2023 James Madison Dukes football team

2023 James Madison Dukes football
Sun Belt East Division champion[a]
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record11–2 (7–1 Sun Belt)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMike Shanahan (3rd season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorBryant Haines (2nd season)
Base defense4–2–5
Home stadiumBridgeforth Stadium
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Sun Belt Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
James Madison* x   7 1     11 2  
Appalachian State y   6 2     9 5  
Coastal Carolina   5 3     8 5  
Old Dominion   5 3     6 7  
Georgia State   3 5     7 6  
Marshall   3 5     6 7  
Georgia Southern   3 5     6 7  
West Division
Troy xy$   7 1     11 3  
Texas State   4 4     8 5  
Arkansas State   4 4     6 7  
South Alabama   4 4     7 6  
Louisiana   3 5     6 7  
Southern Miss   2 6     3 9  
Louisiana–Monroe   0 8     2 10  
Championship: Troy 49, Appalachian State 23
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • * – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules

The 2023 James Madison Dukes football team represented James Madison University as a member of the East Division of the Sun Belt Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Curt Cignetti, the Dukes played home games at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Virginia as members of the East division of the Sun Belt Conference.

The season was the final year of a two-year transition from the Football Championship Subdivision. The team was not originally eligible for a bowl game;[1] a request for a waiver was denied by the NCAA in August,[2] and a waiver for relief was also denied in November.[3] However, as there were not enough bowl eligible teams, they were given a berth. JMU was selected to play in the Armed Forces Bowl.[4]


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  1. ^ News-Record, NOAH FLEISCHMAN Daily (May 2, 2023). "How Likely Is a Bowl Game For JMU In 2023?". Daily News-Record. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  2. ^ "NCAA denies James Madison's bid for waiver to gain bowl eligibility". The Virginian-Pilot. April 27, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  3. ^ Salerno, Cameron (November 16, 2023). "NCAA denies postseason eligibility waiver for James Madison, Dukes must hope for dearth of bowl-eligible teams". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  4. ^ Murray, Jack (November 25, 2023). "James Madison Guaranteed CFB Bowl Berth Due to Lack of 6-Win Teams". Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 26, 2023.