Image courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications

By Bennett Conlin

The 2023 college football season ended Monday, with the Michigan Wolverines winning the national title over the Washington Huskies. 

With the season over, Washington backup quarterback Dylan Morris is on his way to Harrisonburg, and the Dukes and every other team in the country fully launch themselves into preparations for 2024. The 2024 season will include a 12-team playoff that gives at least one (probably just one) Group of Five team access. 

For JMU and every other Sun Belt school, a league championship could come with a playoff berth. 

Several sports betting platforms have released 2024 national title futures ahead of next season, and the Dukes are viewed as one of the Group of Five favorites. 

Dukes among favorites

ESPN BET lists JMU as +50000 to win the national title, as the Dukes are a major longshot to be a national champion. Still, the Dukes have some of the shortest odds to win the title, among Group of Five programs. 

Boise State (+50000) is the only other Group of Five team with odds as short as +50000 on ESPN BET. The Broncos won the Mountain West in 2023 and recently added USC transfer quarterback Malachi Nelson via the portal. They’re expected to be among the most dangerous Group of Five teams in the nation in 2024. 

Liberty, Tulane, and Troy each have +100000 odds to win the 2024 national title. The Flames will be a team to monitor next season, as they return quarterback Kaidon Salter, who thrived in Jamey Chadwell’s offensive scheme in 2023. The Flames earned a spot in a New Year’s Six Bowl in 2023, in large part due to the AAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt beating up on each other. 

Air Force, which defeated JMU in the Armed Forces Bowl, is among a bunch of Group of Five schools given +200000 odds to win it all. 

Way too early

We’re more than a year away from when the 2024-25 national championship game will occur, and the Dukes are many months away from taking the field again. New head coach Bob Chesney has his work cut out for him as JMU looks to replace former head coach Curt Cignetti and about 20 players who left via the portal. 

The Dukes have done well to add numerous standouts via the transfer portal, but they still likely want to add a couple more pieces and will need to develop younger pieces to be in position to win the Sun Belt. JMU’s nonconference schedule in 2024 is manageable, with the toughest test a road game at North Carolina. 

If JMU loses one game or goes undefeated, the Dukes will have a good case to make the College Football Playoff. Still, the 2024 college football season is a long way away and any betting odds nine months from the start of the season aren’t worth much more than quick entertainment.