Virginia Opens Home Slate Against JMU on Saturday

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia (0-1) will host in-state foe JMU (1-0) in its home opener on Saturday (Sept. 5) at Scott Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for noon and the game will be broadcast live on ESPNU and the Virginia Sports Radio Network.

GAME DETAILS
Date: Saturday, Sept. 9
Time: Noon
Television: ESPNU (Roy Philpott, Roddy Jones, Taylor McGregor)
Radio: Virginia Sports Radio Network, TuneIn App, ESPN Radio, SiriusXM Channel 136 or 201
Tickets: UVATix.com

UVA Strong Day
Fans are encouraged to arrive early for Wahoo Walk (southeast corner entrance of Scott Stadium off Whitehead Road) at 9:30 a.m. and be in their seats by 11:30 for UVA Strong Day ceremonies. For more information UVA Strong Day plans visit: https://virginiasports.com/news/2023/09/04/virginia-announces-plans-for-uva-strong-game-vs-jmu/

INSIDE SATURDAY’S MATCHUP

• Virginia opens its six-game home schedule on Saturday, hosting in-state foe James Madison for the first time since 1983.
• The Cavaliers are 60-26-5 in home openers at Scott Stadium and have won five-straight home openers dating back to the 2017 season. UVA has won nine of its last 11 home openers at Scott Stadium.
• 2023 marks the 93rd season of football at Scott Stadium, a facility that first opened in 1931. The fourth-oldest Stadium in the ACC.
• Separated by 58 miles, Virginia and James Madison have only played three times (1979, 1982 & 1983). All three games were played at Scott Stadium, the last, a 21-14 Cavalier victory on Sept. 17, 1983.
• The Cavaliers are 3-2 all-time against current members of the Sun Belt Conference – ODU (2-0), Southern Miss (0-2), Troy (1-0). The last game against an SBC opponent was last year’s 16-14 win over ODU.
• The Cavaliers are 12-2 at home in the month of September since the start of the 2017 and won both September contests last season. UVA has won 11 of its last 12 games at home in September.

TOP STORYLINES

• The match-up with the Dukes will be the Cavaliers’ first home contest at Scott Stadium since the tragedy last November when team members Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry were shot and killed after returning to Grounds from a class field trip. The trio will be honored with a pregame ceremony at approximately 11:30.
• Saturday will mark the 500th game in Scott Stadium. The fourth-oldest stadium in the ACC, hosted its first game on Oct. 15, 1931 against VMI. Virginia is 283-204-12 (.579) all-time at Scott Stadium.
• Against then-No. 12 Tennessee last week Virginia committed just two penalties and did not turn the ball over. UVA averaged 7.0 penalties per game (104th in FBS) and 2.2 turnovers per game (103rd in FBS). Last year marked the first game UVA played without committing a turnover since Oct. 23, 2021 against Georgia Tech.
• 25 players appeared in their first games in a Virginia uniform last week against Tennessee. A total of 19 made their collegiate debuts. Six of UVA’s 22 starters against the Volunteers were on different collegiate rosters last season.
• The Cavaliers defense was the strong point of the 2022 squad, improving its scoring defense by over a full touchdown (7.8 points) from the 2021 season. Only 11 teams in FBS had a better defensive improvement from the 2021 season. The Cavaliers return eight of its 11 starters on defense, including the entire defensive line.

Complete Game Notes Available: https://static.virginiasports.com/custompages/sports/m-footbl/gamenotes/2023/090923-JMUGameNotes.pdf