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Dukes finish 2025 Season at No. 19 in AP Top 25 and No. 20 in Coaches Poll

Dukes finish 2025 Season at No. 19 in AP Top 25 and No. 20 in Coaches Poll

Photo: JMU Athletics


HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison concluded the 2025 college football season being nationally ranked in both polls, coming in at #19 in the Associated Press Top 25 and #20 in the US LBM Coaches Poll.

This is the first time since reclassifying to the Football Bowl Subdivision that JMU has ended the year with a national ranking in either final poll.

The Dukes finished the year with a 12-2 overall record and went 8-0 in Sun Belt Conference play on their way to capturing their first SBC conference title and earning a berth in the College Football Playoff as the No. 12 seed. JMU was ranked #24 in the final CFP rankings, which was the fifth-highest ranking by a conference champion.

JMU became the first Sun Belt program to qualify for the College Football Playoff where it fell 51-34 at No. 5 Oregon in Eugene back on Dec. 20. It was the most points scored on Oregon all season, and JMU’s 509 total yards were the most gained on the Dukes all season.

In the national statistical rankings, JMU finished the year second in time of possession (34:13), fourth in first downs allowed (14.6), fourth in both blocked kicks (4) and blocked punts (3), fifth in total defense (266.6), rushing defense (85.1) and offensive touchdowns (64), sixth in both rushing offense (241.5) and third down defense (29.4%), ninth in both scoring offense (37.1) and yards per rush (5.5) and 10th in defensive touchdowns (3).

— JMU Athletics —

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