The 2022 James Madison Dukes football team represented James Madison University in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by fourth-year head coach Curt Cignetti. The Dukes played their home games at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Virginia as members of the East division of the Sun Belt Conference. The Dukes finished the season 8–3, 6–2 in Sun Belt play to finish in a tie for first place in the East division.
The season marked the Dukes' first year in the Sun Belt and the first of a two-year transition period from the Football Championship Subdivision. They were not eligible for a bowl game due to the transition period. Ordinarily, the first year of an FCS to FBS transition is spent as an FCS team with a mixed schedule of FCS and FBS opponents, while a schedule more closely resembling that of a typical FBS team is played in the second year. However, the Dukes had 10 FBS teams on their 11-game 2022 schedule, including five home games against FBS teams, which allowed their opponents to count James Madison as an FBS team in determining their own bowl eligibility. The Dukes filed an application with the NCAA requesting a waiver that would count the 2022 season as the second year of the two-year transition period. On April 27, 2023, the NCAA denied the waiver.
On October 9, 2022, the Dukes were ranked No. 25 in the AP poll, a first for the school.
Preseason
Media poll The Sun Belt media days were held on July 25 and 26, 2022. The Dukes were picked to finish in sixth place in the Sun Belt's East division.
Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference teams
Offense
1st team Kris Thornton – Wide Receiver, RS-SR
Roster
Schedule
Game summaries
Middle Tennessee
Norfolk State
At Appalachian State
Statistics Statistics JMUAPP First downs 19 15 Total yards 376 298 Rushing yards 172 63 Passing yards 204 235 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 33:28 26:32
Team Category Player StatisticsJames Madison Passing Todd Centeio 16/28, 204 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kaelon Black 18 rushes, 85 yards, TD Receiving Reggie Brown 4 receptions, 81 yardsAppalachian State Passing Chase Brice 17/28, 235 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Ahmani Marshall 8 rushes, 40 yards Receiving Dashaun Davis 3 receptions, 57 yards
Texas State
Statistics TXSTJMU First downs 11 22 Total yards 246 460 Rushing yards 106 203 Passing yards 140 257 Turnovers 4 3 Time of possession 26:05 33:55 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas State Passing Layne Hatcher 13/27, 140 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Lincoln Pare 17 rushes, 81 yards Receiving Marcell Barbee 4 receptions, 56 yardsJames Madison Passing Todd Centeio 15/25, 257 yards, INT Rushing Latrele Palmer 27 rushes, 106 yards, 3 TD Receiving Kris Thornton 4 receptions, 97 yards
At Arkansas State
At Georgia Southern
Marshall
Louisville
At Old Dominion
Statistics Statistics JMUODU First downs 22 11 Total yards 491 227 Rushing yards 187 78 Passing yards 304 149 Turnovers 2 4 Time of possession 38:12 21:48 Team Category Player StatisticsJames Madison Passing Todd Centeio 18/21, 304 yards, 1 INT Rushing Percy Agyei-Obese 16 carries, 82 yards, 1 TD Receiving Kris Thornton 6 receptions, 140 yardsOld Dominion Passing Hayden Wolff 12/22, 112 yards, 2 INT Rushing Hayden Wolff 9 carries, 27 yards Receiving Ahmarian Granger 4 receptions, 46 yards
Georgia State
No. 23 Coastal Carolina
Rankings
References