Why is James Madison Not Eligible For the Bowl? James Madison Dukes Overview
by Madhumitha
Updated Nov 07, 2023
Why is James Madison Not Eligible For the Bowl?
James Madison is a very good football team, but they can't play in a special bowl game. This is because there are rules that say they can't, even though they have won all their games and are ranked 25th in the country. These rules are about which teams can play in the best bowl games.
The rules say that James Madison can only play if there aren't enough other teams with a so-so record. This year, there are enough of those teams, so James Madison can't go to the special bowl games. Even though they've been doing well since they moved up to a higher level of football in 2022, the rules say they can't go to the best bowls.
Stay updated with the latest news and trends on Fresherslive! Our articles provide quick and easy access to ongoing events, helping you stay informed about what's happening in the world. Read our articles to get a clear understanding of the latest news in a language you can easily comprehend.
James Madison Dukes
The James Madison Dukes football team is a college football program at James Madison University, located in Harrisonburg, Virginia. They play in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and are now part of the Sun Belt Conference as of the 2022 season. The team was established in 1972 and plays their home games at Bridgeforth Stadium on the university campus.
Their current head coach is Curt Cignetti. Over the years, the Dukes have been very successful, with national championships in 2004 and 2016, and they were runners-up in 2017 and 2019. Some famous players from JMU include Charles Haley, who won five Super Bowl rings and is in the Hall of Fame, Scott Norwood of the Buffalo Bills, Gary Clark of the Washington Commanders, and Arthur Moats, known for a key play against Brett Favre in the NFL.
James Madison History
James Madison University's football journey started in 1972 when they fielded their first team, just five years after the university became coed. Dr. Ronald Carrier, the university's president, wanted to change the campus's focus from being an all-women's teachers college, so he introduced football. They played their first game in 1972 against Shepherd College's junior varsity team. In 1975, they had their first undefeated season and won the Virginia College Athletic Association title.
They went on to move from NCAA Division III to Division I-AA and joined various conferences. In 2004, under coach Mickey Matthews, they won the FCS National Championship. The team continued to have success, including winning another national championship in 2016. They transitioned to FBS in 2022 and made history as the first first-year FBS program to be ranked in the AP Top 25 on October 9, 2023.
James Madison Overview
University
James Madison University
Conference
Sun Belt (primary)
NCAA
Athletic director
Jeff Bourne
Location
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Football stadium
Bridgeforth Stadium
Mascot
Duke Dog
Nickname
Dukes
Fight song
JMU Fight Song
Colors
Purple and gold
Division I FBS
Why is James Madison Not Eligible For the Bowl? - FAQs
James Madison University's football team is not eligible for a bowl game because they transitioned from FCS to FBS, and NCAA rules impose restrictions on such teams.
The team started playing in 1972, just five years after James Madison University became coed.
The Dukes have won two national championships in 2004 and 2016 and were runners-up in 2017 and 2019.
Curt Cignetti is the current head coach of the James Madison Dukes football team.
Bridgeforth Stadium has an official seating capacity of approximately 24,877, expandable to over 40,000.