Honestly, if you had told anyone three years ago that the James Madison Dukes football program would be sitting in a College Football Playoff (CFP) locker room in 2025, they would’ve called you a dreamer. Or maybe just a Duke Club member with too much optimism. Yet, here we are in early 2026, and the dust is still settling from a historic 12–2 season that basically rearranged the hierarchy of the Group of Five.
The Dukes didn't just transition to the FBS; they kicked the door down.
Last season was a blur of purple and gold dominance. Under Bob Chesney, who just bolted for the UCLA job after a masterclass in Harrisonburg, JMU went 11–1 in the regular season. Their only stumble? A gritty 28–14 loss at Louisville back in September. After that, they just went on a tear. They dismantled the Sun Belt, finishing 8–0 in conference play and capping it off with a 31–14 win over Troy in the Sun Belt Championship. That win secured them the No. 12 seed in the first-ever expanded 12-team playoff.
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People keep waiting for the "regression to the mean." It hasn't happened. Most fans outside the Shenandoah Valley assumed that losing Curt Cignetti to Indiana would be the end of the honeymoon. Instead, Bob Chesney stepped in and actually raised the ceiling.
The 2025 season culminated in an Autzen Stadium showdown against No. 5 Oregon. Sure, the Dukes lost 51–34. But look at the numbers. Alonza Barnett III, the Sun Belt Player of the Year, threw for 323 yards and accounted for multiple scores against a Big Ten titan. They were down 34–6 at halftime and didn't quit. They actually outscored Oregon in the second half. That kind of culture isn't a fluke.
Success like this creates a specific type of chaos.
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When you win 12 games and make the CFP, everyone wants a piece of your staff and your roster. As of mid-January 2026, the program is in a massive state of flux. Chesney is gone to UCLA. All-American running back Wayne Knight—who was a total monster last year with 1,373 rushing yards—just hit the transfer portal. It's the price of being "The New Boise State."
The Alonza Barnett III factor
We have to talk about the quarterback. Barnett III finished the 2025 campaign with 2,806 passing yards and 23 touchdowns, plus 15 more on the ground. He’s the engine. While the coaching search is currently the loudest conversation in Harrisonburg, Barnett’s decision to stay or leave will dictate whether 2026 is a "rebuilding" year or another "reloading" year.
Usually, when a Group of Five school loses its head coach and star RB, the wheels fall off. But JMU feels different. Bridgeforth Stadium is literally expanding its premium seating because the demand is so high. They just added 564 "mesh-style" chairbacks with bar rails on the East Side and four new suites in the South Endzone. You don't build suites if you expect to go 4–8 next year.
The 2026 schedule and the San Diego State pivot
The news just dropped yesterday that the 2026 schedule is getting a major facelift. Originally, the Dukes were supposed to head to Blacksburg to play Virginia Tech on September 26th. That game is dead. The ACC moved to a nine-game conference schedule, and the Hokies had to bail.
Instead, the James Madison Dukes football team is heading to Southern California.
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On September 19, 2026, JMU will face San Diego State at Snapdragon Stadium. It’s the first time the Dukes will ever play in California. It’s a fascinating trade-off. You lose the regional rivalry game against Tech, which is a bummer for the fans who wanted to take over Lane Stadium again, but you get a massive recruiting showcase on the West Coast.
The 2026 non-conference slate now looks like this:
- Sept 5: vs. Liberty (The "Redemption" game for the Flames)
- Sept 12: vs. Wagner (The typical home opener tune-up)
- Sept 19: at San Diego State (The inaugural cross-country trip)
- Nov 14: at UConn
That Liberty game to open the season is going to be electric. Liberty is still stinging from the 31–13 beating JMU gave them in Lynchburg last year.
What most people get wrong about the "Transition"
There is a common misconception that JMU is "new" to this. While they only recently moved to FBS, this program has been a blue-blood at the FCS level for decades. They have the facilities, the donor base, and a "win-at-all-costs" mentality that most Sun Belt schools simply can't match.
The transition wasn't about finding a way to compete; it was about finding a big enough stage for the brand.
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In 2025, they ranked 9th nationally in scoring offense (37.1 PPG) and 13th in scoring defense (18.4 PPG). You don't put up those numbers by accident. Even in the Oregon loss, they racked up 509 total yards. The "Group of Five" label is starting to feel a bit small for them.
Facing the 2026 reality check
The current vibe in Harrisonburg is a mix of "We've arrived" and "Oh no, who is our coach?"
Matt Roan, the AD, is under immense pressure. He needs to find someone who can maintain Chesney’s hyper-efficient turnover margin—the Dukes led the country in turnover margin (1.54) in 2024. They don't beat themselves. That’s the JMU DNA. If they hire a "system" guy who wants to overhaul everything, they might waste the remaining years of Barnett III and Nick DeGennaro (who had 500 yards and 5 TDs last year).
DeGennaro and Jaylan Sanchez are the veteran voices in that wide receiver room. They need a coach who understands that the Sun Belt East is the hardest division in the G5. You have Old Dominion coming off a 10-win season and Coastal Carolina always lurking. There are no "off" weeks.
Actionable Next Steps for Dukes Fans:
- Watch the Transfer Portal: The next 14 days are critical. If Barnett III stays, JMU is the Sun Belt favorite. If he follows Chesney to UCLA, the 2026 outlook shifts significantly.
- Season Ticket Strategy: If you’re looking at those new East Side Premium seats ($935 for the season), the priority deadline is approaching in April.
- Book the San Diego Trip: September 19th is a bucket-list game. Snapdragon Stadium is a pro-level venue, and JMU's first trip to the Pacific Time Zone is a milestone for the program's history books.
- Monitor the Coaching Search: Look for names with regional ties or high-level offensive coordinator experience. JMU has proven they are a "stepping stone" to the Power 4, which ironically makes them a very attractive job for the next rising star.
The Dukes aren't just a "feel-good story" anymore. They are a legitimate postseason fixture. The 2025 run to the CFP proved that the ceiling in Harrisonburg is higher than anyone dared to imagine. Now, they just have to prove they can do it without the guy who got them there.