Louisville football will host James Madison in 2025

Louisville has announced that it is adding James Madison to its football schedule for the 2025 season. The Cards will host the Dukes at L&N Stadium on Sept. 6, 2025.

The game replaces a non-conference contest originally scheduled between Louisville and Indiana, which was slated for Bloomington, Ind. The change gives the Cards eight home games for the 2025 campaign.

On one hand, James Madison is probably an upgrade from a strength of schedule standpoint. Plus, eight home games in one season is cool.

On the other, my question is the same as it was when we scheduled these guys the last time: Why? No Power Five school ever gets proper credit for beating a good Group of Five team, and they get the full point and laugh treatment if they lose.

It’s like scheduling FCS opponents: Everyone views them as being the same, so you may as well schedule one of the worst and make sure you get the experience you’re looking for.

In its first season as a member of the FBS a year ago, James Madison won eight games. They were tied with Louisville at halftime before the Cardinals eventually pulled away for a 34-10 win on Nov. 5. The Dukes are currently a perfect 7-0 and ranked No. 25 in the AP top 25 poll.

With James Madison added to the docket, here’s a look at Louisville’s future non-conference schedules as they stand at the moment:

2024

08/31 - Austin Peay

09/07 - (Indiana replacement)

09/28 - at Notre Dame

11/30 - at Kentucky

2025

08/30 - Eastern Kentucky

09/06 - James Madison

09/20 - Bowling Green

11/29 - Kentucky

2026

09/05 - Villanova

09/19 - Georgia

09/26 - Charlotte

11/28 - at Kentucky

2027

09/04 - at USF

09/11 - Richmond

09/18 - at Georgia

11/27 - Kentucky

2028

09/02 - at Texas A&M

09/16 - Murray State

11/25 - at Kentucky

2029

09/01 - Texas A&M

09/08 - VMI

11/24 - Kentucky

2030

08/31 - USF

09/07 - Stephen F. Austin

11/02 - Notre Dame

11/30 - at Kentucky

2032

TBA at Notre Dame

2033

TBA vs. Notre Dame

2035

TB vs. Notre Dame