The Associated Press’ Top 25 poll had an unexpected — but well-deserved — entrant this week.
For the first time ever, James Madison is nationally ranked as it cracked the Top 25 at No. 25 on Sunday after a 5-0 start. The Dukes received 105 total votes out of 63 voters.
Of course, the Harrisonburg, Virginia, school wasn’t eligible to be ranked before this season. After all, this is the program’s first year in the FBS after spending years as an FCS school. They are the third school in FBS history to leave the FCS and start 5-0, joining University of Texas at San Antonio in 2012 and Florida Atlantic in 2004. None of those other teams started the year 6-0.
But the Dukes have earned the ranking thanks to wins over schools like Middle Tennessee and App State — two programs that have scored major upsets this fall by beating Miami and Texas A&M, respectively. James Madison is coming off a 42-20 win over Arkansas State this past weekend.
The Dukes look to continue their undefeated streak Saturday when they take on Georgia Southern.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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