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thecollegefootballguy · 5 years

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2019 FCS Playoff Primer: National Championship Game

#1 North Dakota State 15-0 (8-0) vs #2 James Madison 14-1 (8-0)

Here we are, it’s a familiar feeling. If you’d put money down before the season on which two teams would be participating in the FCS Championship Game, this would have been the most common pairing. Maybe it disappoints people to see the usual suspects cropping up again, but these are the two best and most deserving programs to be here.

North Dakota State needs no introduction. The Bison are the most impressive dynasty of the 2010′s at any level of college football from Power 5 to the NAIA. NDSU find themselves in their eighth national championship game in nine years, now guided by their third coach in that astronomical span.

The craziest thing is that this might be the best North Dakota State team of the bunch. The Bison absolutely murdered everybody they played in the regular season apart from a touchdown victory over rival South Dakota State in Brookings. In the Playoff, Illinois State was the only team to get under NDSU’s skin in a rematch that still saw the Redbirds only score 3 points. North Dakota State beat up on Montana State 42-14 in the semifinals to punch their ticket to Frisco for the third straight year.

We all remember the lone blip in the Bison’s otherwise immaculate Playoff record from 2011 to the present day. In 2016, James Madison surprised favored NDSU 27-17 in Fargo in the semifinals and held off Youngstown State to secure the only national title since 2010 that wasn’t won by the Bison. Oh yeah, and just because it bears mentioning, this JMU team is also on their third coach since their extended Playoff streak began in 2014. Very impressive.

The Dukes have shown a similar dominance this year. JMU lost to FBS West Virginia to kick off the season, but obliterated everybody else in their path in the regular season, save an overtime road win over Stony Brook in the first week of October. James Madison has been even scarier than North Dakota State in the Playoff. The Dukes have won their three tournament contests by a combined 113-35. In the semifinals, JMU easily beat Weber State 30-14. The Wildcats were perhaps the only team with a similar resume to James Madison and NDSU.

It all comes down to this. The unequivocal two best teams in the FCS fighting it out in Frisco, Texas this Saturday.

#college football #North Dakota State Bison #James Madison Dukes

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bongaboi · 5 years

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North Dakota State: 2019 NCAA Division I FCS National Champions

FRISCO, Texas — North Dakota State football is the FCS national champion for a record eighth time after defeating James Madison 28-20 to close out the 2019-20 season.

The Bison made history in Frisco, becoming the first modern-era DI college football program to go 16-0 in a single season. Only 1894 Yale shares that honor.

North Dakota State led 28-13 following a 44-yard touchdown run by quarterback Trey Lance to open the fourth quarter. But James Madison battled back with a Riley Stapleton touchdown catch (his second of the game) and a final drive to NDSU's 5-yard line.

But NDSU safety James Hendricks clinched the win with an interception on Ben DiNucci's pass to the end zone with seven seconds left. Hendricks finished with eight tackles, an interception and a first-half touchdown run on a fake field goal.

Lance finished the game with 166 rushing yards and a touchdown on 30 attempts. He was only asked to throw 10 times (6-of-10, 72 yards) on a blustery day in Frisco, Texas. Lance, the first freshman to win the Walter Payton Award, finished 2019-20 without a single interception.

Notable Stats

Trey Lance, QB, NDSU: 6-of-10 for 72 YDS; 30 CAR for 166 YDS and 1 TD

Adam Cofield, RB, NDSU: 7 CAR for 24 YDS and 1 TD

Phoenix Sproles, WR, NDSU: 1 CAR for 38 YDS and 1 TD; 1 REC for 13 YDS

Ben DiNucci, QB, JMU: 22-of-33 for 204 YDS, 2 TD and 1 INT

Percy Agyei-Obese, RB, JMU: 18 CAR for 73 YDS

Riley Stapleton, WR, JMU: 10 REC for 100 YDS and 2 TD

Lance Dazzles on National Stage as Bison Win 8th National Title

Despite NDSU's dominance for nearly a decade, James Madison entered Saturday's game as a slight favorite, and it was expected to be a tightly contested affair.

That is primarily because the Bison and Dukes boasted two of the best defenses in FCS this season, per ESPN Stats & Info.

The defensive excellence wasn't on full display in the early going, as JMU bled 7:33 off the clock on its first drive, which lasted 17 plays and 86 yards, and concluded with a five-yard touchdown pass from DiNucci to Riley Stapleton.

James Madison made a big-time statement on that drive, which meant the Bison needed to answer in impressive fashion.

They did precisely that, as Lance orchestrated a 70-yard drive in less than four minutes. After Lance set the Bison up on the 1-yard line with a 13-yard run, Adam Cofield punched it in from one yard out to tie the game.

North Dakota State struck again on its next drive after forcing James Madison to punt, and it didn't take the Bison long to assume the lead.

After a pass interference call and a 14-yard run by Lance set the Bison up in JMU territory, NDSU used some razzle dazzle, as wide receiver Phoenix Sproles scored on a 38-yard reverse that saw him fake the pitch.

James Madison did manage to answer with a field goal to cut the deficit to four, but it was the Bison who entered halftime with momentum on their side.

The Dukes thought they executed a huge third-down stop late in the half, but NDSU outsmarted James Madison again with a fake field goal that saw Hendricks rush for a 20-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 1.

While the total yardage numbers were comparable in the first half and the numbers didn't indicate that North Dakota State should have a two-score lead, first-year head coach Matt Entz's willingness to call some trick plays were the difference.

Lance's ability to do damage with his legs also played a big role in NDSU's early success, including this run, which saw him plow through the entire JMU defense and give his team a ton of energy.

As pointed out by Bob Grebe of WHSV, James Madison didn't have the defensive game plan it needed to keep Lance in check from a running perspective.

That seemingly began to change in the third quarter, as James Madison held North Dakota State scoreless and kicked a field goal to pull to within eight points.

Just when it looked like the Dukes were trending in the right direction, though, Lance made another highlight-reel play on a 44-yard touchdown run in the opening second of the fourth quarter to give NDSU a 15-point advantage.

It would have been easy for James Madison to pack it in against a top-flight defense at that point, but the Dukes continued to fight. They cut the lead back down to eight on another five-yard touchdown pass from DiNucci to Stapleton with 6:55 remaining.

The key play on that drive was conversion by DiNucci on a 4th-and-6 that saw him lower his head and bowl over a defender on a six-yard run.

North Dakota State had a chance to essentially put the game away on the ensuing drive, but the Dukes stopped the Bison on a 4th-and-2 and took control of the ball at their own 37 with 2:40 remaining.

JMU got the ball all the way down to the NDSU 3-yard line, but DiNucci was intercepted by Hendricks, who scored a rushing touchdown earlier in the game, which sealed the win for the Bison.

Lance wasn't asked to do much through the air, but he carries the NDSU offense with his legs and finished the season with no interceptions in 16 games, while the Bison defense came through in the clutch as well.

#2019 #2020 #north dakota state #ncaa #college football #ncaa division i fcs #national championship

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edivupage · 4 years

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James Madison University Admissions: Everything You Want to and Need to Know

Overview of James Madison University

James Madison University is a public research university situated in Harrisonburg, Virginia. JMU has 74 undergraduate degree programs and high retention and graduation rates. A healthy student/faculty ratio backs students, and professors take a personalized approach to the teaching and learning process. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s many clubs and organizations.

Enrollment

Total Enrollment: 21,787 (19,923 undergraduates)

Gender Breakdown: 42 percent male/58 percent female

95 percent full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

Tuition and Fees: $11,576 (in-state); $28,790 (out-of-state)

Books: $1,056

Room and Board: $10,582

Other Expenses: $3,982

Total Cost: $27,196 (in-state); $44,410 (out-of-state)

Financial Aid Information

Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 63 percent

Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid

Grants: 30 percent

Loans: 43 percent

Average Amount of Aid

Grants: $6,998

Loans: $6,082

Academic Programs Offered

Most Popular Majors: Health Professions and Related Programs; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Social Sciences; and Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

Retention and Graduation

First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 90 percent

4-Year Graduation Rate: 60 percent

6-Year Graduation Rate: 84 percent

NCAA Athletic Programs

Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Soccer, Tennis

Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball

In athletics, the JMU Dukes play in the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association and Eastern College Athletic Conference

Overview of James Madison University Admissions

James Madison University is a selective public university. Students whose SAT/ACT scores and GPA are within the institution’s requirements have a good chance of being admitted. Applicants must complete an online application, and send test scores from either the SAT or ACT and high school transcripts. Glowing recommendation letters can bolster your application, along with being involved with student organizations and attempting a challenging course load. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside the admission offices’ mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the next steps of the application process. Interested students should check out the university’s website, which has helpful tips and contact information for the admissions offices.

Admissions Data

During the 2018-19 admissions phase, James Madison University had an acceptance rate of 71%. for every 100 students who submitted applications, 71 students gained admission, making James Madison’s admissions process somewhat less competitive.

SAT Requirements and Scores

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 74% of admitted students provided SAT scores. This admissions data reveals to us that of the JMU students who provided scores, most fall within the top 35% on the SAT. 50% of students admitted to James Madison scored between 570 and 650 For the evidence-based reading and writing section, while 25% scored below 570 and 25% scored above 650. 50% of students scored between 550 and 640 on the math section, while 25% scored below 550, and 25% scored above 640.

ACT Requirements and Scores

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 21% of admitted students provided ACT scores. This admissions data reveals that of the JMU admitted students who provided scores, most fall within the top 31% on the ACT test. The middle 50% of admitted students received a cumulative ACT score between 23 and 28, and 25% scored over 28, and 25% scored under 23.

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for James Madison University, it should be easy for you to gain admission to the schools below. If James Madison University is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

Ohio University, University of Alabama, Pace University, University of North Texas, California State University Long Beach, Florida Gulf Coast University, Washington State University

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for James Madison University, you should have an equal chance of gaining admission to these schools.

Temple University, Seton Hall University, Howard University, University of Houston, San Diego State University, University of California, Riverside, University of Arizona

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will Be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than James Madison University. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, you’ll be a competitive candidate.

Stony Brook University, University of Texas at Dallas, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Syracuse University, Penn State University Park, United States Military Academy

Applying to James Madison University

Application Deadline: January 15

Undergraduate Admissions Website:

https://www.jmu.edu/admissions/undergrad/index.shtml

Undergraduate Application Link(s):

https://www.jmu.edu/admissions/apply/apply-online.shtml

Graduate Admissions Website:

https://www.jmu.edu/grad/index.shtml

Graduate Application Link(s):

https://www.jmu.edu/grad/prospective/how-to-apply.shtml

The post James Madison University Admissions: Everything You Want to and Need to Know appeared first on The Edvocate.

James Madison University Admissions: Everything You Want to and Need to Know published first on https://sapsnkra.tumblr.com

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diehardsports-blog · 6 years

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JMU women’s lacrosse has the best chance at a national title for the school this year

By Catie Harper

The spring season in college athletics is closing in on the best time of the year — the NCAA tournaments. When the NCAA women’s lacrosse tournament gets underway in just a few short weeks, JMU’s women’s lacrosse team is one to watch out for.

The Dukes have been dominant all season — and with the recent win against U. Va, the team is the best in the state of Virginia. JMU has posted a 14-1 record so far this season, and even in its one loss, the Dukes controlled most of the game’s stats.

JMU has made the NCAA tournament every season since the 2014 season. However, the Dukes have yet to make it out of the second round in any of those year, but this team is different. The team has beaten three ranked teams — one of which being Penn State, which knocked the Dukes out of the tournament last year.

On top of being able to beat top teams, the Dukes have found themselves as top forces nationally in some statistics. JMU ranks is No. 10 in scoring offense and No. 4 in scoring defense, which has helped give them the No. 4 ranking in the nation.

This team is different. While many have faltered in past years, this team has the best opportunity to bring a national title to Harrisonburg, Virginia this year. Players like seniors Elena Romesburg and Kristen Gaudian have led the way for JMU to be in a position to have its best finish in program history.

When it comes to JMU sports fans, they’re used to seeing successful athletic teams. However, they’ve only witnessed three national titles — two in football and one in field hockey. JMU’s lacrosse team this year has the opportunity to bring a fourth to the school, and out of all the spring teams, lacrosse has the best shot.

JMU’s softball and women’s tennis have both been stellar for the school this year — and along with lacrosse, have the best shot to bring home a CAA title. But, those two teams lack the star power and depth to make a run at the national title. With the lacrosse team, the stars are there and the depth is endless.

So far this season, seven Dukes have recorded double-digit goals, and the stars Romesburg and Gaudian have notched 98 combined goals. Five Dukes have seen at least 10 assists — senior Katie Kerrigan is leading the way with 38. To top it off, nine players have earned at least 10 points on the season.

The depth in the lacrosse team doesn’t stop with its forwards and defenders. The goaltending for the Dukes has been strong this season. Both goalies on the roster have playing experience this season. Molly Doughartey is currently 6-0 on the season and Ellie Harmeyer is 8-1.

JMU’s ability to score, defend and keep ball out of the back of the net will set the team apart from its competitors. This team is special, so don’t be surprised if the Dukes are the ones kissing the NCAA trophy when the season wraps up next month.

#JMU #Dukes #JMU lacrosse #NCAA lacrosse #NCAA women's lacrosse

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wjessewright · 7 years

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Here’s a throwback to my drumline days in honor of #JMU playing in the NCAA Football Championship in Frisco today. Go Dukes!! Score the points!! http://ift.tt/2Cx6VJ5

#IFTTT #Instagram

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thecollegefootballguy · 5 years

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2019 Top Games of the Week: Week 5

Week 5 isn’t as good as Week 4 if you’re into good, meaningful ranked matchups. The few matchups between ranked teams have little to do with the Playoff. But that’s fine, this is the space where this blog thrives. It might not look like it on the surface, but there’s a ton to watch if you’re willing to look underneath the veneer of the Playoff race. Let me show you...

The Top Ten Games of the Week

10. NC State 3-1 (0-0) at Florida State 2-2 (1-1)

After Clemson the ACC Atlantic race is WIDE OPEN. NC State was a favorite to compete for the runner-up spot, but the Wolfpack’s loss to West Virginia has thrown that assumption into question. Florida State is slowly clawing their way back to relevance. It’s not happening fast but I think it’s happening. I’m not sure the Seminoles will win here, but they have the raw talent to do it at least. That’ll put FSU back on track to making a bowl, which is honestly a big step here.

9. #12 Penn State 3-0 (0-0) at Maryland 2-1 (0-0)

Boy this one lost a bit of shine after Maryland’s faceplant against Temple. Then Temple lost to Buffalo lol. It’ll be interesting to see how the Terrapins rebound from that embarrassment. We’ve seen what their offense is capable of when running correctly. Penn State will probably stomp the Terps here, but I’d love to see what happens if it becomes a shootout.

8. #5 Ohio State 4-0 (1-0) at Nebraska 3-1 (1-0)

I still can’t believe this is where Gameday decided to go. Ohio State is going to come to Lincoln and whip the Cornhuskers just as they have for the previous two seasons. I think the Huskers are getting better, by the way, but I’d be surprised if this isn’t another blowout.

7. Duke 2-1 (0-0) at Virginia Tech 2-1 (0-0)

Hell, as far as I know this will decide the ACC Coastal. I mean, probably not, but you never know. Duke has taken care of business after losing to Alabama in very predictable fashion. Somebody has to come out and challenge Virginia for the division. It could be the Blue Devils, or it could be that team that never ever loses to the Hoos. Virginia Tech has, frankly, looked like trash all season. I don’t have high hopes for the Hokies, but Duke is a pretty good intermediate opponent before the real heavy hitters come along. This is a pretty good opportunity to start looking good.

6. Washington State 3-1 (0-1) at #19 Utah 3-1 (0-1)

This probably would have been the #1 game of the week if things had gone differently in Week 4. Utah’s loss to USC has now put the Utes on their back feet in the PAC-12 South race. They pretty much need to win out to have a good chance at repeating as the South champion. Wazzu was once again looking like the North dark horse before a stunning upset at the hands of UCLA last Saturday night. The Cougars similarly need to step up their game to compete in the tougher of the two PAC-12 divisions.

5. Mississippi State 3-1 (1-0) at #7 Auburn 4-0 (1-0)

I think I’ve misjudged Auburn so far this season. The Tigers passed their first SEC test against Texas A&M, but the schedule doesn’t ease up. Mississippi State is no pushover and the Bulldogs are reorienting their offense, hopefully for the better.

4. #18 Virginia 4-0 (2-0) at #10 Notre Dame 3-1

I’ll put a ranked vs ranked games behind games featuring an unranked participant if it’s warranted. I think in this case it’s warranted. I’m very proud of Virginia and I hope they continue to have a good season, but I highly highly doubt they’ll be able to even threaten Notre Dame. Maybe the Irish will have a bit of a hangover after losing to Georgia but I don’t see it.

3. Arizona State 3-1 (0-1) at #15 California 4-0 (1-0)

Cal has shown a whole lot of upside, and the offense finally started scoring against Ole Miss last week. Arizona State is modeled in a similar manner, though perhaps not as successfully as the Bears just yet. I would not at all be surprised if this game ends 12-10 or 9-7 or something godawful like that, but that means either team has a good shot at winning based on field position, turnovers, and penalties. Can Cal remain the PAC-12′s surprise dark horse?

2. #24 Kansas State 3-0 (0-0) at Oklahoma State 3-1 (0-1)

With how fascinating the middle of the Big 12 pack is, it’s surprising only one game from that conference makes the list. The rest of the games this week aren’t all that interesting in my opinion. We’ll find out a whole lot about who’s going to be chasing OU and UT as more of these teams play each other.

1. #21 USC 3-1 (2-0) at #17 Washington 3-1 (0-1)

This is the only game this week where two Power 5 teams with a real chance of finishing first in their division are playing each other. It could also be a preview of the PAC-12 Championship Game. USC is leading the South after the Trojan’s win over Utah. Washington is still reeling from their loss to Cal two weeks ago, but the Huskies can still get right back to the top of the standings as they host Oregon, Utah, and archrival Washington State. Last time these two played, USC upset #4 Washington during College Gameday to spoil an undefeated regular season for the Huskies.

5 Group of 5 Games of the Week

5. Coastal Carolina 3-1 (0-0) at Appalachian State 3-0 (0-0)

I had a couple of good candidates for the #5 spot this week, but I ended up picking this conference matchup in the Sun Belt East. App State has a very real chance of going undefeated. Failing that, the Mountaineers should win the conference yet again, but that means taking care of business against Coastal Carolina, who have a P5 win (even if it’s Kansas).

4. Arkansas State 2-2 (0-0) at Troy 2-1 (0-0)

Two of the Sun Belt’s stalwarts square off in Troy. The winner will have some nice momentum before likely losing to App State at some point.

3. BYU 2-2 at Toledo 2-1 (0-0)

Here’s a pretty neat non-conference matchup. BYU has demonstrated how serious they are at competing at the highest level. The Cougars have taken down blue bloods Tennessee and USC and are looking to make a big statement this year. Toledo is usually one of the best MAC teams but the Rockets are going to be up against a very stiff challenge from Brigham Young.

2. Cincinnati 2-1 (0-0) at Marshall 2-1 (0-0)

The best G5 non-conference matchup for the week is definitely the bout between Cincinnati and Marshall. The Bearcats are fighting uphill in the AAC East race and the Thundering Herd look like the out and out favorites to win the C-USA East division.

1. Navy 2-0 (1-0) at Memphis 3-0 (0-0)

The AAC West is going to be a fascinating race. Memphis is definitely the favorite, but with Tulane and SMU seemingly on the rise, the Tigers are going to have some competition. Navy had a tough time in 2018, but the Midshipmen dispatched East Carolina with such ease they’re looking like they can pose a much bigger threat this year.

FCS Games of the Week

7. #20 Delaware 3-1 (1-0) at Pittsburgh 2-2 (0-1)

I wouldn’t put it past Pittsburgh to lose this one right after beating UCF.

6. #10 Towson at #9 Florida

I’m just saying.

5. #12 Nicholls State 2-1 (1-0) at Texas State 1-3 (1-0)

All joking about the previous two FBS-FCS matchups aside, this looks like an upset waiting to happen. Nicholls has plowed through their first two FCS opponents with ease and will be heading into San Marcos with a full head of steam. The Colonels used to play Texas State every year in a rivalry game. I’m not sure if the Paddle Trophy will be exchanged here.

4. #18 Montana 3-1 (0-0) at #4 UC Davis 2-2 (0-0)

The Big Sky is usually good for at least one good football game a week, and Week 5 is no exception. Montana comes to Davis with the hopes of wresting away one of the coveted Playoff byes from the Aggies.

3. #12 Maine 2-2 (0-1) at #8 Villanova 4-0 (1-0)

The CAA is usually good for two good football games a week. Maine and Villanova have already had a few contests on the FCS Game of the Week and will probably play several more as the best league in 1-AA sorts itself out.

2. #2 James Madison 3-1 (0-0) at #24 Elon 2-2 (1-0)

The best squad in the CAA faces their first tough FCS road game this year as the JMU Dukes head to Elon to face off against the rising Phoenix.

1. #5 Weber State 1-2 (0-0) at #9 Northern Iowa 2-1 (0-0)

The FCS does such a better job creating exciting non-conference matchups than the FBS. Almost every week for the first month of the season we get a top ten matchup. Weber State and Northern Iowa have only lost (barely) to FBS opponents so far, so this is a real Playoff preview here.

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junker-town · 6 years

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Elon just beat FCS No. 2 JMU in one of CFB’s biggest upsets ever

Easily one of the biggest upsets in college football history.

James Madison hadn’t lost to an FCS team not named North Dakota State since 2015.

Elon made the playoffs in 2017 and ranked No. 10 in the FCS heading into Saturday, but doesn’t have a whole lot of championship football history otherwise.

FCS No. 2 JMU entered Saturday as a 39.5-point favorite (or higher, at some books), and yet:

19 straight wins at home ❌ 20 straight CAA wins ❌ Streaking no more! No. 9 ELON TAKES DOWN No. 2 JAMES MADISON!#FindTheEdge #CAAFB pic.twitter.com/D86wh9GuK1

— Elon Football (@ElonFootball) October 6, 2018

There's your ballgame. A pair of incredible plays in the red-zone by #Elon lift the Phoenix over the Dukes. JMU's loss is its first at home in its last 23 games against conference opponents. #CAAFB pic.twitter.com/0ulZQqgXFE

— James Faris (@JFarisSports) October 6, 2018

The final score: Elon 27, James Madison 24.

One of the biggest point spread upsets in football history at any level, perhaps topped only by 2017’s Howard win over UNLV, a 45-pointer, and — depending on the book — Stanford’s 2007 win over USC.

The Dukes turned the ball over twice, to the Phoenix’s none. Elon was more efficient through the air and on the ground, going for 498 total yards to JMU’s 419.

And now get a load of these standings in the CAA:

ESPN

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junker-town · 7 years

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No. 1 James Madison forced a whopping 10 turnovers to beat South Dakota State and advance to the FCS title game

The Dukes dominated and will face North Dakota State in the final.

No. 1 James Madison trounced No. 5 South Dakota State in a national semifinal Saturday in the FCS playoffs. The Dukes advanced to a dream title game matchup with North Dakota State, whom they beat in a semifinal last year.

The story of this game was turnovers. JMU forced an incredible 10 of them. That was two off the FCS record of 12, while the game’s total 12 turnovers fell three short of the record 15.

The Jackrabbits had no chance at all in that context, and the Dukes cruised even though they only scored 16 points off that feast of takeaways.

Their title match with NDSU is Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas (12 p.m. ET, ESPN2). They’ll enter that game on a 26-game winning streak, longest in Division I.

Fourth quarter

JMU’s lead was 51-16 with 12 minutes to play. Things settled down after that, though the Dukes continued to force turnovers as they eased into a win.

Third quarter

JMU took a 52-10 lead on a 59-yard interception return by Raven Greene.

JMU led 42-10 after a 3-yard touchdown run by Taylor Woods, with 7:14 left in the quarter.

JMU’s lead was 35-10 lead with 11 minutes to play in the quarter, on an 87-yard touchdown run by Marcus Marshall.

It was 28-10 after a 65-yard Marshall touchdown run with 29 minutes to play in the game. The Dukes sure seem headed for Frisco.

Halftime

JMU leads, 21-10.

The Dukes should be up by a lot more, considering they forced five turnovers (all in the first quarter) and only scored seven points off them. But they’re in good position anyway, and they’ll advance to Frisco with a decent second half.

Second quarter

JMU took a 21-10 lead with nine seconds left in the half. Quarterback Bryan Schor scored on a 1-yard QB sneak, aided by a forward push from running back Trai Sharp.

JMU led 14-10 after SDSU’s Chase Vinatieri hit a 37-yard field goal with 56 seconds to play in the first half.

JMU took a 14-7 lead with 8:12 left in the first half. A 10-play, 75-yard drive in 3:46 ended with a 15-yard touchdown strike from Bryan Schor to Riley Stapleton.

South Dakota State had tied the game 7-7 with a touchdown drive at the start of the second quarter, culminating in a 9-yard pass from Taryn Christion to Jake Wieneke.

JMU forced five turnovers in the first quarter but only converted them into seven points. That allowed the Jackrabbits to stay in the game.

First quarter

JMU led 7-0 late in the first quarter. That was actually really good news for the Jackrabbits, who had already committed five turnovers on five possessions.

Pregame

The South Dakota State Jackrabbits, who will play in their first NCAA football FCS playoff semifinals game since 2008, have found multiple ways to knock off opponents in the postseason. But there is one team SDSU has to get through to make an appearance in the FCS Championship game: the James Madison Dukes. The Dukes, who won the FCS crown last season, are looking to recapture another championship. ESPNU (live stream) will broadcast the game on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET.

No. 5 South Dakota State (11-2) has won its last three games by a combined score of 124-67. Quarterback Taryn Christion has been producing at a high level over the past three games — throwing for 726 yards to go along with eight touchdowns and two interceptions.

He'll face a tough challenge in the Dukes, who racked up six interceptions over the past two games. No. 1 James Madison (13-0) only surrendered 35 points over the past two games, and its defense is playing at a high level. The Dukes must force turnovers and rattle Christion in the pocket to win this game.

Time, TV channel, and streaming info

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

Location: Bridgeforth Stadium, Harrisonburg, Va.

TV: ESPNU

Streaming: WatchESPN

South Dakota State vs. James Madison News

Madison's football head coach Mike Houston agrees to a 10-year extension

With a 27-1 record, a 25-game winning streak and an FCS championship, James Madison football coach Mike Houston’s portfolio screams “attractive coaching candidate.” JMU and Houston on Tuesday cut off potential suitors, at least for a while.

The school announced a 10-year contract extension that runs through the 2027 season.

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junker-town · 7 years

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James Madison vs. North Dakota State, the perfect FCS Championship, is now happening

This is going to be fun.

The 2017 season’s FCS playoff national championship game is set (as soon as JMU finishes obliterating South Dakota State). It’s No. 1 James Madison against No. 2 North Dakota State, Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas (12 p.m. ET, ESPN2).

Before SDSU, JMU snagged playoff wins over Stony Brook and Weber State (which nearly pulled off a stunning upset). The Bison made it to Frisco by destroying San Diego, Wofford, and Sam Houston State, in that order.

Surprises happen in these playoffs, so this matchup wasn’t inevitable. But it was always the best possible way the FCS season could end. It’s real now.

Four quick reasons this is a dream matchup:

1. For starters, they’re the two best teams.

JMU is 14-0 and has been ranked No. 1 from wire to wire.

NDSU was No. 2 in the preseason polls. The 13-1 Bison settled as the No. 2 seed after a regular season whose only blemish was a loss to rival South Dakota State.

JMU (No. 26) is the highest-rated FCS team in Jeff Sagarin’s ranking of all Division I teams. NDSU (No. 29) is next. Both would beat the majority of FBS teams. (Every FBS team that schedules NDSU loses, while JMU crushed the AAC’s ECU in Week 1.)

2. JMU’s the defending champion.

And 28-1 over the last two seasons.

National championship games are more fun, in my opinion, when someone’s defending a title. It makes for a David-versus-Goliath feeling, even though the David in this case is always an elite team, because this is for the national title.

3. But NDSU is the dynasty of this era.

The Bison won five national titles in a row between 2011 and 2015. The first three were under coach Craig Bohl, and the two most recent were under current head coach Chris Klieman. Five titles in a row might never happen again in Division I football.

4. And these teams have history.

JMU beat NDSU 27-17 in a national semifinal last year in Fargo. That was the death knell to the Bison’s five-time title defense. The Dukes went on to beat Youngstown State a couple of weekends later for the title.

The Dukes’ head coach, Mike Houston, explained the NDSU win to SB Nation:

He recalled his team’s 5:15 a.m. spring practices, on frost-covered turf in Northern Virginia, and a specific conversation the Dukes had a half-year before the season even started.

“We talked about, you know, ‘We are going to build a team that has a strong, physical running game, that plays good defense, that plays great in the cold weather, and we’re gonna build a team that’s built to beat a team like North Dakota State,” Houston said. “Because teams that play great defense, run the ball, thrive in cold water, unified teams, those kind of teams are the ones that win playoff games and win late in the year.' Our philosophy was, ‘We’re gonna build a team like that.’ By the time we made it to [the semifinal], we had already become that team.”

NDSU plays in a dome, but the point stands. Quarterback Bryan Schor threw for three touchdowns and 242 yards. The Dukes ran for 5 yards per carry. The Bison tied for their lowest scoring output of the year at 17 points.

“I think if you ask any of our kids before winning that game, not a one of them would have flinched,” Houston said. “Every kid and coach believed we were gonna go in there and win.”

The Bison now have their revenge shot. Buckle up.

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junker-town · 7 years

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No. 1 James Madison taking on South Dakota State for an FCS title game berth

You can watch on ESPNU or WatchESPN. We’ll have score and other updates here throughout.

No. 1 James Madison is hosting No. 5 South Dakota State in an FCS playoffs semifinal Saturday in Harrisonburg, Va. The Dukes are the defending national champions. The winner of this game plays North Dakota State for the title in Frisco, Texas, on Jan. 6.

South Dakota State tied the game 7-7 with a touchdown drive at the start of the second quarter, culminating in a 9-yard pass from Taryn Christion to Jake Wieneke.

JMU forced five turnovers in the first quarter but only converted them into seven points. That allowed the Jackrabbits to stay in the game.

First quarter

JMU led 7-0 late in the first quarter. That was actually really good news for the Jackrabbits, who had already committed five turnovers on five possessions.

Pregame

Time, TV channel, and streaming info

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

Location: Bridgeforth Stadium, Harrisonburg, Va.

TV: ESPNU

Streaming: WatchESPN

South Dakota State vs. James Madison News

Madison's football head coach Mike Houston agrees to a 10-year extension

The school announced a 10-year contract extension that runs through the 2027 season.

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junker-town · 7 years

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South Dakota State vs. James Madison live stream: Time, TV schedule, and how to watch FCS playoffs online

South Dakota State and James Madison will do battle in the FCS semifinals.

Time, TV channel, and streaming info

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

Location: Bridgeforth Stadium, Harrisonburg, Va.

TV: ESPNU

Streaming: WatchESPN

South Dakota State vs. James Madison News

Madison's football head coach Mike Houston agrees to a 10-year extension

The school announced a 10-year contract extension that runs through the 2027 season.

0 notes