James Madison won’t need to take legal action against the NCAA after all.
Following the final week of regular-season football, the Dukes will in fact be able to play in a bowl because not enough teams crossed the six-win threshold to fill the 82 bowl spots.
JMU (11-1), as well as Jacksonville State (8-4), were previously ineligible for a bowl due to being in their second years of transition from FCS to FBS. After a 10-0 start, the Dukes requested an NCAA waiver for bowl eligibility, but it was denied, prompting the Virginia Attorney General to threaten legal action. After losing its first game last week, JMU decided not to follow through on the threat, but kept it open as a possibility. Now, those plans can now be scrapped altogether. Both teams are in.
🎳 Let's go bowling, JMU Nation!
📰 https://t.co/tDcliFN0Wy#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/uLcbFRCoN8
— JMU Football (@JMUFootball) November 26, 2023
History Made‼️#HardEdge | #EarnSuccess pic.twitter.com/lNgKFpCiMe
— Jax State Football (@JaxStateFB) November 26, 2023
This is great news for those teams and their fans, though it won’t likely make people feel any better about the two-year grace period that will remain in place for future teams making the leap.
