The 2025 James Madison Dukes football team represented James Madison University in the Sun Belt Conference's East Division during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Dukes were led by Bob Chesney in his second year as the head coach. The Dukes played their home games at the Bridgeforth Stadium, located in Harrisonburg, Virginia. They appeared in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program and Sun Belt history.
James Madison became the first ever program to participate in both the College Football Playoff and the FCS playoffs in the same decade (2020s), the last appearance of the latter being in 2021, which was their final season in the FCS.
The James Madison Dukes drew an average home attendance of 25,135, the 85th-highest of all NCAA Division I FBS football teams.
Offseason Transfers Outgoing Jamari SomervilleDBAkronEvan SpiveySCampbellBrett GriffisQBCentral ConnecticutKe'Marion BaldwinRBCharleston SouthernChris LoftonWRGardner–WebbMax MossWRHamptonMarcellus NashDLHamptonJack MowreyLSHawaiiTrevell MullenCBIllinois StateCameron JonesOTKentuckyLexington MatthewsPLouisiana TechChauncey Logan Jr.CBMemphisJesse RamilOLMississippi StateAntoine BoothCBNorth Dakota StateTyjai HopperCBOregon StateJeremiah MawaliDLPrairie View A&MDarold DeNgoheDLRutgersEric O'NeillDERutgersYamir KnightWRSMUTreyvon AdamsDLTowsonNoe RuelasKUCFTyshawn WyattOLVirginiaCam RossWRVirginiaMicah PennixDLVirginia UnionQuincy JenkinsIOLWestern KentuckyErick HarrisWRUnknownDesmond GreenWRUnknownBreon BrownOTUnknownHunter McLainIOLUnknownSamson OgunadeDLUnknownKyle LenhartIOLUnknownRoyMarr ThomasEDGEValdosta StateCarter BanksEDGEUnknownBilly AtkinsQBUnknownAndrew VanSlykePWithdrawn
Incoming Elijah CulpCBCharlotteLacota DippreDECharlotteKen WillisCBCincinnatiAndrew TaddeoDLColgateJames PogorelcOTDukeJosiah KennardLSEast Texas A&MMorgan SuarezKFlorida AtlanticJordan FullerRBHoly CrossCurtis Harris-LopezSHoly CrossCam McNairOTHoly CrossIsaiah AlstonWRIowa StateNunu ConcepcionWRKansas StateJayden StudioLBKent StateKells BushDLLouisiana TechPatrick ReaPLouisiana TechXavier HolmesDLMaineChantz HarleyDBMarylandBraeden WisloskiWRMarylandZach GreenbergOLNorth CarolinaAiden GobairaDENotre DameCamden ColemanQBRichmondLandon EllisWRRichmondNick DeGennaroWRRichmondTurner SchmidtEDGERobert MorrisMekhi RodgersDBSaint Francis (PA)Lexington MatthewsPSavannah StateJT Kouame-YaoLBShepherdJamir ConnDBSouthern IllinoisZa'Ron CollinsWRTusculumMatthew SlukaQBUNLVAbdur-Rahmaan YaseenWRUSFJeremiah MawaliOLValdosta StateJaylan SanchezWRVillanovaTJ McGillSWilliam & Mary
Preseason Media poll In the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, the Dukes were picked to finish first place in the East division.
Running back George Pettaway, offensive lineman Pat McMurtrie and defensive back Jacob Thomas were awarded to be in the preseason All-Sun Belt first team offense and defense, respectively. Quarterback Alonza Barnett III, defensive lineman Immanuel Bush, linebacker Trent Hendrick, defensive back DJ Barksdale and associated press player George Pettaway were named to the second team.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries
Weber State (FCS)
Statistics WEB JMU First downs 10 23 Plays–yards 57–148 71–458 Rushes–yards 31–64 44–313 Passing yards 84 145 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–26–3 17–27–1 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 27:33 32:27 Team Category Player StatisticsWeber State Passing Jackson Gilkey 10/24, 84 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Zach Hrbacek 12 carries, 39 yards Receiving Marcus Chretien 2 receptions, 22 yards James Madison Passing Alonza Barnett III 14/22, 130 yards, TD Rushing George Pettaway 10 carries, 99 yards Receiving Michael Scott 4 receptions, 38 yards
at Louisville
Statistics JMULOU First downs 19 12 Plays–yards 78–263 53–264 Rushes–yards 47–126 30–113 Passing yards 137 151 Passing: comp–att–int 18–31–1 13–23–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 37:18 22:42 Team Category Player Statistics James Madison Passing Alonza Barrett III 15/25, 102 yards, TD Rushing Matthew Sluka 21 carries, 83 yards, TD Receiving Landon Ellis 3 receptions, 55 yards Louisville Passing Miller Moss 13/23, 151 yards, TD Rushing Isaac Brown 12 carries, 104 yards, TD Receiving Chris Bell 4 receptions, 83 yards, TD
at Liberty
Statistics JMU LIB First downs 24 16 Plays–yards 67–440 63–233 Rushes–yards 42–227 42–158 Passing yards 213 75 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–25–1 7–21–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 33:03 26:57 Team Category Player StatisticsJames Madison Passing Alonza Barnett III 17/25, 213 yards, TD, INT Rushing Wayne Knight 17 carries, 89 yards, TD Receiving Jaylan Sanchez 4 receptions, 51 yardsLiberty Passing Ethan Vasko 4/10, 37 yards Rushing Evan Dickens 17 carries, 67 yards Receiving Jamari Person 2 receptions, 29 yards
Georgia Southern
Statistics GASOJMU First downs 10 29 Plays–yards 50–192 75–479 Rushes–yards 26–27 53–331 Passing yards 165 148 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–24–0 11–22–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 24:10 35:50 Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia Southern Passing J.C. French IV 14/24, 165 yards, TD Rushing David Mbadinga 3 carries, 14 yards Receiving Camden Brown 5 receptions, 111 yardsJames Madison Passing Alonza Barnett III 11/22, 148 yards, TD Rushing Wayne Knight 19 carries, 151 yards, TD Receiving Lacota Dippre 2 receptions, 42 yards, TD
at Georgia State
Statistics JMUGAST First downs 19 14 Plays–yards 65–285 54–249 Rushes–yards 43–211 22–37 Passing yards 74 212 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–22–0 22–32–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 31:53 28:07 Team Category Player StatisticsJames Madison Passing Alonza Barnett III 11/22, 74 yards Rushing Jordan Fuller 18 carries, 94 yards Receiving Landon Ellis 3 receptions, 28 yardsGeorgia State Passing TJ Finley 19/28, 198 yards, TD Rushing Rashad Amos 11 carries, 30 yards Receiving Camden Overton-Howard 7 receptions, 65 yards, TD
Louisiana
Statistics LAJMU First downs 11 21 Plays–yards 57–288 81–477 Rushes–yards 28–45 41–187 Passing yards 243 290 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–29–1 26–40–1 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 23:09 36:51 Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Lunch Winfield 14/28, 243 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Lunch Winfield 15 carries, 23 yards Receiving Robert Williams 5 receptions, 134 yardsJames Madison Passing Alonza Barnett III 26/40, 290 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Wayne Knight 20 carries, 111 yards Receiving Landon Ellis 6 receptions, 120 yards, 3 TD
Old Dominion (Royal Rivalry)
Statistics ODUJMU First downs 13 27 Plays–yards 50–285 79–624 Rushes–yards 29–76 53–311 Passing yards 209 313 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–21–2 18–26–09 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 18:34 41:26 Team Category Player StatisticsOld Dominion Passing Colton Joseph 13/22, 209 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Devin Roche 7 carries, 34 yards Receiving Tre' Brown III 4 receptions, 138 yards, 2 TDJames Madison Passing Alonza Barnett III 17/25, 295 yards, 2 TD Rushing Alonza Barnett III 17 carries, 153 yards, 4 TD Receiving Nick DeGennaro 3 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TD
at Texas State
Statistics JMUTXST First downs 22 20 Plays–yards 60–511 75–352 Rushes–yards 41–247 40–122 Passing yards 264 230 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–19–1 18–35–3 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 32:30 27:30 Team Category Player StatisticsJames Madison Passing Alonza Barnett III 12/18, 264 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Alonza Barnett III 10 carries, 98 yards, TD Receiving Nick DeGennaro 3 receptions, 101 yards, TDTexas State Passing Brad Jackson 18/32, 230 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Brad Jackson 16 carries, 43 yards, TD Receiving Mavin Anderson 5 receptions, 96 yards, TD
at Marshall
Statistics JMUMRSH First downs 20 25 Plays–yards 59–409 86–414 Rushes–yards 35–139 50–248 Passing yards 270 166 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–24–1 17–36–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 28:03 31:57 Team Category Player StatisticsJames Madison Passing Alonza Barnett III 14/24, 270 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Wayne Knight 14 carries, 87 yards, TD Receiving Jaylen Sanchez 3 receptions, 86 yards, TDMarshall Passing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 16/35, 154 yards, TD Rushing Antwan Roberts 20 carries, 121 yards, TD Receiving De'Andre Tamarez 3 receptions, 37 yards
Appalachian State
Statistics APPJMU First downs 10 32 Plays–yards 52–146 89–627 Rushes–yards 15–1 54–324 Passing yards 145 303 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–37–1 22–35–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 17:42 42:18 Team Category Player StatisticsAppalachian State Passing J. J. Kohl 6/8, 81 yards, TD Rushing Rashod Dubinion 10 carries, 25 yards Receiving Dalton Stroman 3 receptions, 74 yardsJames Madison Passing Alonza Barnett III 22/35, 303 yards, INT Rushing Jobi Malary 8 carries, 105 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jaylan Sanchez 2 receptions, 69 yards
Washington State
Statistics WSUJMU First downs 19 14 Plays–yards 68–301 50–319 Rushes–yards 37–130 32–175 Passing yards 171 144 Passing: comp–att–int 19-31-1 9-18-1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 34:58 25:02 Team Category Player StatisticsWashington State Passing Zevi Eckhaus 19/31, 171 yards, TD, INT Rushing Kirby Vorhees 19 carries, 61 yards, Receiving Tony Freeman 6 receptions, 81 yards, TDJames Madison Passing Alonza Barnett III 9/19, 144 yards, TD, INT Rushing Wayne Knight 15 carries, 126 yards, TD Receiving Braeden Wisloski 1 reception, 68 yards, TD
at Coastal Carolina
Statistics JMUCCU First downs 24 10 Plays–yards 70–525 22–170 Rushes–yards 48–286 62–(-5) Passing yards 239 175 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–22–1 18–40–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 36:04 23:56 Team Category Player StatisticsJames Madison Passing Alonza Barnett III 15/21, 207 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Jobi Malary 12 carries, 154 yards, TD Receiving Braeden Wisloski 4 receptions, 64 yards, TDCoastal Carolina Passing Tad Hudson 16/38, 148 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ja'Vin Simpkins 6 carries, 5 yards Receiving Karmello English 2 receptions, 46 yards
Troy (Sun Belt Championship)
Statistics TROYJMU First downs 12 19 Plays–yards 67–177 67–411 Rushes–yards 28-(-26) 42–318 Passing yards 203 93 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16-39-0 10-25-1 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 29:26 30:34 Team Category Player StatisticsTroy Passing Goose Crowder 15/34, 196 yards Rushing Tae Meadows 7 carries, 10 yards, TD Receiving RaRa Thomas 3 receptions, 82 yardsJames Madison Passing Alonza Barnett III 10/25, 93 yards, TD, INT Rushing Wayne Knight 21 carries, 212 yards, TD Receiving Braeden Wisloski 2 receptions, 31 yards, TD
at Oregon (CFP First Round)
Statistics JMUORE First downs 23 22 Plays–yards 84–509 53–514 Rushes–yards 35–186 26–201 Passing yards 323 313 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–49–0 19–27–2 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 35:50 24:10 Team Category Player StatisticsJames Madison Passing Alonza Barnett III 24/38, 273 yards, 2 TD Rushing Wayne Knight 17 carries, 110 yards Receiving Nick DeGennaro 5 receptions, 90 yards, TD Oregon Passing Dante Moore 19/27, 313 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Rushing Jordon Davison 10 carries, 90 yards Receiving Malik Benson 5 receptions, 119 yards, 2 TD
Personnel
References