Undefeated James Madison football isn’t bowl eligible. Here’s why.

The Dukes of James Madison University are set to face Marshall’s Thundering Herd on ESPN Thursday night in a crucial game that could determine their chances of making a bowl game this season. As one of the 11 undefeated college football teams left in the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the Dukes are hoping to overcome a technicality in the NCAA rule that would otherwise prevent them from appearing in a bowl game in 2023.

Out of the 133 schools in the FBS, there are currently three undefeated teams from the Big Ten, two from the ACC, and one each from the Big 12, Conference USA, Mountain West, Pac-12, SEC, and the Sun Belt. All of these teams have a strong chance of securing a spot in one of the 42 NCAA bowl games at the end of the season, except for James Madison, who face restrictions due to their recent transition from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) to the FBS.

The James Madison football program was established in the early 1970s, with the goal of changing the campus culture after the school became a co-educational institution in 1966. Football was seen as an effective way to achieve this. Although the Dukes faced a challenging start with coaches filling in during practices to form two teams, they quickly turned things around under the leadership of Coach Challace McMillin. Within three years, the Dukes went from being winless to undefeated, winning the Virginia College Athletic Association division title in 1975.

It took another 12 years for the Dukes to reach the playoffs in the FCS, achieving their first playoff win in 1991 under Coach Rip Scherer. In 2004, under Coach Mickey Matthews, the Dukes won their first FCS title. Since then, they have been a consistent participant in the FCS playoffs with no losing seasons. They earned their second FCS title in 2016 under Coach Mike Houston. In 2021, after winning their fifth Colonial Athletic Association Conference title in six years, the Dukes decided to make the move to the FBS and join the Sun Belt Conference starting in the 2022-23 season.

Moving from the FCS to the FBS can be challenging for any program, and eligibility requirements must be met across the entire athletic program. According to NCAA bylaws, programs must wait two years before becoming eligible for a bowl game. Several teams have successfully made the transition from the FCS to the FBS since 2008, including Liberty and Coastal Carolina. However, James Madison faced a setback when their request to shorten the re-classification period to one year was denied by the NCAA, despite support from Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares.

Despite these hurdles, there is a possibility that the Dukes could still make a bowl game in 2023. FBS bowls require teams to win at least six games with a minimum 0.500 win percentage. If there aren’t enough teams that meet this criteria, James Madison could be selected. Head coach Curt Cignetti remains hopeful that common sense will prevail, and the Dukes, with their 6-0 record this season, will have a chance to secure a spot in the FBS bowl schedule.

In their upcoming game against Marshall, James Madison is slightly favored to win, according to the latest odds from BetMGM. Thundering Herd tight end Cade Conley and offensive lineman Ayden Conley are listed as questionable due to injuries.

To watch the game, tune in to ESPN at 7:00 p.m ET. Lastly, the Dukes are being predicted by various sports media outlets to secure their first win against Marshall, including Fox Sports, Action Network, Covers, and Athlon Sports.

Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission. Please note that this does not affect our editorial coverage. Betting on sports may not be legal in your jurisdiction. It is important to comply with all applicable laws. If you have a gambling problem, please seek help from an official gambling addiction hotline.

Reference

Alex Martin

Alex Martin is your guide to the global phenomenon of football. With a focus on international leagues and tournaments, he provides match commentary, player interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of football.