CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – ACC Football on Friday nights continues Week 2, as Louisville will host James Madison at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Both teams are receiving votes in the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 Poll this week.
The ACC continues to lead the way on Fridays, with a record 12 Friday games scheduled this fall, the most of any conference in college football.
Fans watching Louisville versus James Madison will also get to experience the ACC and ESPN/ACCN Enhanced Instant Replay Transparency, a first-of-its-kind collaboration that brings real-time officiating deliberations directly to viewers. Available on ESPN/ESPN2 for Friday night games and ACCN for primetime Saturdays, this initiative provides fans with unprecedented access to the decision-making process on the field. The ACC is the only conference providing this level of transparency, setting a new standard for the college football fan experience.
The matchup kicks off a full weekend of action, as all 17 ACC teams take the field in Week 2. Saturday features a 15-game slate, including five against Power 4 opponents and four games involving teams ranked or receiving votes in the AP or Coaches Top 25 polls, highlighting the strongest non-conference schedule in the country.
Record-Setting Week for ABC & ESPN, Powered by the ACC
The ACC fueled a historic opening weekend for ESPN with multiple record-breaking audiences. Sunday’s Miami–Notre Dame primetime clash averaged 10.8 million viewers and peaked at 11.8 million, while Saturday’s Florida State–Alabama showdown drew 10.7 million, the most-watched Week 1 mid-afternoon game ever, with a 12.9 million peak. The Clemson–LSU game delivered 10.4 million viewers, ranking as the sixth-most-watched Week 1 game on ABC, and peaked at 11.3 million viewers.
ABC’s Saturday tripleheader (Syracuse, Florida State, Clemson) averaged 7.8 million viewers, the best Kickoff Saturday tripleheader on record. The weekend closed with strong numbers, as Virginia Tech–South Carolina drew 5.4 million viewers (6.5 million peak) and TCU–North Carolina on Labor Day posted 6.1 million viewers with a peak of 8.1 million.
Friday, September 5
James Madison at Louisville | 7 p.m. ET
Series: Louisville leads, 1-0
Last meeting: Louisville, 34-10 (2022)
TV: ESPN2
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 84
SiriusXM App:
SiriusXM 84 /
SiriusXM 971
Louisville and James Madison will meet for just the second time, with the Cardinals holding the series edge after a 34-10 victory in 2022.
Louisville opened its 2025 campaign in dominant fashion, rolling past Eastern Kentucky, 51-17, for its 15th consecutive home-opening win. Running back Isaac Brown — the 2024 ACC Offensive Freshman of the Year — delivered his sixth career 100-yard rushing game, finishing with 126 yards and two touchdowns. The Cardinals racked up 542 yards of total offense, the second-highest single-game total by an ACC team this season and the 15th-best mark in the FBS.
James Madison also impressed in its opener, defeating Weber State, 45-10. The Dukes showcased a powerful ground game, rushing for 313 yards — more than 68 percent of their 458 total yards. Entering the season, JMU was picked to win the Sun Belt East Division in the league’s preseason coaches poll, earning 11 of 14 first-place votes.