Week 5 · FinalW
vs. Marshall45–17+28 margin
Pregame 37–17
Game detailsSaturday Index
Loading team intelligenceBringing the latest verified football information into focus.
Saturday Index
Loading team intelligenceBringing the latest verified football information into focus.
Sun Belt · 2026 · Week 8
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0 · Cropped for display
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Hosting
Thursday, October 29 · 7:30 PM EDT
The season, taking shape
Final scores show James Madison first. Oldest to newest.
vs. MarshallPregame 37–17
Game details
at Georgia SouthernPregame 33–19
Game details
vs. Georgia StatePregame
Original full-season forecast
This forecast retains the original probabilities for the full schedule. It does not update with completed results or this week’s forecast.
2026 results
Current record, team efficiency, player production, and verified results from completed games.
Current record
7-17 wins · 1 lossThrough 8 completed gamesLoading player usage…
Original season forecast
The original Sun Belt forecast, retained alongside current results.
Sun Belt projected standing
#1
7-1 projected · 6.7 expected conference wins · conference favorite.
Preseason baseline
2025 percentiles retained as preseason context; current results and player production lead this page.
2025 FBS percentile scale · 50 is average
Incoming class
National and conference recruiting ranks, confirmed commitments, and the highest-ranked recruits in this class.
Top committed recruits
James Madison2026 transfer movement
Incoming and outgoing transfer activity, with rated FBS-to-FBS moves below.
Incoming Transfers
James MadisonOutgoing Transfers
James MadisonSeason schedule
Completed games show final results. Upcoming games use this week’s forecast where available; later games retain their published season outlook.
Detailed football intelligence
The full team identity, offense, defense, and supporting evidence.
Team identity
Last season, James Madison tried to lean on the running game; the approach consistently kept the offense on schedule.
Why it matters
The run game was James Madison's steadier way to stay ahead of the chains; opponents have to win early fits without handing away play action.
at App StatePregame 34–19
Game detailsPregame comparisons use preserved published forecasts. Results include wins and losses.
At a glance
Current form leads the outlook.
2026 rates aggregate verified completed-game box scores. EPA is expected points added per play.
| Player | C/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camden Coleman | 132/213 | 1568 | 14 | 2 |
| JC Evans | 18/26 | 298 | 5 | 0 |
| Arrington Maiden | 7/8 | 111 | 2 | 0 |
| Player | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Pettaway | 125 | 812 | 6.5 | 8 |
| Nick Herman | 45 | 300 | 6.7 | 3 |
| Seth Cromwell | 42 | 179 | 4.3 | 2 |
| Player | REC | YDS | AVG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corey Scott | 24 | 371 | 15.5 | 4 |
| Cole Keller | 20 | 340 | 17.0 | 5 |
| Michael Scott | 22 | 288 | 13.1 | 2 |
| Player | TOT | SOLO | TFL | SACK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nakian Jackson | 58 | 27 | 5.5 | 2.5 |
| JT Hooten | 52 | 30 | 5.5 | 3 |
| Jayon Harvey | 51 | 39 | 1.5 | 0 |
Thursday, October 22 · Kidd Brewer Stadium
Saturday, October 17 · Bridgeforth Stadium
Saturday, October 10 · Allen E. Paulson Stadium
Profile high point
Down-to-down defense held the profile's highest percentile position.Profile low point
Big-play prevention held the lowest percentile position among the profile's strength measures.
The defense's control of ordinary downs is what James Madison can trust most.
Why it matters
That unit is the most credible foundation for making opponents string together clean drives; passing efficiency remains the first counter an opponent should test.
James Madison did not show one unit opponents could treat as an automatic target; the passing game is only the first place to look.
What matters
James Madison's lowest-rated unit still finished above the national average last season, so opponents do not have an obvious weakness to attack.
James Madison is at its best when it can use the running game to control early downs and finish drives; an average pace puts more weight on winning ordinary downs.
What matters
James Madison's run-first structure played at a balanced pace. The run game finished top-tier, while the pass game finished above-average.
Inside the team
Open a section for the football detail and supporting numbers.
The down-to-down question that determines whether the offense can keep both the run and pass available.
Opponents have to keep James Madison's run game from turning first down into second-and-manageable.
What matters
Early run success keeps play action alive and prevents the defense from dictating obvious passing downs.
The pace, play selection, and methods this offense uses to stay on schedule.
James Madison played at a balanced pace in 2025.
Why it matters
At that pace, James Madison cannot count on extra possessions or expect to shorten the game.
James Madison's prior passing record was above-average.
Why it matters
James Madison's offense needs protection, field position, or explosive variance when ordinary dropbacks do not create enough value.
James Madison's prior rushing record was top-tier.
Why it matters
A sustainable run game keeps James Madison's play action credible and limits obvious passing situations.
James Madison's explosive-play upside came with real defensive volatility.
Why it matters
That mix can produce fast scoring swings in either direction and makes missed tackles or coverage busts especially expensive.
How consistently the offense creates manageable situations and the defense prevents them.
James Madison won ordinary downs on both sides of the ball.
Why it matters
James Madison's success rate shows whether it can sustain drives and get stops without relying on sacks, turnovers, or isolated big plays.
Opponent-adjusted EPA identifies the run game as James Madison's stronger offensive unit.
Why it matters
Forcing longer passing situations is the clearest way to move the offense away from its stronger adjusted unit.
Where the defense can create pressure, control the run, and end drives.
James Madison's prior defense was top-tier overall, with no clear separation among its main units.
Why it matters
That balance makes it harder for an offense to choose one automatic target; the defense still has to win early downs before any unit can dictate the offensive options.
James Madison's available disruption measures ranked among the best in the country last season; a charted pressure rate is not available.
Why it matters
Sustained disruption can create negative plays and give James Madison a better chance to end drives before third down.
James Madison's disruption regularly finished at the quarterback.
What matters
Both sack production and front-seven disruption cleared the FBS midpoint.
Why it matters
A dependable run front can let James Madison create obvious passing downs without committing extra bodies to the box.
