How will James Madison Football fare in its first season in FBS?

One thing about JMU’s schedule that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever is that they are not eligible for the postseason this year. The Dukes will have a rough go in year one in the Sun Belt because of their lack of returning production.

Game 1: vs. Middle Tennessee (L): This is a pick ’em game for the Dukes but Chase Cunningham is back for the Blue Raiders at quarterback and Jordan Ferguson returns at defensive end. MTSU in a close one.

Game 2: vs. Norfolk State (W): JMU get their first win as an FBS team against FCS Norfolk State.

Game 3: @ Appalachian State (L): The Dukes and Curt Cignetti learn just how far they have to go to become a contender when they go to Boone and play the Mountaineers, who should contend for the Sun Belt this fall.

Game 4: vs. Texas State (W): This is JMU’s second toss-up of the season. Texas State wasn’t very good defensively and were spotty offensively. Bobcats have a slight edge because of their returning experience at quarterback, but only a slight one.

Game 5: @ Arkansas State (W): The Red Wolves and head coach Butch Jones are in year two of a rebuilding project in Jonesboro. The Dukes have enough to win their first road game in the Sun Belt.

Game 6: @ Georgia Southern (W): Georgia Southern is breaking in a new coach, quarterback, and system. That’s enough turnover to go with JMU in this one.

Game 7: vs. Marshall (L): This is a bad matchup for JMU. Though Grant Wells is at Virginia Tech, the ‘Herd return 1,000 rusher Ali Rahseen and added Khalan Laborn from Florida State at running back. The Dukes don’t have the size up front to compete with Marshall’s running attack.

Game 8: @ Louisville (L): The Dukes lose their paycheck game and see Malik Cunningham up close and personal.

Game 9: @ Old Dominion (L): Teams that can run the football are bad matchups for the Dukes, and Old Dominion is no different with the 1-2 punch of Blake Watson and Elijah Davis returning for the Monarchs. ODU wins the first “Royalty Rivalry” game. This game needs a trophy.

Game 10: vs. Georgia State (L): The Dukes are going to find it hard to stop do-it-all quarterback Darren Grainger in this game.

Game 11: vs. Coastal Carolina (L): JMU ends their season with a five-game losing streak after getting blown out by Grayson McCall and the Chanticleers in the season finale.

Prediction: 4-7, 3-5 Sun Belt:

The Dukes will certainly take their lumps this season. Timing is everything and JMU would have been better equipped to compete in the Sun Belt if last season’s team would have made the jump. The fact that they will be in the East division doesn’t help either. They can compete against the lower tier of the Sun Belt but will struggle against the best the conference has to offer.