Historic JMU Season Ends in CFP First Round at Oregon

Saturday, December 20

Eugene, Ore.

7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT)

James Madison University

12-2 , 8-0

Oregon

12-1 , 8-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
James Madison	3	3	14	14	34
Oregon	13	21	14	3	51

Game Notes

12/20/2025 11:38:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights Postgame Press Conference Photo Gallery

By: Mike Barber

EUGENE, Ore. – The James Madison fans and marching band, seated in the southwest corner of Autzen Stadium chanted "J-M-U," as the final minutes ticked away.

The outcome of Saturday night's College Football Playoff first round game against fifth-seeded Oregon was no longer in doubt, and had not been for some time.

The Ducks were well on their way to a 51-34 win that put them in the quarterfinals, where they'll face Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl.

But the passionate, purple-clad faithful who had made the cross-country trek to watch the Dukes play wanted one last chance to salute an historic season.

These Dukes authored the greatest season in program history, winning 12 games, going undefeated in Sun Belt Conference play and beating Troy in the league title game.

Like JMU's 1983 baseball team, which became the first from the Commonwealth to reach the College World Series, the 2025 football team will always hold the distinction of being the first Virginia team in the CFP.

In the week leading up to Saturday's game, JMU defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler worried aloud about the Ducks' propensity for explosive plays.

Hitschler's concerns proved well founded.

JMU found consistent success moving the football on offense, but bogged down at times in the red zone and could not overcome Oregon's big plays.

The Ducks hit the Dukes for eight plays of 20 yards or more, four of which went for touchdowns.

Saturday, the Dukes' offense proved effective against a stout Oregon defense, becoming just the fourth team this season to score 20 points against the Ducks, joining Penn State, Indiana and USC, and the third to do it at Autzen Stadium. The Nittany Lions needed overtime to get there. JMU's 34 points were more than any of them.

The Dukes also became the first opponent to total 400 yards of offense against Oregon, then went on to surpass 500.

Quarterback Alonza Barnett threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns. The first came on a 50-yard catch-and-run to Nick DeGennaro. The second was a perfectly thrown ball into the end zone to running back George Pettaway.

DeGennaro caught five passes for 90 yards and threw a 50-yard completion to Landon Ellis on a trick play.

Running back Wayne Knight rushed for 110 yards, and finished ranked fourth all-time in single-season rushing yards.

JMU cornerbacks Elijah Culp and Justin Eaglin each intercepted Oregon quarterback Dante Moore who threw for four touchdowns and a career-high 313 yards.

Senior linebacker Trent Hendrick had a team-high nine tackles in his final game as a Duke.

The Ducks became the first team this season to pass for over 300 yards against JMU.

The Dukes came into the night boasting the nation's second-best rush defense, but Oregon ran for 205 yards, getting 8.5 yards per carry, and broke off runs of 23, 30, and 56, the latter going for a touchdown.

The Ducks scored touchdowns on their first five drives, while JMU settled for a field goal, a blocked field goal and three punts.

It took Oregon all of four plays to reach the end zone on its first possession, with Jamari Johnson hauling in a one-handed catch and stretching himself over the goalline for a 41-yard touchdown and a quick 6-0 lead for the Ducks.

The Dukes halved the Duck's early advantage. Using an impressive 15-play drive, one that included a pair of fourth-down conversions and ate 8:03 off the clock, JMU got a 30-yard field goal from Morgan Suarez to make it 6-3 with 5:14 in the first quarter.

The march was JMU's longest by time of the season.

But its next two possessions ended with a blocked field goal and a three-and-out and Oregon began putting distance between itself and the visitors.

The Ducks led 34-6 at the half, but - as they have all year - the Dukes kept coming.

Barnett hit DeGennaro and Pettaway for touchdowns, and tight end Lacota Dippre ran for a 2-yard yard score that trimmed Oregon's lead to 48-26 with 10:26 left. Barnett added a 1-yard run himself with 1:05 to play, and passed for a 2-point conversion, to reach the 51-34 final.

That is how the Dukes' remarkable 2025 campaign ended.

Saturday was the final game for coach Bob Chesney, who has accepted the same post at UCLA. He finished 21-6 in two seasons at JMU, leading the Dukes to the program's first bowl win, a victory in last year's Boca Raton Bowl, and then this year's CFP.

JMU has hired former Florida and Louisiana coach Billy Napier to succeed Chesney. Napier stayed back in Harrisonburg, working on his staff and roster.

For the Dukes, building on the success of the 2026 season starts now.