James Madison University Football: A History of Triumph and Transition

The James Madison Dukes football program has become a centerpiece of JMU sports, marking a remarkable journey from its inception to becoming a force in college football. From a humble beginning as a means to transform the university's image to a national championship-winning program, JMU football has consistently defied expectations and achieved unprecedented success.

The Genesis of a Football Program

In 1972, James Madison University, then Madison College, took its first steps into the world of college football. Spearheaded by Dr. Ronald Carrier, the university's president, the football program was conceived as a catalyst to shift the campus's identity from an all-women's teachers college to a coeducational institution. This initiative aimed to inject vibrancy into campus life, particularly on weekends, and combat the perception of JMU as a "suitcase school."

The decision to launch a football program, however, wasn't without opposition. Concerns were raised about the potential diversion of resources from academics and the impact on the university's image. Despite these challenges, the program was greenlit in July, leaving head coach Challace McMillin with a mere three months to assemble a team from scratch.

The inaugural game took place on October 7, 1972, against Shepherd College's junior varsity team at Harrisonburg High School. The Dukes faced an uphill battle, concluding their first season with a 0-4-1 record and failing to score a single point.

Early Years and the Undefeated Season

The team showed steady improvement, recording a 4-5 record in 1973 and securing its first victory. In 1974, the Dukes competed in their first full varsity schedule and finished with a 6-4 record, setting the stage for a historic 1975 season.

The 1975 season remains a watershed moment in JMU football history. The Dukes achieved an undefeated record of 9-0-1, a feat unmatched in the program's history. During the season, the team won the Virginia College Athletic Association title. The Dukes allowed a mere 75 points throughout the season, with no game decided by more than 11 points. The team only played its first full varsity schedule in 1974. The team finished with a 9-0-1 record and is the only Dukes squad to go undefeated. It was a season of thrilling finishes with no game decided by more than 11 points, and it was done by a program in only its fourth season. JMU ran its record to 8-0-1 with a 24-15 win over Salisbury State and closed the unbeaten campaign by winning 14-3 at Shippensburg. The season also was one that saw coach Challace McMillin, JMU's coach from the program's beginning until 1984, and several of his players honored. Defensive lineman Woody Bergeria and Windham were honorable mention All-Americas and tailback Ron Stith was state college division offensive player of the year. Stith provided much of the team's offense after fellow tailback Bernard Slayton was hurt early in the year. Bergeria, Stith and Windham were first-team All-VCAA along with offensive guard Jeff Adams.

The team's success continued into the 1976 season, extending its winning streak to 12 games. JMU remained a Division III program through 1978, later transitioning to Division II in 1979 and Division I-AA (now FCS) in 1980.

Transition to Division I-AA and National Prominence

The transition to Division I-AA presented new challenges, but the Dukes persevered. The 1982 team, bolstered by scholarship players and future stars like Charles Haley and Gary Clark, finished with an 8-3 record.

JMU made its first NCAA playoff appearance in 1987. The Dukes continued to reach the playoffs in the years that followed, with coaches like Rip Scherer, Alex Wood, Mickey Matthews, and Everett Withers leading the way.

Under former head coach Mickey Matthews the Dukes continued their rise in national prominence, winning the 2004 FCS National Championship. Matthews’ 2004 national championship squad was the first in I-AA history to win three road playoff games en route to a 31-21 victory over Montana in the title game. His 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011 teams each reached the playoffs, and his 2010 squad received wide acclaim for its 21-16 win at nationally ranked Virginia Tech. Few JMU home games can rival the excitement of the 2008 team’s under-the-lights rally from a 21-0 halftime deficit for a 35-32 win over three-time defending national champion Appalachian State. Those Dukes had a 12-game winning streak and were the top playoff seed, and Matthews received The Sports Network’s Coach of the Year honors a second time.

The 2004 National Championship

The 2004 season marked a pinnacle in JMU football history. Led by quarterback Justin Rascati and running back Raymond Hines, the Dukes embarked on an improbable playoff run, becoming the first team in Division I-AA history to win three road games en route to the championship game. In the final, JMU triumphed over Montana with a score of 31-21, securing the program's first national championship.

Continued Success and the 2016 National Championship

The Dukes continued to be a force in the FCS, making regular playoff appearances and achieving notable victories. In 2016, under head coach Mike Houston, JMU reached new heights, capturing their second national championship.

In 2016 Houston defeated 4 FCS top 25 teams on the road as he led the Dukes to the 2016 CAA Football title with a 20-7 win over Villanova University gaining the university's first back to back titles. In the 2016 FCS playoff second round, he and the Dukes defeated the University of New Hampshire 55-22. The Dukes then went on to defeat Sam Houston State 65-7 in the NCAA FCS Quarterfinals. In the Semifinals, Mike Houston's Dukes defeated the five-time NCAA Division I FCS champions the North Dakota State University Bison 27-17, giving them the opportunity to face Youngstown State in the National Title Game on January 7, 2017, in Frisco, Texas. On January 7, 2017, JMU faced the Youngstown State Penguins for the 2016 FCS National Championship at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. JMU got off to a fast start, leading Youngstown 21-0 by the middle of the second quarter. JMU QB Bryan Schor had two quick passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown by JMU RB Khalid Abdullah got the game started quickly for the Dukes. Youngstown State battled back to score just before halftime to make it a 21-7 game at the half. JMU added another touchdown early in the third quarter extending their lead to 28-7. Youngstown State added a touchdown late in the 4th quarter but the game had already been decided. JMU finished off the game winning their second national championship by a final score of 28-14.

The Dukes started their title defense season on September 2, 2017, with a dominating win against Division 1 FBS members East Carolina,[16][17] winning by a score of 34-14 to claim a victory over a team from college football's highest division for the second time in three seasons. The Dukes went on to finish with a perfect regular season record, including an 8-0 record in CAA Football - becoming the first team since 1977 to go undefeated in back-to-back CAA campaigns.[18] On Sunday November 19, JMU was awarded the #1 seed in the 2017 FCS Playoffs by the Selection Committee.[19] After a first-round bye, JMU faced the Stony Brook Seawolves in the FCS Second Round, winning by a score of 26-7.[20] In the FCS Quarterfinals, the Dukes faced Big Sky member Weber State. Trailing late in the 4th quarter, JMU eventually won the game on a last second field goal, advancing to the FCS semifinals to face South Dakota State, from the Missouri Valley Football Conference. In this game, the Dukes, bolstered by 10 takeaways on defense, cruised to an easy 51-16 victory,[21] and earned a return trip to Frisco, TX to defend their 2016 National Championship.

The Dukes reached the national championship game again in 2017 and 2019, solidifying their status as an FCS powerhouse.

Read also: Explore JCU's History and Programs

Transition to FBS and the Sun Belt Conference

On November 6, 2021, James Madison announced its decision to transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and join the Sun Belt Conference. This move marked a significant step forward for the program, elevating its competition and national profile.

On October 9, 2022, the Dukes became the first first-year FBS program to be ranked in the AP Top 25, ranked 25. The Dukes went 9-4 in his first season at the helm, the season culminating in the program's first bowl win against Western Kentucky at the Boca Raton Bowl. In his second year, he would lead the Dukes to a 11-1 record, with their only loss being against Louisville. On December 7, 2025, the Dukes won their first Sun Belt Championship against Troy at Bridgeforth Stadium. With the victory, the Dukes were awarded their first appearance in the College Football Playoff.

Rivalries

James Madison maintains a football rivalry with the Liberty Flames which began in 1980. The teams played almost every year from 1980 to 1992 and then again from 2000 to 2014. The rivalry renewed in 2025, marked by the recent expansion of the game series where the teams are set to play each other through to 2040, marking the longest contracted game series in FBS football. Delaware regularly played James Madison as conference opponents in the CAA, with the first matchup occurring in 1983. During the divisional era of the CAA, the game was played as an annual CAA South divisional matchup.

Notable Players

Over the years, JMU football has produced numerous talented players who have gone on to achieve success at the professional level. Some of the most notable names include:

Charles Haley: A five-time Super Bowl winner and Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Gary Clark: A two-time Super Bowl winner with the Washington Redskins.
Scott Norwood: A leading I-AA placekicker.
Ron Stith and Bernard Slayton: Both rushing for more than 2,000 yards from 1973-76.
Mike Cawley: Threw for 6,482 yards and 42 touchdowns in three years for the Dukes.
Eriq Williams: Threw for 5,356 yards and 40 scores and had 7,678 career yards of total offense.
Tony Booth: Twice received All-America honors and had a 122-tackle, eight-interception season in 1997.
Delvin Joyce: Surpassed 1,000 career yards for rushing, receiving, punt returns and kickoff returns and had a successful career with the New York Giants.
Curtis Keaton: Ran for 2,783 yards in two JMU seasons and was a fourth-round NFL Draft choice.
Derrick Lloyd: Led the nation in unassisted tackles in 2001, winning The Sports Network’s Buck Buchanan Award as I-AA’s top defender.
Tony LeZotte: Four-time All-American.
Rodney Landers: League Offensive Player of the Year in 2008.
Scotty McGee: League Special Teams Players of the Year in 2008.
Arthur Moats: Won JMU’s second Buchanan Award in 2009.
Stephon Robertson: League Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2012 and 2013.
Vad Lee: League Offensive Player of the Year in 2015.
Bryan Schor: League Offensive Player of the Year in 2016.
Rashard Davis: League Special Teams Players of the Year in 2016.
Andrew Ankrah: League Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2017.
John Miller: League Special Teams Players of the Year in 2017.
Jimmy Moreland: League Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2018.
- Ben DiNucci: League Offensive Player of the Year in 2019.
Ron'Dell Carter: League Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2019.
Ethan Ratke: League Special Teams Players of the Year in 2020-21.
Mike Green: League Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2020-21.

Conference Affiliations

JMU was a 1974 and 1975 VCAA member and then an independent until playing its first game in the Yankee Conference in 1993. The Atlantic 10 assumed the Yankee’s operations in 1997, and the teams transitioned to the Colonial Athletic Association in 2007.

tags: #james #madison #university #football #history