Liberty and James Madison have agreed to an additional four-game home-and-home football series, the two schools announced Wednesday. These games are added to six previously announced games, bringing the total series to 10 games between the two in-state opponents. The schools have both announced officially naming the rivalry game the “Battle of the Blue Ridge.” A rivalry trophy is currently in development and will be unveiled at a later date, Liberty’s release states.
The new games added to this series that are being announced today are for 2037-2040. On Sept. 19, 2037, the Flames will face the Dukes in Harrisonburg. On Sept. 18, 2038, the two teams will meet in Lynchburg. JMU will host Liberty on Sept. 17, 2039, and, the final game announced in this series, is scheduled for Sept. 15, 2040 in Lynchburg.
The Flames will host the Dukes at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia on September 20, 2025 in the first scheduled meeting between these two programs in over a decade. The game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. and will be televised on ESPNU. The two teams will open the 2026 against each other in Harrisonburg, Virginia on September 5, 2026.
The following four seasons, the Flames and Dukes are not scheduled to meet each other before rekindling the rivalry four straight years beginning in 2031. The four new games announced today that begin in 2037, follow a two-year break in the series.
Liberty and James Madison have met 18 times on the gridiron previously, but they have not met in more than a decade. The matchup later this month will be the first time the two have met since both made the move up to the FBS level. The last time the two met was a 26-21 Liberty victory in the first round of the FCS Playoffs in Harrisonburg on November 29, 2014. The last time they met at Williams Stadium was in 2011 when JMU picked up a 27-24 victory.
Both teams are currently 1-1 this season with Liberty defeating Maine and losing to Jax State. The Dukes opened up the season with a win over Weber State before falling to Louisville this past Friday night. The Flames play at Bowling Green this weekend ahead of the showdown against the in-state foe, while JMU does not play again until they take on the Flames in Lynchburg.
Liberty and JMU have become not only two of the best football programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia in recent seasons but are also at or near the top of the Group of Five at the FBS level. The Flames made the move to the FBS, becoming full members of college football’s highest level after waiting a full two-year transition, prior to the 2019 season. Since that time, Liberty has advanced to a bowl game in each of the previous six seasons.
The Dukes have made the transition to the FBS, joining the Sun Belt Conference for the 2022 season, finishing that year at 8-3 in its first year as a transitioning FBS team. In 2023, JMU finished 11-2 overall, advancing to a bowl game for the first time in program history and posted a 9-4 record last season after winning the Boca Raton Bowl.
Liberty had a 13-1 season in 2023, completing its first year in Conference USA with an unblemished 8-0 record. At 13-0 and ranked No. 23 in the final College Football Playoff ranking, the Flames were the highest ranked Group of Five team and received a bid to the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl where the Flames fell to No. 8 Oregon, 45-6. Last year, Liberty finished 8-4 and advanced to the Bahamas Bowl.
Liberty-JMU football series
09/20/25 in Lynchburg
09/05/26 in Harrisonburg
09/06/31 in Harrisonburg
09/11/32 in Lynchburg
09/17/33 in Harrisonburg
09/16/34 in Lynchburg
09/19/37 in Harrisonburg
09/18/38 in Lynchburg
09/17/39 in Harrisonburg
09/15/40 in Lynchburg
