Predicting a college football season in the transfer portal era is a futile exercise. Oh well!

Let’s give it a go. Here’s how I see the 2025 JMU football season playing out as of late August. Check in a few months to tell me how wrong I was.

Weber State

We don’t talk enough as a society about how good Jay Hill is as a football coach. Now BYU’s defensive coordinator, Hill led Weber State to 10-win seasons in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022.

While Mickey Mental is an exciting coach — he’s just 40-years old and enters Year 3 at Weber after a nice stint (16-2 as a head coach) at the Division II level — he’s not Hill. The Wildcats are 10-13 in Mental’s two seasons, as they’ve clearly taken a step back from the team JMU battled with in 2017, 2019, and 2021.

JMU has a significant advantage in the trenches and at the skill positions. Add in home-field advantage, and this should amount to a tune-up for the Dukes.

Final: JMU 41, Weber State 10

at Louisville

This is decidedly not a tune-up game. Louisville, picked to finish fifth in the ACC, should have a top-20 offense in college football this fall.

The Cardinals add Miller Moss from USC at quarterback, and they have Isaac Brown and Duke Watson at RB. Brown eclipsed 1,000 yards in 2024 as a freshman, averaging seven yards per carry. He could realistically win the Doak Walker Award if he stays healthy. South Alabama transfer Caullin Lacy headlines a loaded receiving room. He caught six passes for 132 yards in a loss to the Dukes in 2023.

Defensively, Louisville should be solid. How good will they be? That’s the team’s major question mark and will determine whether they’re an 8-4 team or a legit ACC title threat.

Final: Louisville 38, JMU 24

at Liberty

The Flames should be improved from 2024, and they’re the best team in CUSA. Still, Ethan Vasko is an unspectacular albeit solid option at quarterback. Liberty’s defense loses standout defensive end TJ Bush, but there’s decent experience across the group.

Liberty should fight for the CUSA title, but that doesn’t make the Flames a G5 power in 2025. The top-end talent doesn’t match that of teams like Boise State and JMU.

Final: JMU 31, Liberty 23

Georgia Southern

JC French returns at quarterback for the Eagles — and it’s unclear if that’s great news or just OK news. He threw 11 interceptions in 2024 and at times was outplayed by Dexter Williams, who will start at Kennesaw State this fall.

The Eagles’ offensive line is stout, and the defense should be good. Georgia Southern isn’t elite in my view because of the shortcomings at QB, but the Eagles have enough on their roster (nine preseason All-SBC players) to win the East if the Dukes stumble.

Final: JMU 31, Georgia Southern 20

at Georgia State

The Panthers are still rebuilding. Expect a decent JMU crowd at this road game, which should be lopsided. This feels like the biggest conference mismatch of JMU’s season.

Final: JMU 45, Georgia State 13

Louisiana

This is a scary one. The Ragin’ Cajuns have a rich history of winning, and they return a good offensive line with solid running backs. If transfer Walker Howard lives up to his potential at quarterback, this will be a heavyweight clash. Even if he doesn’t, Louisiana has one of the best all-around rosters in the conference.

Final: JMU 27, Louisiana 24

Old Dominion

I’m high on the Monarchs. Their schedule is brutal with nonconference games against Indiana, Virginia Tech, and Liberty, but they’re a good team led by linebacker Jason Henderson and quarterback Colton Joseph. There’s a lot to like about this group — especially if a few transfers work out at wide receiver — and coach Ricky Rahne has come extremely close to upsetting JMU the past two seasons.

I think he comes close again.

Final: JMU 30, ODU 24

at Texas State

I’m sure Texas State will be explosive offensively, but the defense has been inconsistent under GJ Kinne and even before his tenure. Can the group make strides in 2025? It was better — but not perfect — in 2024 after an ugly 2023. I love Kinne as a coach, and Texas State’s home crowd is solid.

For a JMU team that had road woes in 2024, a Tuesday night game against a potent offense is worrisome.

Final: Texas State 41, JMU 33

Marshall

This isn’t the 2024 Marshall team. With a new coach and significant roster turnover, the Thundering Herd might be fighting for bowl eligibility by season’s end.

Final: JMU 27, Marshall 10

App State

This is at home, which helps the Dukes, but the Mountaineers have JMU’s number. This is a legacy game for this JMU team and coach Bob Chesney.

App State could surprise people this season — the Mountaineers added an athletic portal haul with a bunch of former highly touted recruits and a few FCS stars — but JMU should find a way to pull away in the second half.

Final: JMU 34, App State 17

Washington State

Another team raided by the portal, Washington State added Jimmy Rogers as its new coach via South Dakota State. Adding a former star FCS coach always seems like a good move, and Rogers should eventually have this team humming.

The Cougars should be bowl eligible this season, and if their new pieces gel together, winning 8-10 games isn’t out of the question.

Final: JMU 28, Washington State 24

At Coastal Carolina

Tim Beck hasn’t done anything impressive with Coastal Carolina yet, and his team’s offensive roster leaves a lot to be desired in 2025. The defense should be solid, but the Chanticleers have major questions at quarterback. That doesn’t bode well for success in late November.

Final: JMU 55, Coastal Carolina 13

Overall record: 10-2, 7-1 SBC

I have the Dukes winning the Sun Belt East, and beating Texas State in the SBC title game after a regular season loss to the Bobcats. Is that enough to make the playoff? I think Boise State or an AAC team just makes the field over the 11-2 Dukes. 

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications