JMU football took down App State, 58-10, over the weekend in a sweet victory for the program. The Dukes annihilated a conference rival.

Here are three takeaways from a giant win.

Please be normal

I reported over the weekend that ESPN had selected JMU to host College GameDay after receiving information from a trusted source. The information turned out to be incorrect.

I’m very sorry about the significant error. I’m embarrassed about the poor reporting, which created fan excitement that turned into a gigantic letdown for many people. I’m truly gutted about the mistake.

And it’s an egregious mistake. So dunk on ME.

But maybe don’t send nasty emails and threaten members of JMU Sports News. It’s not cool to encourage personal harassment. I made a mistake in my reporting, and I’m genuinely sorry for the disappointment it caused the JMU community. 

Call me names. Tell me I’m an idiot — many of you already have, thanks again for reaching out.

Go ahead and tell me North Texas is actually good at defense — that’s maybe the most offensive shit I’ve heard over the past 24 hours, honestly. The Mean Green are 77th in defensive SP+. You want that in the College Football Playoff? Sickening. I’m sick.

But please stick to good ole fashioned name calling. If you want to tell me about the American Conference’s overall strength, I embrace your hate. If you want to take a victory lap because you hate JMU Sports News, that’s also cool. No better time to be a hater.

Just don’t be a freak about it.

Jobi. Malary.

The worst part about the incorrect GameDay scoop is not the shame brought upon myself, my family, my friends, and my little blog. No, it’s that I inadvertently overshadowed the prince who was promised.

Jobi Malary is living in the wrong generation.

25 years ago, this man would’ve received 100 carries a game from Mickey Matthews. Instead, the 5’11 and 236-pound beast of a running back has 17 carries this season. Last year, he got 45. And yes, I know he was injured for part of this year but that doesn’t fit my narrative.

In those 62 carries (math!), Malary has 416 yards (6.7 per carry) and five touchdowns. Against App State, he ran the ball eight times for 105 yards and three scores.

Dating back to the 2023 season at Portland State, Malary has 1,092 yards on 165 carries (6.6 per carry) and 17 touchdowns.

Give the man the football! He’s electric every time he touches the field, and I’m holding onto hope Saturday wasn’t the last we’ll see of Malary this fall.

12-1 JMU deserves a playoff spot

With USF losing to Navy, the Bulls opened up the College Football Playoff race among G5 teams. We’ll see what the CFP Selection Committee does Tuesday with its latest rankings, but a 12-1 JMU would have a great case to be in the field. And I think the defensive eye test should matter here.

The Dukes have the best strength of record among other G5 contenders — Tulane, North Texas, and Navy — and some of the best predictive metrics. ESPN’s FPI has JMU 32nd nationally, while North Texas (47th), Tulane (58th), and Navy (77th) lag behind. ESPN’s SP+ has North Texas at 24, JMU at 25, and Tulane and Navy outside the top 50.

While the Dukes’ schedule is far from great, JMU’s defense needs to be considered in the playoff selection process. Of the G5 contenders, only one has a defense that could potentially hang in a playoff game, and it’s JMU.

SP+ has JMU as the 25th best defensive team in the country. North Texas is 77th. Tulane is 78th. Navy is 99th.

The Dukes’ ability to control the line of scrimmage, coupled with athletic linebackers and defensive backs makes them a top-tier G5 defense. JMU’s offense has come on strong in recent weeks, too, scoring 50 or more in three of the past four games. The Dukes look like a complete team. 

When you put games on over the past month, JMU’s ability to consistently create stops stands out compared to G5 peers. JMU looks the part of a team that could at least force a few punts against the No. 5 team in the country in a road playoff game. North Texas and Tulane just gave up over 400 yards each to UAB and FAU, respectively.

When North Texas played USF, the Mean Green gave up 580 yards. Tulane allowed 548 to Ole Miss. UTSA posted over 500 yards against the Green Wave. JMU held Louisville to 264 in Week 2, and the Dukes rank in the top 10 nationally in total defense.

If the Dukes go 12-1, they should be in the field.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications