Years of immediate success in the FBS led to an appearance in the College Football Playoff for James Madison.
The Dukes went 11-1 in the regular season last year, won a Sun Belt Championship and made it to the CFP where they lost to Oregon in the first round. It would be easy to say JMU could repeat that feat considering the momentum the program has right now.
But the Dukes will look a lot different in 2026. Former head coach Bob Chesney went to UCLA, taking several players with him, and former Florida head coach Billy Napier is at the helm.
Still, the Dukes should be among the favorites in the Sun Belt this season.
JMU Season Preview
JMU lost several of its best players last year, including quarterback Alonza Barnett III and running back Wayne Knight, who both transferred. But there’s a lot of other talented players on this roster.
QB Competition Between JC Evans & Camden Coleman
The battle to replace Barnett as JMU’s starting QB seems to be down to JC Evans and Camden Coleman.
Evans has been at JMU for multiple seasons. He was the Boca Raton Bowl Offensive MVP for JMU back in 2024 but played in just three games last year. He certainly has high potential.
But Coleman does, too. He has the most experience, albeit at the FCS level. He was a third-team All-CAA selection while playing at Richmond. In 2024, he threw for 2,031 yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions while rushing for 342 yards and six touchdowns before transferring to JMU. But he didn’t play at all last year.
JMU’s Offensive Weapons
JMU returns a running back who’s already proven he can be a workhorse for this team.
George Pettaway is back for the Dukes. He ran for 980 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 6.1 yards per carry and catching 24 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns in 2024. His 2025 season was impacted by injury, which opened the door for Knight to become the lead back, but he still ended up with 195 yards while averaging 5.7 yards per carry and caught nine passes for 67 yards and a TD.
At wide receiver, Jeremiah Harrison and Corey Scott both transferred to JMU. Scott, a Division II All-American honorable mention last year at West Florida, caught 63 passes for 1,018 yards and four touchdowns. Harrison made the All-Southern Conference Freshman Team last season at East Tennessee State after hauling in 38 passes for 652 yards and five scores.
Zach Greenberg, a HERO Sports G6 Preseason All-American, returns to anchor JMU’s offensive line. Tyler Brown, who transferred in from Colorado, and DJ Fox, a Division III All-American at Wisconsin-River Falls last year, also should play important roles up front.
The Dukes’ Strength On Defense
JMU was fifth in the country last year in total defense (266.6 yards per game allowed) and 13th in scoring defense (18.4 points per game allowed). Even though the Dukes lost some star players on that side of the ball, there’s reason to think JMU could still be great on defense again.
The Dukes return HERO Sports G6 Preseason All-American Amar Thomas, an EDGE rusher who totaled 43 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 2025. The Dukes also return Kells Bush and brought in West Florida transfer Kevin Roberts to help up front.
At linebacker, Gannon Weathersby is back after totaling 57 tackles in 2025. Nakian Jackson also transferred in from Nevada to help the linebacking corps.
Ken Willis is one of JMU’s returners in the secondary, as the safety played in all 14 games last season. Toledo transfer DJ Kelly, a cornerback, and Texas State transfer Javis Mynatt, another safety, should earn roles in this defense as well.
JMU’s 2026 Schedule
- 9/5 vs. Liberty
- 9/12 vs. Wagner
- 9/19 at San Diego State
- 9/26 at Old Dominion
- 10/3 vs. Marshall
- 10/10 at Georgia Southern
- 10/17 vs. Georgia State
- 10/22 vs. App State
- 10/29 vs. Troy
- 11/5 at Southern Miss
- 11/14 at UConn
- 11/28 vs. Coastal Carolina
Bold indicates Sun Belt contests
JMU’s Sun Belt Title Betting Odds
JMU’s college football betting odds to win the conference are +250, via BetMGM. The Dukes are the favorites to win the conference and are the favorites to win the Sun Belt East at +150.
The Dukes’ odds of making the College Football Playoff are +1000.
JMU’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
- JMU’s win total Over/Under is 8.5
- The Under is at +115
- The Over is at -140
JMU Season Prediction
I predict JMU will repeat as the Sun Belt champion and will go Over 8.5 wins in 2026.
To me, the Dukes are the clear frontrunners to win the Sun Belt this season. As long as they get dependable play from their quarterback, I think they are the best team in the conference on paper.
But getting to nine wins isn’t going to be easy, even though there’s no Power Four team on the schedule. I see JMU beating Liberty and Wagner at home to start off, but I think San Diego State will end up beating the Dukes in their third game considering it’s at SDSU.
I also think it’s very possible JMU loses one of its next two games either at Old Dominion or at home against Marshall, which could very well be the second-best team in the Sun Belt this year.
But I don’t really see another game that obviously could be a problem for the Dukes. A trip to UConn could prove to be challenging, but I don’t think that roster is as talented as it has been. The Dukes also get to play teams like App State and Troy at home, which will certainly be helpful.
If the Napier hire proves to be a good decision, I think JMU could win even 10 games this year.
