The James Madison Dukes, aka JMU, had a fairytale season that included winning the Sun Belt championship and finishing with an impressive 12-1 record. For their efforts, the No. 12 Dukes clinched a highly coveted berth in the College Football Playoff.
Despite losing their coach, Bob Chesney, to the UCLA Bruins, the Dukes will travel to Eugene to face the No. 5 Oregon Ducks in high spirits, boasting one of the best defenses in college football, which earned a B+ score according to PFSN’s College Defense Impact.
Nick Saban Questions JMU’s Place in the Playoff
During an appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday, former Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban unleashed a furious tirade about teams like JMU being included in the 12-team field for the College Football Playoff.
“Would we allow the winner of the AAA baseball league, the International League, I don’t even know the name of it, would you let them in the World Series? That’s the equivalent of what we do when JMU gets in the playoff and Notre Dame doesn’t,” Saban said. “I don’t want to start any shit here.
“These guys ought to have their own playoff. Just give them the money. Each school gets $4 million for playing the first round. Just give them $4 million and put Notre Dame in. Want to see Notre Dame and Oregon play? Hell yes. Hell yes.”
Alongside the Dukes, the No. 11 Tulane Green Wave also booked its place in the College Football Playoff as one of the highest-ranked Group of Five champions and will travel to Oxford to face the No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels.
Dan Lanning Lavishes Praise on JMU
Despite the narrative surrounding JMU’s inclusion in the playoff, during his weekly news conference before the clash against the Dukes, Oregon coach Dan Lanning lavished praise on their stellar performances this season.
“JMU obviously have done an exceptional job all year,” Lanning said. “You talk about one of the few teams that’s a top-10 offense, top-10 defense. You watch their offense, they create expensive plays all over the board.
“The quarterback can run the ball, the running back can run the ball. They extend it down the field. Defensively, they create a lot of issues, a lot of different looks, a ton of variety that we have to be able to practice and go through.”
The Dukes have been on an upward trajectory since finishing last season with a 9-4 record, which included a victory in the Boca Raton Bowl. They will open the game against Oregon as three-touchdown underdogs, further fueling the narrative about their inclusion in the showcase event.
