JMU is bowl eligible! Where might the Dukes play in the postseason?

We’ll update this JMU football bowl game projection tracker weekly, giving fans the latest updates on where the Dukes could play in the postseason.

JMU played in its first bowl game in 2023, losing to Air Force 31-21. The Dukes competed in the game without head coach Curt Cignetti, who left before the contest to take the head coaching job at Indiana. Several assistant coaches were also not present for the defeat.

Dec. 2 update

Sporting News’ Bill Bender: JMU vs. Ohio in the Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama) on Dec. 14

USA Today’s Erick Smith: JMU vs. Western Kentucky in the 68 Ventures Bowl (Mobile, Alabama) on Dec. 26

CBS’ Jerry Palm: JMU vs. Northern Illinois in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Dec. 23

Action Network’s Brett McMurphy: JMU vs. Sam Houston in the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 19

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: JMU vs. East Carolina in the Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama) on Dec. 14

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: JMU vs. Jacksonville State in the 68 Ventures Bowl (Mobile, Alabama) on Dec. 26

None of these matchups are incredible on paper, but that’s often the case for G5 teams come bowl season. Still, there would be intrigue to each game. The Dukes would likely be favored against each of these projected opponents.

Nov. 26 update

USA Today’s Erick Smith: JMU vs. Tulane in the Independence Bowl (Shreveport, Louisiana) on Dec. 28

CBS’ Jerry Palm: JMU vs. Toledo in the Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama) on Dec. 14

Action Network’s Brett McMurphy: JMU vs. Toledo in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Dec. 23

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: JMU vs. East Carolina in the Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama) on Dec. 14

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: JMU vs. Jacksonville State in the 68 Ventures Bowl (Mobile, Alabama) on Dec. 26

A projected matchup with Tulane is the toughest on this list. The Green Wave are playing like the best team in the Group of Five, perhaps only second to Boise State. The Myrtle Beach Bowl would likely draw the largest JMU contingent.  

Nov. 19 update

Sporting News’ Bill Bender: JMU vs. South Florida in the Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 17

USA Today’s Erick Smith: JMU vs. Western Kentucky in the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 19

CBS’ Jerry Palm: JMU vs. Toledo in the Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama) on Dec. 14

Action Network’s Brett McMurphy: JMU vs. Western Kentucky in the First Responder Bowl (Dallas) on Jan. 3

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: JMU vs. East Carolina in the Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama) on Dec. 14

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: JMU vs. Jacksonville State in the 68 Ventures Bowl (Mobile, Alabama) on Dec. 26

A theme from JMU’s bowl projections this week? The Dukes would likely be favored in every matchup. Given the bowl tie-ins for the Sun Belt, the Dukes will likely have a winnable bowl matchup this year. Last season’s matchup with Air Force was a brutal challenge, especially given the coaching turnover.

Nov. 13 update

Sports Illustrated’s Patrick Andres: JMU vs. Liberty in the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 19

Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon: JMU vs. Western Kentucky in the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 19

USA Today’s Erick Smith: JMU vs. Miami Ohio in Myrtle Beach Bowl on Dec. 23

CBS’ Jerry Palm: JMU vs. Toledo in the Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama) on Dec. 14

Action Network’s Brett McMurphy: JMU vs. Ohio in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, Idaho) on Dec. 23

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: JMU vs. Oregon State in the Independence Bowl (Shreveport, Louisiana) on Dec. 28

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: JMU vs. Jacksonville State in the 68 Ventures Bowl (Mobile, Alabama) on Dec. 26

An interesting array of matchups this week. JMU vs. Miami Ohio would be a matchup of two stout G5 defenses. JMU-Western Kentucky could be a shootout. And JMU-Oregon State would give the Dukes a shot at a former P5 team that got screwed in the latest round of realignment.

Nov. 4 update

USA Today’s Erick Smith: JMU vs. Bowling Green in Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama) on Dec. 14

CBS’ Jerry Palm: JMU vs. Toledo in the Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama) on Dec. 14

Action Network’s Brett McMurphy: JMU vs. South Florida in the Cure Bowl (Orlando, Florida) on Dec. 20

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: JMU vs. Sam Houston in the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 19

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: JMU vs. Jacksonville State in the 68 Ventures Bowl (Mobile, Alabama) on Dec. 26

A few Camellia Bowl projections this week, which would have JMU playing in the first bowl game of the year. The Dukes wouldn’t be the only college football story that day, however, with Army and Navy set to meet on Dec. 14. Still, JMU starting bowl season with its first bowl win in program history would generate national headlines. The Dukes could then quickly focus their attention on the transfer portal and roster management ahead of 2025. There would be benefits to playing an early bowl game.

Oct. 23 update

Sports Illustrated’s Patrick Andres: JMU vs. Minnesota in the Cure Bowl (Orlando) on Dec. 20

USA Today’s Erick Smith: JMU vs. Ohio in Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama) on Dec. 14

CBS’ Jerry Palm: JMU vs. Liberty in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Dec. 23

Action Network’s Brett McMurphy: JMU vs. North Texas in the Frisco Bowl (Frisco, Texas) on Dec. 17

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: JMU vs. Sam Houston in the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 19

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: JMU vs. Jacksonville State in the 68 Ventures Bowl (Mobile, Alabama) on Dec. 26

A good assortment of potential opponents in the latest projection. The Dukes should have a decent shot at winning the first bowl game in program history if they get matched up with a Group of Five opponent.

Oct. 15 update

Sports Illustrated’s Patrick Andres: JMU vs. Eastern Michigan in the Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 18

USA Today’s Erick Smith: JMU vs. Liberty in the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 19

CBS’ Jerry Palm: JMU vs. Liberty in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Dec. 23

Action Network’s Brett McMurphy: JMU vs. Rutgers in the Gasparilla Bowl (Tampa) on Dec. 20

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: JMU vs. Liberty in the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 19

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: JMU vs. Oklahoma State in the First Responder Bowl (Dallas) on Jan. 3

A pair of matchups with Power Four teams in this update. The Rutgers matchup would be interesting, as Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Harasmyiak has twice been a candidate for JMU’s head coaching vacancy. Harasmyiak used to be the head coach at Maine before becoming a well-respected assistant in the Big Ten. Of these projections, JMU-Eastern Michigan would be the least exciting on paper, although it would be a great opportunity for JMU to pick up the first bowl win in program history.

Oct. 8 update

USA Today’s Erick Smith: JMU vs. Liberty in the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 19

CBS’ Jerry Palm: JMU vs. Liberty in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Dec. 23

Action Network’s Brett McMurphy: JMU vs. Boston College in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 27

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: JMU vs. Liberty in the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 19

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: JMU vs. Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 27

Oct. 4 update

Our first update includes one analyst predicting that JMU makes the College Football Playoff and faces one of the most storied FBS programs. How’s that for Year 3 of JMU’s FBS era?

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: No. 12 JMU at No. 5 Alabama in the CFP

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: JMU vs. Liberty in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 19

Action Network’s Brett McMurphy: JMU vs. Liberty in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 19

CBS’ Jerry Palm: JMU vs. Liberty in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Dec. 23

As you can see, JMU vs. Liberty is a popular pick. The matchup would put two Group of Five heavyweights from the same state against each other, likely a smart move for bowl games hoping to garner fan interest and TV audiences. The Dukes will play at Liberty in the 2025 regular season, and the Flames will visit Harrisonburg in 2026.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communication