HARRISONBURG, VA (JMU Sports) – James Madison earned the No. 12 seed for the 2025 College Football Playoff and will face off at No. 5 seed Oregon on Saturday, Dec. 20 in the opening round in Eugene Oregon.

Kickoff from Autzen Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT) and will be nationally televised on TNT and HBO Max.

JMU (12-1) finished as the fifth-ranked conference champion after capturing its first Sun Belt Football Championship in a 31-14 triumph over Troy on Friday night at Bridgeforth Stadium. It was JMU’s 11th conference championship in program history and its first FBS conference crown in just its second season eligible to compete in the game.

The Dukes, who are the first SBC program to reach the playoff, enter the CFP having won 11 straight games, which is the second-longest active win streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Head Coach Bob Chesney will lead JMU into its first College Football Playoff game before departing for UCLA at the conclusion of the season.

JMU ranks 10th nationally in both scoring offense and defense, as it averages 37.3 points per game while holding foes to 15.8 points per game. The Dukes boast the second-ranked defense, in terms of yards allowed at 247.6 per game, while gaining 448.3 on the offensive side of the ball, good for 22nd in the FBS.

The Dukes also rank top 25 nationally in 13 other categories. Offensively, JMU is second in time of possession (34:05), sixth in rushing offense (245.8), 19th in third down offense (47.7%) and 24th in yards per completion (13.1).

Defensively JMU is second in rushing defense (76.2), fourth in first downs allowed (14.0), sixth in third down defense (28.7%), seventh in pass efficiency defense (102.65), 10th in defensive touchdowns (3), 12th in passing defense (171.5), 18th in sacks (2.77) and 23rd in tackles for loss (6.5).

JMU’s special teams unit has also blocked four kicks, three of which are punts, good for third and fourth nationally, respectively.

The Dukes won a program-record 20 All-Sun Belt awards this season, highlighted by Alonza Barnett III being named Sun Belt Player of the Year. Trent Hendrick was Defensive Player of the Year, while Sahir West was selected as Freshman of the Year. Chesney rounded out the major accolades with his Coach of the Year honor.

College Football Playoff Schedule First Round
Friday, Dec. 19 – No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma – 8 PM – ABC, ESPN
Saturday, Dec. 20 – No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M – 12 PM – ABC, ESPN
Saturday, Dec. 20 – No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss – 3:30 PM – TNT, HBO Max
Saturday, Dec. 20 – No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon – 7:30 PM – TNT, HBO Max

College Football Playoff Quarterfinals
Wednesday, Dec. 31 – No. 7/10 Winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State (Cotton Bowl) – 7:30 PM – ESPN
Thursday, Jan. 1 – No. 5/12 Winner vs. No. 4 Texas Tech (Orange Bowl) – 12 PM – ESPN
Thursday, Jan. 1 – No. 8/9 Winner vs. No. 1 Indiana (Rose Bowl) – 4 PM – ESPN
Thursday, Jan. 1 – No. 6/11 Winner vs. No. 3 Georgia (Sugar Bowl) – 8 PM – ESPN

College Football Playoff Semifinals
Thursday, Jan. 8 – Fiesta Bowl – 7:30 PM – ESPN
Friday, Jan. 9 – Peach Bowl – 7:30 PM – ESPN

College Football Playoff National Championship
Monday, Jan. 19 – at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL – 7:30 PM – ESPN