Chris Fisher on the mic for James Madison vs San Diego State: how to watch on ESPN Unlimited and The CW
Match date:
James Madison faces San Diego State in a Week 3 NCAA Division I FBS clash on Sunday, 20 September 2026, with ESPN Unlimited and The CW carrying the broadcast in the UK time window of 03:00. The game is scheduled for Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, and the confirmed commentary team is Chris Fisher on play-by-play, Will Blackmon as analyst, and Michael Bumpus reporting from the sideline.[12][7][3]
For viewers in Britain and America, the key detail is straightforward: this is not an ESPN linear-channel exclusive, but a streamed-and-broadcast college football window that makes the matchup accessible through ESPN Unlimited and The CW. ESPN’s event pages and game listings identify the fixture as James Madison against San Diego State, while JMU’s own broadcast information confirms the CW Sports telecast with Fisher, Blackmon, and Bumpus on the call.[4][5][12]
Chris Fisher is best known as a college football play-by-play voice, and his assignment here fits the network’s style of pairing experienced announcers with recent former players and reporters for a more national presentation. Will Blackmon, the former NFL defensive back and Super Bowl XLII champion, has moved into broadcasting and analysis after a long professional career with teams including the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers, bringing direct on-field perspective to the booth. Michael Bumpus is likewise a familiar figure in football media, working as a sideline reporter and analyst after a playing career that included time at Washington State, and his role adds local and tactical detail from the field.[12]
The matchup itself offers a useful early-season barometer for both programs. ESPN’s matchup listing shows James Madison entering at 2-0 and San Diego State at 1-1, while multiple game trackers place the kickoff at 10:00 p.m. ET, which is 03:00 UK time.[1][2][17] JMU’s athletics site also confirms the cross-country trip to San Diego and says the game will be aired live on CW Sports.[12]
James Madison has established itself as one of the more ambitious Group of Five programmes in recent seasons, and the Dukes’ move into the Sun Belt has not dulled expectations around the team. San Diego State, meanwhile, continues to lean on its long reputation for physical defence and disciplined football, a legacy that helped the Aztecs become one of the most recognisable brands in the old Mountain West and the wider West Coast college scene. ESPN’s records and team pages frame this as a non-conference meeting between a rising JMU side and an SDSU team trying to settle into form early in the campaign.[1][19]
Broadcast-wise, the appeal is in the combination of a national outlet and a credible commentary lineup. Fisher provides the traditional lead voice, Blackmon offers the perspective of a recent pro defensive back who can explain coverages and momentum shifts in plain language, and Bumpus is positioned to capture the sideline rhythm that often matters in close college games.[12] That makes the telecast worth tuning into even beyond the result, especially for viewers who follow broadcasters as closely as the teams themselves.
Fans looking for the official team and competition context can also follow the NCAA’s live game hub for the fixture here: NCAA game centre.
Article generated: 20 September 2026, 03:00 GMT