Getty Image / Lee Coleman
The JMU Dukes may be the best G5 team in the country this year. But, it seems very unlikely that they will be able to compete in the postseason following a denial of yet another waiver request to the NCAA for bowl eligibility.
The decision was announced Wednesday evening. The denial was sent to the Attorney General of Virginia, Jason Miyares, who requested the NCAA waive the two-year waiting period for postseason eligibility for moving up to the FBS.
Here's NCAA president Charlie Baker's response to the Virginia AG's letter. https://t.co/MafiE51ujQ pic.twitter.com/qklKQ83Kn1
— Shane Mettlen (@Shane_DNRSports) October 18, 2023
James Madison, located about two hours southwest of Washington DC in Harrisonburg, Virginia, was a longtime FCS power before making the jump to the FBS prior to last season. And, they immediately were one of the top teams in the Sun Belt, going 8-3 and 6-2 in conference playing, tying Coastal Carolina, who they beat, 47-7, for the top spot in the East division. They would have advanced to the conference title game, but were unable to due to the two-year postseason ban.
This year, expectations were high for the Dukes, and they’ve fulfilled those expectations so far. They’re 6-0 with a win over in-state rival Virginia, and are the 26th-ranked team in the AP Poll.
Many in the college football world think that they should be allowed to play in the postseason this year. But, the NCAA says the rule is in place to make sure that the student-athletes get acclimated to what they say are increased demands at that higher level. They also, understandably, want to prevent teams from yo-yo’ing back and forth when they think they have a great team.
But, neither of these are the case this year, and with the top-ranked G5 conference champion getting an automatic berth to a New Year’s Six game, the NCAA is potentially robbing the university of a defining moment like the one Boise State had when they beat Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.
As the letter notes, JMU could still get to play in a bowl game if there aren’t enough 6-6 teams to fill all the spots. But, that shouldn’t be a determining factor here. They’ve earned the right to play.