If you’re focused entirely on JMU football’s chase for a Sun Belt title, I get that. If you’re like me, however, you’re very focused on JMU football’s pursuit of a league championship, while also scoreboard watching to see if JMU can make the 12-team College Football Playoff, which includes automatic bids for the five highest-ranked conference champions.

This is my rooting guide for the Dukes in Week 11 of the season as they linger in playoff conversations.

Let’s start with the obvious. JMU needs to beat Marshall at noon on Saturday on ESPN2. If the Dukes don’t win out and go 12-1 with a Sun Belt title, this entire exercise goes to waste. The most important game for JMU every week is, of course, its own game.

JMU’s biggest obstacle over the next month is itself. Can the Dukes win out? That’s what matters most. Winning a Sun Belt title is priority No. 1.

This guide, however, is for fellow sickos who like to dream about the possibilities if JMU can complete the undefeated Sun Belt season to go 12-1. Again, to be very clear before someone replies and calls this post “rat poison” or “noise,” this rooting guide is for fans who find entertainment in monitoring the playoff race. I really enjoy checking other Group of Five scores and expanding my weekly rooting interest beyond JMU. That enhances my college football viewing experience. If it doesn’t for you, feel free to ignore this harmless guide. And if this is for you, welcome! Let’s have a fun few days watching the best sport in the world.

Thursday

UTSA over USF, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

The only Group of Five team with a better strength of record than JMU? According to ESPN’s data, it’s USF. The Bulls rank 24th. The Dukes rank 30th.

If USF wins the American Conference, the Bulls could make the College Football Playoff even with two defeats. The Bulls have notable wins over Boise State, Florida, and North Texas. Right now, those are three wins that top JMU’s best win over ODU.

Friday

Tulane over Memphis, 9 p.m., ESPN

If Memphis goes 12-1 with an American Conference title and wins over Arkansas, USF, Tulane, ECU, and Navy, it’s going to be impossible for JMU to earn a playoff spot over the Tigers. JMU’s best chance to make the CFP starts with Memphis taking a second loss.

Saturday

Southern Miss over Arkansas State, noon, ESPNU

JMU facing a 10-2 or 9-3 Southern Miss in the Sun Belt title game feels important. JMU could use a quality opponent in the league title game, and Southern Miss has the best chance to end the regular season with a decent body of work. If JMU beats a 10-win Southern Miss team led by Charles Huff, it would give the Dukes a much-needed quality win.

Liberty over Missouri State, 1 p.m., ESPN+

Speaking of potential quality wins, the Flames have quietly won three in a row after a 1-4 start. If they somehow get to 7 or 8 wins, JMU’s September win in Lynchburg becomes a little more respectable than if Liberty limps to a 5-7 finish. There’s also a world where the Flames win out and go 9-4 with a CUSA title. That would give JMU a win over a conference champion, which could hold weight with the selection committee.

UConn over Duke, 3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network

There’s an unlikely but not impossible scenario where Duke wins the ACC despite having four losses, including this one to UConn. The 6-3 Huskies are feisty and at home here. An upset is possible. If the Blue Devils lose this game but win their final three ACC games, they’ll be 7-1 in the ACC and potentially playing for a league championship. That opens up the possibility of a no-bid ACC.

Louisville over Cal, 7 p.m., ESPN2

As we said before, there’s a scenario where the ACC doesn’t get a bid into the playoff field. It’s unlikely, but possible. If the ACC gets an automatic bid, or even if it doesn’t, it benefits JMU if Louisville reaches at least 10 wins. The 7-1 Cardinals are the only team to beat the Dukes, and JMU could benefit greatly from the Cardinals finishing the season in the top 15. Louisville going 12-1 with an ACC title would strengthen JMU’s resume.

Wake Forest over Virginia, 7 p.m. ESPN

Remember the ACC chaos scenario? It gets far more possible if Virginia takes a second loss. Losses to Wake Forest and N.C. State would make UVA’s resume rather weak, but the loss to the Wolfpack was a nonconference game. UVA could lose to Wake Forest and still play in the ACC title game. Would a 2-loss UVA make the playoff over JMU? Probably, but it’s not a guarantee given the Cavaliers’ underlying metrics and close calls against bad teams. Also, if the Cavaliers lose here, it brings into play a 3-loss season.

Notre Dame over Navy, 7:30 p.m., NBC

I feel bad even putting this on here — rooting for Notre Dame over Navy feels criminal — but it would help the Dukes. A loss here effectively ends Navy’s playoff bid and a blowout loss here hurts the American. North Texas is hyping up its Navy win as a quality victory, but the Fighting Irish are favored by nearly four touchdowns over the Midshipmen. If Notre Dame wins this game by 30-plus points, it could suggest to the committee that JMU’s win over ODU is comparable to North Texas’ over Navy. It’s possible Navy sits at 7-4 on selection Sunday, with ODU potentially 9-3.

Kentucky over Florida, 7:30 p.m. SEC Network

USF’s win over Florida is doing a lot of heavy lifting for the Bulls, but a loss here would drop the Gators to 3-6. Florida has yet to take an especially ugly loss, so far losing games to quality opponents. Taking a loss to Kentucky would really put a dent into USF’s best win.

Hawaii over San Diego State, 11 p.m.

If the Rainbow Warriors pull the upset, it takes San Diego State out of the playoff picture. Right now, the Aztecs are 7-1 with an elite defense and a notable 34-0 win over Cal. San Diego State would be in the playoff conversation if it goes 12-1, despite a 23-point loss to Washington State.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications