EUGENE, Oregon – Less than two minutes had passed in James Madison’s clash with Oregon in the College Football Playoff. But the final result already seemed unavoidable.
The Ducks were driving down the field with ease. Their offensive line was winning up front how they wanted to, their quarterback was delivering passes where he wanted to, and their ball carriers were escaping JMU defenders just how they wanted to.
And on first and 10 on JMU’s 41-yard line, Ducks quarterback Dante Moore had several seconds to diagnose the Dukes’ defense and find an open receiver. He delivered a throw in the middle of the field to Jamari Johnson, who had scampered past two of JMU’s defenders.
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It was almost out of reach, but it didn’t matter. Johnson caught the ball with one hand. Dukes linebacker Trent Hendrick grabbed Johnson’s ankles, but it didn’t matter. He lunged forward and reached the ball across the goal line for a touchdown.
The Dukes had high hopes when they earned a spot in the College Football Playoff. But it didn’t matter. Oregon was simply better.
The game was far from over after Johnson’s touchdown, but that’s not how it felt. It felt JMU already had such little room for error against one of the best teams in the country. And that proved to be correct.
No. 5-seeded Oregon (12-1) proved to be too much in basically every aspect of the game and thoroughly defeated No. 12 JMU 51-34 on Saturday at Autzen Stadium.
Going into this game, JMU (12-2) was second in the FBS in total defense (247.6 yards per game allowed), second in rushing defense (76.2 YPG allowed), fifth in third-down defense (28.7%), 10th in scoring defense (15.85 points per game allowed), and 12th in passing yards allowed (171.5 per game).
But the Dukes didn’t play like it. Inability to shed blocks led to uncovered wide receivers led to missed tackles. And that led to Oregon scoring touchdowns on each of its first five drives.
In fact, the Ducks didn’t even need more than five plays or more than three minutes to score on any of those possessions.
Moore completed 11 of 14 passes to seven different receivers for 211 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in the first half alone. He finished the game with 313 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions on 19-of-27 passing.
After his TD pass to start the scoring, Moore ran in for a 5-yard touchdown with 2:37 left in the first quarter. About five minutes of game time later, Dierre Hill Jr. broke off a 56-yard TD run. Less than three minutes after that, Moore found Jeremiah McClellan for a 20-yard touchdown. And five minutes later, Moore connected with Malik Benson for a 46-yard TD strike.
But JMU’s offense couldn’t keep pace either.
The Dukes struggled to score consistently early on this season. But they averaged 46 points per game in their previous six outings. JMU quarterback Alonza Barnett III went from averaging 133.4 yards in his first five games through the air to 233.25 per contest since then.
That was, before Saturday. He was 13-of-28 passing for 76 yards in the first half and struggled to connect with open receivers – or find open receivers for that matter. He finished the game 23-for-48 passing with 273 yards and two TDs with no interceptions to go with 45 yards and one TD rushing.
The Dukes did make some changes in the second half to at least give the JMU fans that traveled across the country something to cheer for.
JMU wide receiver Nick DeGennaro scored a 47-yard touchdown on a pass from Barnett early in the third quarter. Barnett also threw a beautiful pass to George Pettaway later in the third frame for a 24-yard score. Barnett also rushed for a TD with 1:05 to play.
But it was too little and way too late.
It seemed unrealistic for JMU to make the College Football Playoff five years ago or even five weeks ago. But the Dukes’ improbable run is now over, and Oregon advances to take on No. 4-seeded Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day.
The Dukes of JMU were surely aiming for a different result than this. Even if they didn’t stun the nation and upset Oregon, they had the makings of a team that could’ve been more competitive than it was.
But even getting to this point is an accomplishment for JMU. The question is: Can the Dukes continue this level of success?
JMU head coach Bob Chesney has already been named UCLA’s next head coach. Billy Napier, who was fired at Florida after going 22-23 there, will be JMU’s next head coach.
He was successful in the Sun Belt before, helping Louisiana go 40-12 and win the conference title in 2021. And JMU has already gone through a coaching change since becoming an FBS member after Curt Cignetti went to Indiana. But can Napier keep JMU from taking a step back?
And which of JMU’s players will either follow Chesney to UCLA or take another Power Four offer? Keeping star players like Barnett as well as defensive lineman and Sun Belt Freshman of the Year Sahir West won’t be easy – or cheap.
But if JMU as a football program has proven anything, it’s that people shouldn’t count the Dukes out.
Even Chesney “absolutely” thinks the ceiling is still high for JMU.
“When we came in here two years ago, we knew that this was a program that was steeped in tradition and believed in itself and had a community to support it, and I think that it’s only gotten better. … So I think honestly the sky’s the limit for this program for sure.”
