James Madison linebacker Jailin Walker (25) celebrates after returning an interception for a landing throughout the first half of an NCAA soccer sport towards Texas State in Harrisonburg, Va., Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. Daniel Lin, Each day Information-File By way of AP
The James Madison Dukes are proving virtually everybody incorrect.
In concept, there's a sizable expertise gulf between the Soccer Bowl Subdivision and Soccer Championship Subdivision of Division I school soccer. Yearly, many FBS colleges pay FCS colleges good cash to play, and these pay-to-play video games are sometimes seen as simple wins for FBS groups.
Nevertheless, James Madison made the transition from the FCS to the FBS ranks this season, becoming a member of the Solar Belt Convention as a part of the widespread convention realignment that occurred final fall, beginning with the strikes of Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC.
Up to now, the Dukes are displaying that the gulf between the subdivisions is smaller than many understand.
As of Week 6, James Madison is undefeated (5-0), ranked within the AP Prime 25 School Soccer Ballot (No. 25) and is the second-highest ranked Group of 5 workforce within the nation, behind solely No. 21 Cincinnati.
Per the Related Press’ Ralph D. Russo, James Madison is the primary workforce going again to 1978, when Division 1 break up into I-A and I-AA, to be ranked in its first season transitioning to the next subdivision.
Most lately, James Madison defeated Arkansas State 42-20, and the Dukes have been equally dominant in most of their video games.
Excluding a 32-28 win over Appalachian State — the identical Appalachian State that upset Texas A&M — the Dukes have overwhelmed their opponents (three FBS and one FCS) by a mean of 35.5 factors.
James Madison at present ranks No. 16 within the nation in whole offense, averaging 488.6 yards per sport, and No. 2 in whole protection, giving up simply 227.4 yards per sport.
The Dukes had been the most effective groups on the FCS degree prior to creating the leap to the FBS. James Madison had certified for the FCS playoffs yearly since 2014, received the the nationwide championship in 2016 and completed as nationwide runners-up in 2017 and 2019.
James Madison’s schedule is such that the Dukes have an opportunity at a particular season, with solely undefeated Coastal Carolina and a Energy 5 program in Louisville standing as clear-cut challenges to an ideal file.
Per NCAA guidelines, nevertheless, James Madison just isn't eligible to play in a bowl sport this season, which means even when the Dukes finish the 12 months because the top-ranked Group of 5 workforce, they are going to be unable to play in a New 12 months’s Six bowl.
There have been loads of intriguing tales this faculty soccer season, with Kansas experiencing a dramatic resurgence, and the return of Tennessee and USC to the highest 10 to call a pair, however James Madison’s success is almost unprecedented.