James Madison Dominates Old Dominion in Conference Opener
James Madison defeated Old Dominion 46-20 in the annual Royal Rumble rivalry game, which also marked the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams.

Norfolk Portsmouth Newport News, VA, September 27, 2026 — James Madison University (JMU) secured a decisive victory over Old Dominion University (ODU) with a final score of 46-20. The matchup, held as part of the annual Royal Rumble rivalry game, also served as the conference opener for both teams within the Sun Belt Conference.
The game saw James Madison establish a significant lead over their opponents. The final score indicates a substantial margin of victory for JMU, underscoring their performance in the conference’s initial league game for both programs.
As the annual Royal Rumble contest, the game held particular importance for the rivalry between the two universities. This year’s edition concluded with James Madison claiming bragging rights in addition to a conference win.
The contest marked the beginning of the Sun Belt Conference schedule for both James Madison and Old Dominion. The outcome of this game sets an initial tone for their respective conference campaigns this season. Further details regarding game statistics, individual player performances, or specific game events were not provided in the summary.
Story summarized from the original created by WTKR Web Staff on www.wtkr.com, see more information here.

