James Madison Dukes at San Diego State Aztecs

Injuries noted

James Madison Dukes: JC Evans (questionable) — Evans has a wrist injury. Billy Napier called him day-to-day on September 14; September 16 coverage subsequently described him as sidelined and Coleman as the replacement.; Seth Cromwell (questionable) — The running back missed the Wagner game with an undisclosed injury. Napier said he could have played in that game, described him as approximately day-to-day and said his San Diego State availability would be reassessed.; Gannon Weathersby (limited) — The linebacker played against Wagner, but Napier acknowledged he was not 100 percent and was still working back from an apparent knee injury.; Javis Mynatt (doubtful) — The safety has not played this season. September 16 reporting said he appeared to face a potentially long-term absence and that it was unclear whether he would play at all in 2026; no formal school designation was published.

San Diego State Aztecs: Dalesean Staley (out for season) — The official weekly notes say the starting safety is expected to miss the season because of a knee injury suffered in the spring.

QUARTERBACK

• Camden Coleman is JMU's projected starter

  8.44 Y/A

  Camden Coleman is JMU's projected starting quarterback. Coleman is the reported replacement while JC Evans is unavailable or not ready. September 16 coverage described Evans as sidelined and Coleman as making his first FBS start, but Evans was still characterized as day-to-day and questionable earlier in the week, so Coleman is projected rather than officially confirmed. 2026 line: 228 passing yards, 63.0% completions, 8.44 yards per attempt, 1-0 TD-INT over 2 games.

• Jayden Denegal is SDSU's confirmed starter

  5.35 Y/A

  Jayden Denegal is SDSU's confirmed starting quarterback. San Diego State's official game-week two-deep lists Denegal first and Draiden Trudeau second at quarterback. The notes also identify Denegal as a team captain and 10-4 as an SDSU starter. 2026 line: 182 passing yards, 52.9% completions, 5.35 yards per attempt, 3-2 TD-INT over 2 games.

TRENCHES

• JMU's front holds runners to 66 fewer yards per game

  66 YPG

  JMU is at 88.5 rushing yards allowed per game over 2 games; SDSU is at 154.5 over 2 games. Those come from the opposing team boxes in the games each side has already played this 2026 season, through 2026-09-18.

PACE & SCRIPT

• JMU is scoring +22 points per game

  22 PPG

  JMU is at 53.5 points per game over 2 games; SDSU is at 31.5 over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.

• JMU's defense gives up 16 fewer points per game

  16 PPG

  JMU is at 8 points allowed per game over 2 games; SDSU is at 24 over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.

• JMU @ SDSU carries a 46.5 market total

  46.5

  The current fanduel total is 46.5, 9 points below the 55.5 median across 45 games with posted totals on this slate.

TURNOVERS

• JMU commits 1.5 fewer turnovers per game

  1.5 TO

  JMU is at 0.5 turnovers committed per game over 2 games; SDSU is at 2 over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.

• SDSU's defense takes the ball away 1 more time per game

  1 TO

  JMU is at 1 takeaways per game over 2 games; SDSU is at 2 over 2 games. Those come from the opposing team boxes in the games each side has already played this 2026 season, through 2026-09-18.

MISMATCH

• JMU's ball security against SDSU's giveaways — 2 turnovers a game to JMU's 0.5

  0.5 VS 2

  The widest gap on this matchup's tape: turnovers / g — JMU 0.5, SDSU 2, over 2 and 2 game samples.

REPLACEMENT

• Dalesean Staley (S) is out for the season for SDSU

  OUT FOR SEASON

  The official weekly notes say the starting safety is expected to miss the season because of a knee injury suffered in the spring. San Diego State Game Notes vs. James Madison (2026-09-14)

SITUATIONAL

• JMU's passing game is +107 yards per game

  107 YPG

  JMU is at 208 team passing yards per game over 2 games; SDSU is at 101 over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.

• JMU's third-down conversion rate is 16.7 percentage points higher

  16.7 PP

  JMU is at 50% third-down conversion rate over 2 games; SDSU is at 33.3% over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.