JMU's Undefeated Sun Belt Campaign
James Madison Dukes claimed the Sun Belt East Division with an 8-0 record, outpacing Old Dominion (6-2) and Coastal Carolina (5-3). Their overall 12-1 mark featured high-scoring outputs, averaging over 40 points in conference play.
Key victories included a 52-20 road win at Texas State, 35-23 at Marshall, and a 59-10 rout of Appalachian State. This performance not only secured the conference title but also an automatic berth into the expanded playoff format.
The Sun Belt standings highlight JMU's defensive prowess, allowing just 206 points across 13 games while scoring 485, per official records.
College Football Playoff Showdown
No. 12 JMU travels to face No. 5 Oregon in the CFP First Round on December 20 at 8 p.m. ET, broadcast on TNT and truTV. Oregon, with recent semifinal experience, presents a tough test at Autzen Stadium.
JMU's playoff inclusion stems from their perfect conference slate and strong resume, including non-conference wins over Washington State (24-20) and Coastal Carolina (59-10). Critics question Group of Five favoritism, but JMU's metrics earned the spot.
A win could mark JMU's deepest postseason run, building on prior bowl appearances like the 2023 Armed Forces Bowl.
Key Stats and Road to Playoffs
JMU's schedule showcased resilience: wins over Georgia Southern (35-10), Georgia State (14-7), and Troy (31-14) solidified their East lead. They enter with an 11-game streak after a lone loss to Louisville.
Offensively explosive, JMU tallied 485 points for and held opponents to 206. Standings confirm their top spot in Sun Belt East, ahead of rivals like Georgia Southern and Marshall.
This conference dominance positions JMU for a potential upset, captivating fans globally on December 21, 2025.