James Madison Football: Can Dukes regain FCS crown?
By Zach Bigalke
2018 James Madison Schedule and Predictions
| WEEK | DATE | SCHOOL | OPPONENT |
| 1 | Sep. 1, 2018 | James Madison | @ FBS NC State |
| 2 | Sep. 8, 2018 | James Madison | @ Norfolk State |
| 3 | Sep. 15, 2018 | James Madison | vs. Robert Morris |
| 4 | Sep. 22, 2018 | James Madison | vs. William & Mary |
| 5 | Sep. 29, 2018 | James Madison | @ Richmond |
| 6 | Oct. 6, 2018 | James Madison | vs. Elon |
| 7 | Oct. 13, 2018 | James Madison | @ Villanova |
| 8 | Oct. 20, 2018 | BYE | WEEK |
| 9 | Oct. 27, 2018 | James Madison | vs. Stony Brook |
| 10 | Nov. 3, 2018 | James Madison | @ New Hampshire |
| 11 | Nov. 10, 2018 | James Madison | vs. Rhode Island |
| 12 | Nov. 17, 2018 | James Madison | @ Towson |
James Madison gets a statement opportunity to open the season. The Dukes travel south to face NC State in Raleigh. In recent years, the CAA contenders have taken down other ACC teams such as Virginia Tech in 2010. With the turnover at NC State, the Wolfpack could be susceptible to an upset in the home opener.
After that FBS showdown, the Dukes dive into an FCS schedule that could yield another long winning streak. Getting back to the FCS playoffs is always the goal for James Madison, and that goal should still be within reach when the Dukes reach November.
What’s next for James Madison?
They will spend the summer focused on the big chance against the Wolfpack. Should James Madison manage to take down NC State on the road, they would instantly assert themselves as the team to beat in the FCS for a third straight year.
A loss in Raleigh won’t completely ruin the season for the Dukes. After all, they were blown out in Chapel Hill by North Carolina in 2016 and won the national title regardless. But victory would give them the chance to run the table and complete the perfect season that ended just short of the ultimate goal in 2017.
Prediction: 12-2 (8-0 CAA, loss in FCS semifinals)
A close loss to NC State won’t set James Madison back too far. The Dukes will quickly rebound and run the table through the rest of the regular season. A couple big wins in the first few rounds of the playoffs will have people high on the Dukes again.
Next: Post-spring Top 25 projections
But a heartbreaking loss in the semifinals will prevent James Madison from getting to a third straight FCS championship game.