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Dukes Rank Second in First AFCA Coaches' Top 25
8/13/2018 1:00:00 PM | Football
WACO, Texas – James Madison was ranked second in the inaugural AFCA FCS Coaches' Top 25, which was released by the American Football Coaches Association on Monday afternoon. This comes a week after the Dukes were also selected second in the STATS FCS Preseason Top 25.
They finished the 2017 season with a 14-1 overall record, advancing the NCAA Division I National Championship game for the second straight year. The Dukes achieved the program's first-ever undefeated and untied regular season, going 11-0 to earn the top seed for the FCS Playoffs. JMU claimed its third straight CAA title and the second outright championship in a row. The Dukes became the CAA's first team to ever go 8-0 in conference play in back-to-back years.
JMU had won a program and CAA-record 26 straight games between the 2016 and 2017 seasons, which ranks second all-time in FCS history. The Dukes led the country in scoring defense, holding teams to just 11.1 points per game. They also paced the FCS in interceptions (31), takeaways (44) and team pass efficiency defense (83.12 rating).
Head Coach Mike Houston enters his third season at the helm, returning 10 starters from last year, including senior All-American Rashad Robinson who is a Buck Buchanan Award watch list honoree, a consensus Preseason All-American and the CAA's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Reeling in the top nod was defending champion North Dakota State, which received 23 of 26 first-place votes to enter 2018 ranked first. Following No. 2 JMU, which grabbed the remaining three first-place votes, were South Dakota at No. 3, Sam Houston State at No. 4 and Kennesaw State at No. 5.
The CAA boasts six teams in the top 25, as New Hampshire (9th), Elon (13th), Delaware (16th), Villanova (19th) and Stony Brook (22nd) were also ranked in the inaugural coaches' poll.
The Dukes open the season slate on Saturday, Sept. 1 at NC State. The 2018 season is presented by CarMax and tickets are on sale now at JMUTickets.com. Fans will have the opportunity to meet the 2018 Dukes on Saturday, Aug. 18 for Meet the Dukes Day, which runs 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Bridgeforth Stadium.
They finished the 2017 season with a 14-1 overall record, advancing the NCAA Division I National Championship game for the second straight year. The Dukes achieved the program's first-ever undefeated and untied regular season, going 11-0 to earn the top seed for the FCS Playoffs. JMU claimed its third straight CAA title and the second outright championship in a row. The Dukes became the CAA's first team to ever go 8-0 in conference play in back-to-back years.
JMU had won a program and CAA-record 26 straight games between the 2016 and 2017 seasons, which ranks second all-time in FCS history. The Dukes led the country in scoring defense, holding teams to just 11.1 points per game. They also paced the FCS in interceptions (31), takeaways (44) and team pass efficiency defense (83.12 rating).
Head Coach Mike Houston enters his third season at the helm, returning 10 starters from last year, including senior All-American Rashad Robinson who is a Buck Buchanan Award watch list honoree, a consensus Preseason All-American and the CAA's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Reeling in the top nod was defending champion North Dakota State, which received 23 of 26 first-place votes to enter 2018 ranked first. Following No. 2 JMU, which grabbed the remaining three first-place votes, were South Dakota at No. 3, Sam Houston State at No. 4 and Kennesaw State at No. 5.
The CAA boasts six teams in the top 25, as New Hampshire (9th), Elon (13th), Delaware (16th), Villanova (19th) and Stony Brook (22nd) were also ranked in the inaugural coaches' poll.
The Dukes open the season slate on Saturday, Sept. 1 at NC State. The 2018 season is presented by CarMax and tickets are on sale now at JMUTickets.com. Fans will have the opportunity to meet the 2018 Dukes on Saturday, Aug. 18 for Meet the Dukes Day, which runs 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Bridgeforth Stadium.
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