After a wildly successful start in the FBS, it was easy to wonder if James Madison would continue to win after head coach Curt Cignetti went to Indiana.
But after Bob Chesney took over, the Dukes did indeed keep on winning. JMU won its first four games of the season, including a 70-50 victory over North Carolina, and went 8-4 during the regular season. The Dukes also earned their first win in a bowl game, beating Western Kentucky 27-17 in the Boca Raton Bowl.
But JMU was also 4-4 in Sun Belt play. In Chesney’s second season, the Dukes will be hoping to be better against conference teams. In fact, it would be reasonable for them to expect to play in the Sun Belt Championship in 2025.
New Customer Offers at BetMGM
Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l Terms
JMU Football’s Sun Belt Title Betting Odds
JMU’s odds to win the Sun Belt are +280, via BetMGM. The Dukes are the favorite to win the conference and to win the Sun Belt East, as their odds to win the division are +105.
JMU’s odds of making the College Football Playoff are +1300.
JMU Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
James Madison’s win total Over/Under is 8.5, with Under 8.5 at +100 and Over 8.5 at -120.
JMU Football’s 2025 Schedule
Aug. 30 vs. Weber State
Sept. 5 @ Louisville
Sept. 20 @ Liberty
Sept. 27 vs. Georgia Southern
Oct. 4 @ Georgia State
Oct. 11 vs. Louisiana
Oct. 18 vs. Old Dominion
Oct. 28 @ Texas State
Nov. 8 @ Marshall
Nov. 15 vs. App State
Nov. 22 vs. Washington State
Nov. 29 @ Coastal Carolina
Dec. 5 Sun Belt Championship
Bold indicates Sun Belt contests
For more Group of Five coverage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Key JMU Football Returners
2024 All-Sun Belt 1st Team
OL Pat McMurtrie
2nd Team
DB Jacob Thomas
Honorable Mention
QB Alonza Barnett III
DL Immanuel Bush
JMU Football Favored To Win The Sun Belt
JMU has plenty of production returning. That includes at quarterback.
All-Sun Belt honorable mention quarterback Alonza Barnett III threw for 2,598 yards, 26 touchdowns, and four interceptions while completing 60% of his passes and rushing for 442 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns. But he’s been recovering from a lower-body injury sustained at the end of last season, so it’s still unclear when he’ll be ready.
If he’s not good to go by Week 1, the Dukes also added QB Matthew Sluka, who was UNLV’s Day 1 starter last season and played for Bob Chesney at Holy Cross. Richmond transfer Camden Coleman could also be in the mix.
At running back, Group of Five Preseason All-American George Pettaway returns after rushing for 980 yards and five scores while catching 24 passes for 200 yards and two TDs. Wayne Knight is also back after ranking second on the team with 449 yards and two touchdowns rushing while catching 15 passes for 137 yards and two TDs. Jobi Malary (269 yards and two TDs in 2024) is returning as well.
But Pettaway and Knight are JMU’s leading returning receivers. The Dukes do return tight end Logan Kyle, who caught 11 passes for 132 yards and a TD last year, but fans may see some new faces make plays at wide receiver.
First-team All-Sun Belt tackle and G5 Preseason All-American Pat McMurtrie will lead JMU’s offensive line. Carter Sweazie, who started most of JMU’s games last season at left guard, as well as Riley Robell and Josh Toner, who each started games at left guard as well last year, are also returning.
And JMU has the second-highest ranked transfer class in the Sun Belt, according to 247Sports, behind only Southern Miss. The Dukes prioritized defense, so some new names might play important roles for them on that side of the ball.
Two G5 Preseason All-Americans are back for the Dukes on defense, though. Defensive back Jacob Thomas led JMU with 73 tackles while adding three interceptions. Defensive tackle Immanuel Bush recorded 35 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and an interception in 2024.
Linebacker Trent Hendrick (54 tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble in 2024) and nickelback DJ Barksdale (42 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, and one forced fumble last year) are also back.
JMU Football Season Prediction
I predict James Madison will win the Sun Belt Conference Championship and will go Over 8.5 wins during the regular season.
The Dukes went 9-4 overall last year, ending the season with their first win in a bowl game in program history by beating Western Kentucky in the Boca Raton Bowl. And yet somehow that felt like a disappointing end for JMU.
But with head coach Bob Chesney in his second year with the team, I think the Dukes will be even better in 2025. In fact, it’s possible JMU is favored in every one of its games except its matchup at Louisville in September.
Don’t get me wrong. There are some tough games on this schedule, including at Liberty and Texas State as well as games at home against Louisiana and Washington State.
But looking at this JMU roster, I think the Dukes are better than those teams.
Before Chesney was head coach, and even after he took over, JMU has been one of the top teams in the Sun Belt since it jumped up from the FCS. I think JMU is in a position to finally win a conference title as an FBS team in 2025.
