wins the contest. In the 27 games these teams have played as conference rivals, the visiting team has won 15 times, including 5 consecutive years from 1993–1997, 6 consecutive years from 2004–2009, and another 3 consecutive years from 2014–2016.

The two teams met again on September 29, 2018, marking the 27th consecutive season they have played as conference foes, and the 33rd consecutive season overall. James Madison, ranked #2 in the FCS, won by a score of 48–6. With the victory Madison took the all-time series lead, having won 19 of the 37 matchups between the two.

The rivalry will likely go on hiatus after James Madison announced it would elevate its program to Division I FBS for the 2022 season.

Game results

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James Madison victoriesRichmond victories
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 October 3, 1981 Richmond, VA Richmond 24–7
2 November 5, 1983 Richmond, VA Richmond 32–0
3 September 1, 1984 Harrisonburg, VA Richmond 43–12
4 October 5, 1985 Norfolk, VA Richmond 38–15
5 October 10, 1987 Harrisonburg, VA James Madison 41–3
6 November 12, 1988 Richmond, VA James Madison 25–13
7 September 16, 1989 Harrisonburg, VA James Madison 31–0
8 September 22, 1990 Richmond, VA James Madison 29–0
9 October 26, 1991 Harrisonburg, VA James Madison 47–42
10 September 12, 1992 Richmond, VA Richmond 49–40
11 September 11, 1993 Harrisonburg, VA Richmond 20–13
12 October 29, 1994 Richmond, VA James Madison 29–16
13 October 28, 1995 Harrisonburg, VA Richmond 34–33
14 October 19, 1996 Richmond, VA James Madison 31–27
15 October 25, 1997 Harrisonburg, VA Richmond 26–21
16 October 3, 1998 Richmond, VA Richmond 28–7
17 November 13, 1999 Harrisonburg, VA James Madison 31–13
18 November 11, 2000 Richmond, VA Richmond 21–2
19 October 12, 2001 Harrisonburg, VA Richmond 20–17
20 October 19, 2002 Richmond, VA Richmond 26–0
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
21 October 11, 2003 Harrisonburg, VA James Madison 34–14
22 October 23, 2004 Richmond, VA James Madison 26–20
23 October 29, 2005 Harrisonburg, VA Richmond 18–15
24 October 28, 2006 Richmond, VA James Madison 27–20
25 October 27, 2007 Harrisonburg, VA Richmond 17–16
26 October 11, 2008 Richmond, VA James Madison 38–31
27 October 10, 2009 Harrisonburg, VA Richmond 21–17
28 November 6, 2010 Richmond, VA Richmond 13–10OT
29 October 1, 2011 Harrisonburg, VA James Madison 31–7
30 October 20, 2012 Richmond, VA Richmond 35–29
31 October 12, 2013 Harrisonburg, VA James Madison 38–31
32 November 15, 2014 Richmond, VA James Madison 55–20
33 October 24, 2015 Harrisonburg, VA Richmond 59–49
34 November 5, 2016 Richmond, VA James Madison 47–43
35 November 11, 2017 Harrisonburg, VA James Madison 20–13
36 September 29, 2018 Richmond, VA James Madison 63–10
37 November 16, 2019 Harrisonburg, VA James Madison 48–6
38 April 17, 2021 Harrisonburg, VA James Madison 23–6
39 October 16, 2021 Richmond, VA James Madison 19–3
Series: James Madison leads 21–18

[9] [10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ O'CONNOR, JOHN (November 8, 2017). "Tight games, high-energy atmospheres became norms for UR-JMU rivalry". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
  2. ^ MADIA, GREG (November 11, 2017). "Ties Run Deep With Dukes, Spiders". Daily News-Record. Over the last decade, success in the rivalry has swung back and forth between James Madison and Richmond.
  3. ^ Frank, Noah (October 23, 2015). "In 'dream come true,' College GameDay comes to Harrisonburg, JMU – WTOP". WTOP. And when a production normally reserved for the top teams in the power conferences hauls its entire 10-trailer, 40-some-odd person staff down Interstate 81 to Harrisonburg to cover an FCS rivalry game between James Madison and Richmond, the event becomes something even bigger.
  4. ^ "FCS Football". NCAA.com.
  5. ^ http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nova/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/footbl-guide-2003-81-84.pdf Archived November 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine [bare URL PDF]
  6. ^ "James Madison erupts for GameDay visit". USA TODAY. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  7. ^ "ESPN College GameDay to Broadcast Live from JMU Oct. 24 – James Madison University". James Madison University. October 18, 2015.
  8. ^ "No. 4 Dukes Fall to No. 11 Richmond in 59–49 Shootout – James Madison University". James Madison University. October 24, 2015.
  9. ^ "James Madison University". James Madison University.
  10. ^ "University of Richmond". richmondspiders.com.