James Madison Football Postseason Dream

James Madison University football is taking the Sun Belt Conference and NCAA by storm. The Dukes are now 9-0 making them a top 5 college team to look at. However, the Dukes are facing a major setback when it comes to participation in a bowl game postseason. Bowl games are a great opportunity for colleges to get extra practice, compete, and get paid. Bowl games pay the teams for their participation which benefits the team and conference majorly.

JMU submitted a letter to the NCAA requesting relief of the rule prohibiting their bowl game participation. In the letter James Madison highlights a list of their accomplishments supporting why they should be eligible to play for a bowl. This letter was signed by a number of important members of the program, including the university’s president and athletic director. Most recently, the Sun Belt Conference also sent a letter backing up JMU and asking for a relief from the bylaw.

The NCAA has rules that restrict transitioning teams from bowl participation. The Dukes moved up to the Football Bowl Subdivision last year but cannot participate in a bowl game until two years after this transition. The Dukes could not play in a bowl game or the Sun Belt Championship Game last season despite having an 8-3 record. The Dukes will only be eligible at 6-6 if there are not enough bowl-eligible teams.

From the moment JMU planned its move to the Sun Belt, it hoped to shorten its transition to one year. It submitted an NCAA waiver for 2023 postseason eligibility, highlighting its successes and infrastructure. But the waiver was denied by the Division I Council and NCAA Board of Directors in April. Uniquely the program was full-fledged FBS in Year 1, which normally takes schools two years to do. The Sun Belt accommodated the Dukes with a conference schedule and enough home games to qualify as an FBS opponent in 2022. Then JMU went out and technically won the Sun Belt East Division.

The NCAA is under pressure with this decision because it will set a precedent. Many schools have been denied the ability to play in bowl games due to this rule. JMU must also wait its time. On top of that, the rules impact basketball, too. If this rule is changed there will be many more changes to come among football and basketball to accommodate schools playing in bowl games and championship postseason matches.