The 2026 James Madison Dukes football team represents James Madison University in the Sun Belt Conference's East Division during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Dukes are led by Billy Napier in his first season as the head coach. The Dukes play their home games at the Bridgeforth Stadium, located in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Offseason Transfers Outgoing Joseph SimmonsOLAuburnAndrew VanSlykeP/KBuffaloJustin EaglinCBColoradoImmanuel EzeoguDEColoradoBlake Kendall Jr.QBEastern KentuckyLacota DippreTEFloridaKai CallenDBIdaho StateTyler BrownSIowaTrent WilsonOLIowaAyo AdeyiRBOklahoma StateCristiano RosaKPenn StateTre LeonardRBPrairie View A&MAlonza Barnett IIIQBUCFDJ BarksdaleCBUCLALandon EllisWRUCLAAiden GobairaDLUCLAWayne KnightRBUCLAJosh PhiferTEUCLAJD RaynerOLUCLARiley RobellOLUCLADrew SpinogattiLBUCLACarter SweazieOLUCLASahir WestDLUCLAJacob BaileyOLWestern MichiganMax LipinskiKWilliam & MaryJerald JamesDEUnknownMilt FergusonDBUnknownPhillip HarrisDBUnknownStephen HollanderDBUnknownJacob HohensheltOLUnknown
Incoming Josh ManeckeOLArmyAndrew BennettPCharlotteTyler BrownOLColoradoNick HermanRBDrakeMitchell DietzelLSEastern MichiganMason PurhamDEEmory & HenryJeremiah HarrisonWREast Tennessee StateCole KellerTEEast Tennessee StateHayden RossLSEast Tennessee StateFrankie TinilauOLEast Tennessee StateJayon HarveyDBFindlayDaniel MichelOLFIUNoel PortnjaginOLFloridaEnoch WangoyOLFloridaTerrence JonesDBFordhamJakolbi WilsonDTFort Hays StateLathan CroleyLBHoly CrossKD MosleyTEHowardDanny RoysterDEIndianapolisKaedin MasseyOLKansas StateKei’Trone SimpsonDELamarMalachi Fannin-RenderRBLibertyKylan BilliotWRLSUArrington MaidenQBMemphisBaylen WoodmanKMiddle TennesseeSeth CromwellRBNorthern ArizonaNakian JacksonLBNevadaRasheed LovelaceDTNichollsDamier MinkahCBShepherdJavis MynattDBTexas StateDwayne KellyCBToledoDavi BelfortQBUCFDJ FoxOLWisconsin–River FallsTerell ThomasEdgeWashburnNoah GreviousWRVMIJT HootenLBWest AlabamaThatcher MillerTEWest ChesterKevin RobertsDTWest FloridaCorey ScottWRWest FloridaChukwunedu OkekeDTWestern KentuckyErnest Willor Jr.DEWisconsin
Preseason Media poll
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries
Liberty (Battle of the Blue Ridge)
Statistics LIBJMU First downs 19 15 Plays–yards 65–321 49–291 Rushes–yards 38–91 31–173 Passing yards 230 118 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–27–0 12-18–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 37:17 22:38 Team Category Player StatisticsLiberty Passing Deshawn Purdie 17/27, 230 yards, TD Rushing Kam Davis 16 carries, 52 yards Receiving Makai Jackson 3 receptions, 73 yards, TD James Madison Passing JC Evans 7/9, 61 yards, TD Rushing JC Evans 9 carries, 69 yards Receiving Noah Grevious 4 receptions, 39 yards
Wagner (FCS)
Statistics WAGJMU First downs 10 27 Plays–yards 67–204 62–588 Rushes–yards 40–86 35–290 Passing yards 118 298 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–27–0 20–27–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 37:24 22:36 Team Category Player StatisticsWagner Passing Benjamin Newman 11/20, 101 yards Rushing Uriah Moats-Maynard 14 carries, 33 yards Receiving Zion Fowler-El 4 receptions, 45 yards James Madison Passing Camden Coleman 12/18, 171 yards, TD Rushing Nick Herman 8 carries, 132 yards, 2 TD Receiving Corey Scott 3 receptions, 52 yards
at San Diego State
Statistics JMUSDSU First downs 20 21 Plays–yards 74-417 77-401 Rushes–yards 47-171 44-192 Passing yards 246 209 Passing: –– 19-27-0 18-33-2 Time of possession 30:19 29:41 Team Category Player Statistics James Madison Passing Camden Coleman 19/27, 246 yards, 2 TDs Rushing George Pettaway 20 carries, 82 yards Receiving Braeden Wisloski 5 receptions, 90 yards San Diego State Passing Jayden Denegal 18/33, 209 yards, TD, 2 INTs Rushing Javion Kinnard 33 carries, 181 yards, TD Receiving Javion Kinnard 4 receptions, 70 yards
at Old Dominion (Royal Rivalry)
Statistics JMUODU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics James Madison Passing Rushing Receiving Old Dominion Passing Rushing Receiving
Marshall
Statistics MRSHJMU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMarshall Passing Rushing Receiving James Madison Passing Rushing Receiving
at Georgia Southern
Statistics JMUGASO First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics James Madison Passing Rushing Receiving Georgia Southern Passing Rushing Receiving
Georgia State
Statistics GASTJMU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Rushing Receiving James Madison Passing Rushing Receiving
at Appalachian State
Statistics JMUAPP First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics James Madison Passing Rushing Receiving Appalachian State Passing Rushing Receiving
Troy
Statistics TROYJMU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTroy Passing Rushing Receiving James Madison Passing Rushing Receiving
at Southern Miss
Statistics JMUUSM First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics James Madison Passing Rushing Receiving Southern Miss Passing Rushing Receiving
at UConn
Statistics JMUCONN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics James Madison Passing Rushing Receiving UConn Passing Rushing Receiving
Coastal Carolina
Statistics CCUJMU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsCoastal Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving James Madison Passing Rushing Receiving
Personnel
References