Top Dogs: James Madison Captures 2025 Sun Belt Football Championship

Friday, December 5

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

12-1 , 8-0

Troy

8-5 , 6-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Troy

James Madison

Top Dogs: James Madison Captures 2025 Sun Belt Football Championship

12/5/2025 11:30:00 PM | Football

Box Score Postgame Press Conference Highlights Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison pitched a second-half shutout and added two fourth-quarter touchdowns to claim the 2025 Credit Union 1 Sun Belt Football Championship in a 31-14 triumph over Troy on Friday night at Bridgeforth Stadium.

Holding on to a 17-14 lead late in the fourth quarter, Alonza Barnett III bounced off multiple defenders for a 26-yard rushing touchdown to cap off an 83-yard drive to make it 24-14 with 4:11 to play. On Troy's (8-5, 6-2 Sun Belt) ensuing possession, a strip-sack by Sahir West was recovered by Drew Spinogatti, who returned it 22 yards to the house for the final score of the evening.

JMU's (12-1) victory was fueled by Wayne Knight, who set a Sun Belt Football Championship game record with 234 all-purpose yards to earn MVP honors. Knight went for a career-high 212 yards on the ground, highlighted by a 73-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

The Dukes' defense stood tall, producing Sun Belt title game records in tackles for loss (14) and sacks (8). In the second half, the Trojans were limited to 45 total yards, including -17 on the ground. Additionally, Troy was held to 1-of-7 (.143) on third downs and 0-for-2 on fourth downs over the final two quarters.

Barnett finished 10-for-25 for 93 yards with a touchdown and an interception and rushed for 85 yards and a score. Braeden Wisloski made a pair of catches for 31 yards and hauled in the Dukes' lone receiving touchdown. Nick DeGennaro, Jaylan Sanchez and Knight all came away with two receptions in the win.

On defense, West set career highs in total tackles (10), tackles for loss (5.5) and sacks (3.0). Xavier Holmes registered a career-best 2.5 sacks, while Elijah Culp made nine stops with seven solo tackles along with a pass breakup. DJ Barksdale posted a career-high three breakups as the Dukes tallied nine total.

For Troy (8-5), Goose Crowder was 15-of-34 for 196 yards while being sacked five times. Tae Meadows scored a touchdown but managed just 10 rushing yards, as the Trojans were held to -27 as a team. That mark was the lowest JMU has ever held a FBS opponent and the fourth time it's allowed negative rushing yards since 2023.

HOW IT HAPPENED

JMU got on the board first late in the first quarter on a Morgan Suarez 40-yard field goal.
Troy cashed in on a penalty-extending drive, as Crowder ran it in from a yard out to give Troy a 7-3 lead.
JMU answered one play later on Knight's 73-yard touchdown scamper, most of which came after contact.
The lead extended to 17-7 on Wisloski's acrobatic 26-yard touchdown catch, but Troy cut it to 17-14 on a Meadows two-yard touchdown before the half.
Late in the fourth, Barnett sprung free for a 26-yard touchdown run to make it 24-14 with 4:11 to play.
On the ensuing drive, West and Spinogatti clinched it with a strip sack for a touchdown with 3:17 to go.

GAME NOTES

The win marks James Madison's first conference crown since the 2021 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) title. It is the 11th conference championship in program history.
JMU notched its 12th win of the season, the first time it has eclipsed 12 wins since the 2021 season.
The Dukes have now won 11 straight games. It is the longest in-season winning streak since rattling off 14 consecutive wins in the 2019 season.
Knight is the first JMU player with 200 or more rushing yards since Marcus Marshall had 203 versus South Dakota State on Dec. 16, 2017.
Additionally, Knight's 212 rushing yards are the 10th-most in a single game in program history and the second-most in a postseason game.
JMU pitched a second-half shutout for the sixth time this season, holding Troy to 45 total yards in the second half.
Troy finished with -26 rushing yards, including -17 in the second half. Taking out the 141 in the second half Marshall gained, the other eight SBC opponents managed just two rushing yards in the second half.
JMU finished with eight sacks and 14 tackles for loss – both setting Sun Belt title game records.
Wayne Knight's 73-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was a career-long run and the longest in Sun Belt Championship history.
Sahir West finished with a career-high 3.0 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. Both marks set a Sun Belt title game record.
Wayne Knight notched his fourth 100-yard rushing effort of the season – making him the first JMU player to record four 100-yard games in the same season since Percy Agyei-Obese had five in the 2021 spring season.
Knight sits No. 3 on the JMU single-season all-purpose yards list and eighth in single-season rushing.