Image courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications

By Bennett Conlin

After one season in the Sun Belt, one that included finishing atop the SBC East, JMU has been tabbed the 2023 preseason SBC East favorite by the league’s coaches. How’s that for an FBS entrance?

While no team hangs banners for preseason accolades, it’s cool to see JMU recognized ahead of the 2023 season. Despite still transitioning into the FBS level, Sun Belt coaches can see the Dukes finishing first in the East again. In my eyes, that’s a big deal.

Curt Cignetti will almost certainly downplay the honor this week during SBC Media Days, but JMU fans should take a moment to appreciate the Dukes’ rise to FBS relevance. JMU, in Year 2 of its transition, is the Sun Belt East favorite.

It’s impressive.

Elite company

JMU joins a list of preseason conference/division favorites that includes programs like Texas (Big 12), Georgia (SEC East), Alabama (SEC West), USC (Pac-12), and Boise State (Mountain West). It takes a special previous season and current roster to be viewed as a legitimate conference title threat, and the Dukes are one of those select teams ahead of the season.

Even programs like Western Kentucky and Toledo are impressive squads at the Group of Five level pegged as conference favorites this offseason. Being mentioned as a possible conference champion threat like those programs speaks to JMU’s readiness to move to the FBS and the exceptional play in 2022.

It’s a big deal to be viewed in a similar light to Boise State, Troy, Toledo, and others. If JMU can back up the preseason expectations, the Dukes will likely enter 2024 as one of the most relevant Group of Five teams when it comes to possible inclusion in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

The September schedule is absurd

JMU’s two cross-division opponents (Troy and South Alabama) are picked to finish first and second in the SBC West. The Dukes face both of those teams in the first month of the schedule.

Cignetti’s group also faces UVA and Utah State in September.

When JMU fans dreamed of exciting FBS schedules, this is what came to mind.

October includes games with Marshall and a homecoming showdown with Old Dominion. November includes matchups with App State and Coastal Carolina. It’s hard to overstate how exciting the regular season schedule is compared to some of JMU’s recent FCS schedules.

The Sun Belt is strong, and the preseason rankings puts into perspective how intense the program’s September schedule will be. Even with the difficult schedule, JMU has the talent to compete with every team in the league. What more could you ask for?

It’s a dream world!

Target on their back

I don’t think JMU “snuck up on teams” in 2022, but it’s fair to say every team in the Sun Belt East will be amped to face the Dukes in 2023. Early last season, it would’ve been easy for opposing players, coaches, and fans to view JMU as a decent program with room to grow during its transition years. That narrative of JMU still needing time to adjust to the FBS has quickly disappeared.

Given JMU’s 2022 success and 2023 preseason hype, notable road games against Troy, Marshall, and Coastal Carolina carry extra weight. Troy will view that game as one of the toughest on its schedule. The same goes for Marshall and Coastal Carolina.

Expect those opposing fans to understand the importance of those matchups, which should create electric road atmospheres the Dukes evaded at times last season — road games with Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, and ODU were notably less frightening. JMU went 3-2 on the road last season, with an impressive comeback win over App State in Boone, but 2023’s road schedule is even tougher.

I’m fascinated to see how JMU responds to playing an FBS season with notable preseason expectations. The Dukes thrived at the FCS level amid high expectations. Can they keep that going in a much tougher conference than the CAA?