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James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Dukes to Open Season Ranked No. 2 in STATS FCS Top 25
8/6/2018 12:49:00 PM | Football
CHICAGO, Ill. – James Madison enters the 2018 season as one of the nation's favorites to make it back to Frisco, as it is ranked No. 2 in the STATS FCS Preseason Top 25, the organization announced Monday.
The Dukes finished the 2017 season with a 14-1 overall record, advancing the NCAA Division I National Championship game for the second straight year. They 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).
Predicted to win the CAA for a fourth straight season, JMU enters 2018 under the leadership of third-year Head Coach Mike Houston. The Dukes return 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.
JMU had five players recognized on the STATS Preseason All-America Teams in Robinson (First Team), redshirt sophomores D'Angelo Amos (Second Team) and Daniel Caracciolo (Second Team), redshirt senior Jimmy Moreland (Third Team) and redshirt junior Jahee Jackson (Third Team).
Defending national champion North Dakota State was overwhelmingly selected as the No. 1 team, receiving 151 of 157 first-place votes. Following second-ranked JMU, which garnered six first-place votes were South Dakota State at No. 3, Sam Houston State at No. 4 and Kennesaw State at No. 5.
The CAA led the country with six nationally-ranked teams, as New Hampshire (7th), Elon (12th), Delaware (15th), Villanova (19th) and Stony Brook (20th) were also ranked in the preseason top 25.
The American Football Coaches Association will announce the first FCS Coaches Poll next Monday, Aug. 13.
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.
The Dukes finished the 2017 season with a 14-1 overall record, advancing the NCAA Division I National Championship game for the second straight year. They 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).
Predicted to win the CAA for a fourth straight season, JMU enters 2018 under the leadership of third-year Head Coach Mike Houston. The Dukes return 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.
JMU had five players recognized on the STATS Preseason All-America Teams in Robinson (First Team), redshirt sophomores D'Angelo Amos (Second Team) and Daniel Caracciolo (Second Team), redshirt senior Jimmy Moreland (Third Team) and redshirt junior Jahee Jackson (Third Team).
Defending national champion North Dakota State was overwhelmingly selected as the No. 1 team, receiving 151 of 157 first-place votes. Following second-ranked JMU, which garnered six first-place votes were South Dakota State at No. 3, Sam Houston State at No. 4 and Kennesaw State at No. 5.
The CAA led the country with six nationally-ranked teams, as New Hampshire (7th), Elon (12th), Delaware (15th), Villanova (19th) and Stony Brook (20th) were also ranked in the preseason top 25.
The American Football Coaches Association will announce the first FCS Coaches Poll next Monday, Aug. 13.
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.
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