JMU football crushed Wagner, 87-3, on Saturday. Here are three takeaways from the win.

Appreciate this one

Blowing out an FCS opponent isn’t guaranteed. And while JMU clearly has a major talent advantage over Wagner, putting up a program-record 87 points is an accomplishment. The Dukes were one of the most dominant teams in the country Saturday, and they were the only FBS team to score 80 or more points.

It’s easy to gloss over this game and move ahead to San Diego State because it’s more intriguing competition. But don’t forget to appreciate this one, JMU fans.

We only get 12 guaranteed games a fall, and the Dukes put on a show in Game No. 2.

The special teams unit was historic, with Michael Scott returning two punts for touchdowns. He returned a kickoff 92 yards, too. The unit also blocked a punt and returned it for a score.

Offensively, the team put up nearly 600 yards of offense despite being held to under 200 in the first half. Defensively, the Dukes allowed 204 yards and just three points.

Blowing teams out that you’re supposed to blow out is an under-appreciated joy of college football fandom.

JMU had no business losing Saturday. But the Dukes also had plenty of realistic Saturday scenarios that didn’t finish with an 84-point margin of victory.

The performance, even against the lackluster opponent, was superb.

Some fans likely want the Dukes to play better FCS teams in the future. That’s a reasonable complaint, but there’s also value in getting one FCS cupcake annually. It helps in the push toward bowl eligibility, and it allows the Dukes to play their depth players. It may have been a boring 60 minutes for some fans, but for players way down the depth chart, it’s a chance to be rewarded for an offseason of hard work.

I enjoyed Saturday, even if it’s a different kind of enjoyment than next week’s game will bring.

Special teams might be a weapon

Wagner’s special teams unit looked particularly poor, but we’re bullish on the Dukes’ special teams group.

Morgan Suarez hit a 46-yard FG against Liberty, and he added another from the same distance Saturday against Wagner. He’s a weapon at kicker.

Obviously Scott’s success speaks for itself. He had over 300 all-purpose yards on Saturday, with the majority via the return game. Miles Halbert’s blocked punt, which he recovered and returned for a score, set the tone of the game immediately.

JMU’s special teams unit was average in 2025, ranking 76th in ESPN’s efficiency metric. After Saturday’s win, the Dukes lead the country in special teams efficiency so far this season. 

This unit could be a true weapon in 2026, possibly turning close games into wins. 

QB controversy?

I’m mostly joking, but Arrington Maiden looked the part of a G6 starter against Wagner. The Memphis transfer completed 7 of his 8 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns. He added 23 yards on four runs.

Perhaps most notably, though, was the way he got there. Maiden has a cannon for an arm. He was ripping the ball into windows, and his lofted deep ball touchdown to Miles Halbert was a thing of beauty. Maiden has crazy athletic tools.

Camden Coleman isn’t losing his job after going 12-for-18 for 171 yards and a TD because Maiden played well against a bad Wagner team. Coleman has loads of starting experience, which is going to be meaningful as the Dukes embark on a tough stretch of games. He’s 14-1 in his career as a starter, and he’s smart with the football. He’s a solid player with good traits, too. His arm isn’t as powerful as Maiden’s, but Coleman has a history of playing winning football and has plenty of athleticism to stress even the best G6 defenses.

There’s a reason Coleman and Evans emerged as the top options during camp. 

Still, Maiden’s elite physical tools are really intriguing when looking at the future of the position. The ball launches out of his hand. JC Evans, who missed this week’s game with an injury but should be back later this fall, has high-end athletic skills, too.

It looks like it’s Coleman’s team for the next few weeks. But what if he struggles in the next week or two? Would the coaches give Maiden a shot? And how well would Coleman have to play to permanently unseat Evans, who was the Week 1 starter? If Coleman gets JMU to 4-0 or 5-0 with reliable play, are the coaches really going to pull him when Evans comes back?

The coaching staff will have interesting decisions to make at the position in the coming weeks, months, and years. All three guys are good enough to start at the FBS level, which means the chance of keeping all three for next season is extremely low.

Who do the Dukes want to be the future of the program at the position? They’ll need to choose wisely. 

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications