| Year: | 2023 |
| Team: | James Madison Dukes |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Sun Belt Conference |
| Division: | East Division |
| Short Conf: | Sun Belt |
| Record: | 11–2 |
| Conf Record: | 7–1 |
| Head Coach: | Curt Cignetti |
| Hc Games: | regular season |
| Head Coach2: | Damian Wroblewski |
| Hc Games2: | interim, bowl game |
| Hc Year: | 5th |
| Off Coach: | Mike Shanahan |
| Oc Year: | 3rd |
| Off Scheme: | Spread |
| Def Coach: | Bryant Haines |
| Dc Year: | 2nd |
| Def Scheme: | 4–2–5 |
| Stadium: | Bridgeforth Stadium |
| Champion: | Sun Belt East Division champion |
| Bowl: | Armed Forces Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | L 21–31 vs. Air Force |
The 2023 James Madison Dukes football team represented James Madison University as a member of the East Division of the Sun Belt Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Curt Cignetti, the Dukes played home games at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Virginia as members of the East division of the Sun Belt Conference.
The season was the final year of a two-year transition from the Football Championship Subdivision. The team was not originally eligible for a bowl game;[1] a request for a waiver was denied by the NCAA in August,[2] and a waiver for relief was also denied in November.[3] However, as there were not enough bowl eligible teams, they were given a berth. JMU was selected to play in the Armed Forces Bowl.[4]
In the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, the Dukes were picked to finish in first place in the East division.[5]
| Media poll (East division) | |||
| 1 | James Madison | 78 (4) | |
| 2 | Appalachian State | 75 (4) | |
| 3 | Coastal Carolina | 71 (1) | |
| 4 | Marshall | 68 (1) | |
| 5 | Georgia Southern | 52 (1) | |
| 6 | Georgia State | 31 | |
| 7 | Old Dominion | 17 | |
The football schedule was announced February 24, 2023.[6]
See also: 2023 Bucknell Bison football team.
See also: 2023 Virginia Cavaliers football team.
See also: 2023 Troy Trojans football team.
See also: 2023 Utah State Aggies football team.
See also: 2023 South Alabama Jaguars football team.
| Statistics | USA | JMU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 20 | 15 |
| Total yards | 326 | 377 |
| Rushing yards | 3 | 7 |
| Passing yards | 12 | 6 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 28–50–2 | 12–22–1 |
| Time of possession | 28:46 | 31:14 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Alabama | Passing | 28/50, 299 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT | |
| Rushing | 12 carries, 36 yards, TD | ||
| Receiving | 6 receptions, 132 yards | ||
| James Madison | Passing | 12/22, 241 yards, 3 TD, INT | |
| Rushing | Jordan McCloud | 10 carries, 61 yards | |
| Receiving | 3 receptions, 116 yards, 2 TD |
See also: 2023 Georgia Southern Eagles football team.
See also: 2023 Marshall Thundering Herd football team.
See also: 2023 Old Dominion Monarchs football team and Royal Rivalry.
See also: 2023 Georgia State Panthers football team.
| Statistics | JMU | GSU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Turnovers | ||
| Time of possession | ||
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Madison | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| Georgia State | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
See also: 2023 UConn Huskies football team. Statistics
| Statistics | CONN | JMU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 15 | 23 |
| Total yards | 319 | 503 |
| Rushing yards | 79 | 46 |
| Passing yards | 240 | 457 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:08 | 30:52 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| UConn | Passing | Ta'Quan Roberson | 20/36, 207 yds |
| Rushing | Cam Edwards | 12 att, 43 yds | |
| Receiving | Cameron Ross | 4 rec, 91 yds | |
| James Madison | Passing | Jordan McCloud | 33/37, 457 yds, 4 TDs |
| Rushing | Kaelon Black | 4 att, 38 yds | |
| Receiving | Reggie Brown | 9 rec, 202 yds, 2 TDs |
See also: 2023 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team.
See also: 2023 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team.