James Madison Dukes

The James Madison Dukes have become one of the most feared rising programs in college football, riding a wave of momentum from FCS champions to Sun Belt Conference contender. Playing in front of a rowdy student section at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Virginia, JMU has built a reputation for physical, disciplined football and a knack for producing NFL-caliber talent. The Dukes made a stunning jump to FBS in 2022 and immediately proved they belonged, crashing the national conversation with a College Football Playoff push. Purple and gold on gameday in Harrisonburg has become one of the sport's best atmospheres outside the Power conferences.

James Madison fielded its first football team in 1972 and steadily climbed the college football ladder, reaching Division I-AA (FCS) by 1980. The Dukes won FCS national championships in 2004 (over Montana) and again in 2016 (over Youngstown State), while also finishing as national runners-up in 2017 and 2019. JMU jumped to the Sun Belt Conference and FBS competition in 2022, quickly establishing itself as one of the most successful programs to make that transition.