2025 FBS Football Thread

[BDKJMU]

JMU‘s SOS problem:
One the SBC has gotten weaker the last few seasons. Example. 2022 SBC:
-App won @ #6 TX A&M
-Marshall won @ #8 Notre Dame
-GSU won @ Nebraska
2025 SBC isn‘t nearly as good. No signature OOC win.

2nd against the SBC West JMU was scheduled with ULL and TX St, the preseason #1 and #2 picks in the West. ULL is 4-6/3-3, and TX St is 3-6/0-5 (behind the highest paid HC in the SBC, what a joke).

3rd OOC. JMU scheduled Weber St, Louisville, Liberty and Washington St (11/15)
-Stomping Weber was worthless.
-Lousiville is very good: won @ #16 (then #2) Miami, @ #23 Pitt, and beat #24 JMU. Only 2 losses in OT, one to #20 UVA. JMU was leading L‘ville 14-6 midway through the 3rd qtr (had held at that point to only 125 yds) until the wheels feel off (Last 1.5 qtrs L‘ville 2 big 75-80 yd plays and a sack fumble TD in end zone. JMU ended game on L‘ville 1 yrd line as time expired- failing to score there hurt optics. JMU‘s QB wasn’t close to 100% after full ACL surgery 9 months earlier (and probably wasn‘t till mid Oct) so we’re doing a cockamamie QB rotation. I wish that game was schedule late Oct or Nov..

-Liberty last 2 seasons regular season was 13-0 and 8-3. Now they are 3-5 (with by far the most overpaid G5 HC in 6 million $$$ Chadwell).

-Washington St last year 1st games was 8-1 and ranked. Now WSU aka S Dakota St West is a Jekyll and Hyde 4-5. (yeah I know they imploded down the stretch to finish 8-5).

When you make your schedule you don‘t know who is going to be good, esp in today’s landscape of massive roster turnover every season due to NIL/Portal.

I agree, I don't think JMU's done anything to blame themselves for how the schedule turned out. Liberty being down was tough, and Washington St is just an example of how things could go in terms of conference shakeups. And yes, the Sun Belt hasn't been nearly as good as in past years, so that dip isn't helping either. USF still has Navy this weekend, but I've seen almost all of Navy's games this weekend and while they're still potent on offense, their defense isn't anything to write home about. USF is almost a double digit favorite for a reason. Still, always a chance for an upset and Navy's offense is still pretty good and Horvath will play. If USF did lose, would any of the other 2 loss American teams (Navy, Tulane, Memphis) or even 1 loss North Texas sneak past JMU in the CFP rankings? North Texas beat Washington St 59-10, so JMU has that marker to possibly surpass.

I’m expecting Navy to lose to USF, but last year Navy did did win @ USF 28-7, and I was thinking this year‘s Navy might be close to last year (10-3) record wise.

UNT also has the weakest schedule of the AAC contenders- FCS and no P4. Curbed stomped by USF. DNP Memphis and Tulane. But yeah, I wouldn‘t want the G5 spot to come down to a 12-1 JMU and a 12-1 UNT.

That Jekyl and Hyde WA St team BTW also lost @ #7 Ole Miss 24-21 @ #19 UVA 22-20.

And in other news, JMU‘s SOS took another sleight hit last night as Louisville missed a PAT and TWO FG and is upset by Clempson 20-19. L‘ville is still 3-1 vs ranked with 2 OT losses and a 1 point loss.

[BDKJMU]

Damnit. A distraction JMU doesn‘t need for another month. This distraction is hitting most of the top G5 HC with all the P4 vacancies. In the last 24 hrs. It had looked like VT was going to ink Franklin.
Virginia Tech reportedly shifting search towards Sun Belt coach
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-fo ... 4CSxWYEbEg

Barring a JMU implosion (like losing 2 of the next 3 and missing the SBC title game), Chesney will be gone after this season. The nightmare scenario is JMU goes 12-1, doesn‘t get into the CFP, Chesney bolts with most of the staff, and JMU is left with skeleton staff supplemented by a couple Div III and HS coaches, with a couple players sitting out and a double digit with a foot out the door, in a toilet bowl that is nothing more than a glorified exhibition game like happened in 2023 with 11-1 JMU and Cignetti bolting to Indiana.

Now it is known that JMU wants to following the same blueprint that did with Cignetti and Chesney: hire someone with big success at DIV II & FCS in the region/eastern US, vs a P4 position coach or G5 coordinator with no successful HC track record. I said on the JMU board (these names had already been mentioned):

The Navy OC Drew Cronic was mentioned on here before. Was a WR coach at JMU 1999-2001. Succeeded bigly as head coach at Div III Reinhardt, at DIV II Lenoir-Rhyne, and FCS Mercer. The Navy offense has been outstanding the last 2 seasons Cronic has been OC. But his son is a freshman on Navy‘s team, so I‘m not sure he‘d leave in the next 3 seasons.

The Mercer HC Mike Jacobs succeeded Cronic at Lenoir Rhyne and Mercer, and has succeeded even more bigly at Mercer. Played at Ohio State.
#8 Mercer currently 8-1.

The Lehigh HC Kevin Cahill yep. A mid/late 40s PA guy with New England ties that has turned a Patriot into an FCS powerhouse. #4 Lehigh currently 10-0. Where have we heard that before?

[BDKJMU]

I agree, I don't think JMU's done anything to blame themselves for how the schedule turned out. Liberty being down was tough, and Washington St is just an example of how things could go in terms of conference shakeups. And yes, the Sun Belt hasn't been nearly as good as in past years, so that dip isn't helping either. USF still has Navy this weekend, but I've seen almost all of Navy's games this weekend and while they're still potent on offense, their defense isn't anything to write home about. USF is almost a double digit favorite for a reason. Still, always a chance for an upset and Navy's offense is still pretty good and Horvath will play. If USF did lose, would any of the other 2 loss American teams (Navy, Tulane, Memphis) or even 1 loss North Texas sneak past JMU in the CFP rankings? North Texas beat Washington St 59-10, so JMU has that marker to possibly surpass.

I’m expecting Navy to lose to USF, but last year Navy did did win @ USF 28-7, and I was thinking this year‘s Navy might be close to last year (10-3) record wise.

UNT also has the weakest schedule of the AAC contenders- FCS and no P4. Curbed stomped by USF. DNP Memphis and Tulane. But yeah, I wouldn‘t want the G5 spot to come down to a 12-1 JMU and a 12-1 UNT.

That Jekyl and Hyde WA St team BTW also lost @ #7 Ole Miss 24-21 @ #19 UVA 22-20.

And in other news, JMU‘s SOS took another sleight hit last night as Louisville missed a PAT and TWO FG and is upset by Clempson 20-19. L‘ville is still 3-1 vs ranked with 2 OT losses and a 1 point loss.

Nice win Navy!
And those are 2 Atrocious defenses. USF has no business playing in the CFP with that defense. Navy made them look silly.

[SuperHornet]

I've always liked S. Florida, largely because my position coach was their founding and two-time Offensive Coordinator. But I couldn't believe how all the pre-game pundits essentially had the Bulls entered in the Postseason Invitational Tournament with indelible ink before they'd even taken a snap against a solid team like Navy. I'm SO happy the Mids won.

[BDKJMU]

JMU‘s SOS problem:
One the SBC has gotten weaker the last few seasons. Example. 2022 SBC:
-App won @ #6 TX A&M
-Marshall won @ #8 Notre Dame
-GSU won @ Nebraska
2025 SBC isn‘t nearly as good. No signature OOC win.

2nd against the SBC West JMU was scheduled with ULL and TX St, the preseason #1 and #2 picks in the West. ULL is 4-6/3-3, and TX St is 3-6/0-5 (behind the highest paid HC in the SBC, what a joke).

3rd OOC. JMU scheduled Weber St, Louisville, Liberty and Washington St (11/15)
-Stomping Weber was worthless.
-Lousiville is very good: won @ #16 (then #2) Miami, @ #23 Pitt, and beat #24 JMU. Only 2 losses in OT, one to #20 UVA. JMU was leading L‘ville 14-6 midway through the 3rd qtr (had held at that point to only 125 yds) until the wheels feel off (Last 1.5 qtrs L‘ville 2 big 75-80 yd plays and a sack fumble TD in end zone. JMU ended game on L‘ville 1 yrd line as time expired- failing to score there hurt optics. JMU‘s QB wasn’t close to 100% after full ACL surgery 9 months earlier (and probably wasn‘t till mid Oct) so we’re doing a cockamamie QB rotation. I wish that game was schedule late Oct or Nov..

-Liberty last 2 seasons regular season was 13-0 and 8-3. Now they are 3-5 (with by far the most overpaid G5 HC in 6 million $$$ Chadwell).

-Washington St last year 1st games was 8-1 and ranked. Now WSU aka S Dakota St West is a Jekyll and Hyde 4-5. (yeah I know they imploded down the stretch to finish 8-5).

When you make your schedule you don‘t know who is going to be good, esp in today’s landscape of massive roster turnover every season due to NIL/Portal.

I agree, I don't think JMU's done anything to blame themselves for how the schedule turned out. Liberty being down was tough, and Washington St is just an example of how things could go in terms of conference shakeups. And yes, the Sun Belt hasn't been nearly as good as in past years, so that dip isn't helping either. USF still has Navy this weekend, but I've seen almost all of Navy's games this weekend and while they're still potent on offense, their defense isn't anything to write home about. USF is almost a double digit favorite for a reason. Still, always a chance for an upset and Navy's offense is still pretty good and Horvath will play. If USF did lose, would any of the other 2 loss American teams (Navy, Tulane, Memphis) or even 1 loss North Texas sneak past JMU in the CFP rankings? North Texas beat Washington St 59-10, so JMU has that marker to possibly surpass.

My how things can change in a day.
-USF is upset by Navy, getting exposed with a Swiss cheese defende

-Memphis is upset by ECU.

-JMU puts an epic beatdown on App State 58-10. (JMU Even had a pick 6 called back due to roughing passer.)
Total offense:
JMU 627, App 146 (Was 472-29 after 3 qtrs when JMU had more points than App had yds).
JMU rushed for 7 TDS. App rushed for 1 yard.
App 0 for 11 on 3rd down.

JMU might have had a chip on their shoulder from the lack of respect by the playoff committee. Very good offense, and maybe the top defense in G5 (Before today 8th in Total Defense in all of FBS). The 3 AAC contenders left are all bad defenses.

It comes down to:
-1 loss JMU:
-1 loss UNT. DNP a P4, Tulane, Memphis, ECU, so weakest schedule of the AAC. Beat Navy, was boat raced by USF. Really good offense, swiss cheese defense
-2 loss Tulane: Win over Duke but boat raced by Ole Miss and a BAD 3 TD loss to UTSA. Horrendous defense (103 in Total Defense).
-2 loss Navy (would have win @ Memphis and the AAC CCG but would have only 10 wins to JMU‘s 12). Great Triple option, terrible defense (94th in Total defense).

[AshevilleApp]

Pretty convincing loss yesterday. Ironically, App could still finish 6-6, and become bowl eligible. Crazy.

[BDKJMU]

Shown on College Football Final

[GannonFan]

I agree, I don't think JMU's done anything to blame themselves for how the schedule turned out. Liberty being down was tough, and Washington St is just an example of how things could go in terms of conference shakeups. And yes, the Sun Belt hasn't been nearly as good as in past years, so that dip isn't helping either. USF still has Navy this weekend, but I've seen almost all of Navy's games this weekend and while they're still potent on offense, their defense isn't anything to write home about. USF is almost a double digit favorite for a reason. Still, always a chance for an upset and Navy's offense is still pretty good and Horvath will play. If USF did lose, would any of the other 2 loss American teams (Navy, Tulane, Memphis) or even 1 loss North Texas sneak past JMU in the CFP rankings? North Texas beat Washington St 59-10, so JMU has that marker to possibly surpass.

My how things can change in a day.
-USF is upset by Navy, getting exposed with a Swiss cheese defende

-Memphis is upset by ECU.

-JMU puts an epic beatdown on App State 58-10. (JMU Even had a pick 6 called back due to roughing passer.)
Total offense:
JMU 627, App 146 (Was 472-29 after 3 qtrs when JMU had more points than App had yds).
JMU rushed for 7 TDS. App rushed for 1 yard.
App 0 for 11 on 3rd down.

JMU might have had a chip on their shoulder from the lack of respect by the playoff committee. Very good offense, and maybe the top defense in G5 (Before today 8th in Total Defense in all of FBS). The 3 AAC contenders left are all bad defenses.

It comes down to:
-1 loss JMU:
-1 loss UNT. DNP a P4, Tulane, Memphis, ECU, so weakest schedule of the AAC. Beat Navy, was boat raced by USF. Really good offense, swiss cheese defense
-2 loss Tulane: Win over Duke but boat raced by Ole Miss and a BAD 3 TD loss to UTSA. Horrendous defense (103 in Total Defense).
-2 loss Navy (would have win @ Memphis and the AAC CCG but would have only 10 wins to JMU‘s 12). Great Triple option, terrible defense (94th in Total defense).

Yeah, it was shocking early on in that USF/Navy game that USF couldn't keep track of running backs coming through the line of scrimmage. They lost the FB once and they repeatedly lost guys going out on patterns. Any time Navy went wide they really had trouble staying with it, including the backup Navy QB getting a big TD run late in the game. Even more so, I thought USF's offense was just relying on the chunk play - when those weren't hitting, they just looked pedestrian. I texted my brother during the game that I was shocked this team had won at Florida earlier in the year.

It's definitely possible for JMU now, although with North Texas shooting into the AP poll after not being ranked, you could see a 9-1 North Texas team ahead of JMU in the all important CFP Poll. North Texas is likely to win out, they have Rice and Temple left (oddly, Temple could remain bowl-ineligible since they have Tulane and North Texas left). Interesting note is that North Texas and JMU do have the common opponent in Washington St, both playing them at home. North Texas blew the doors off Washington St, 59-10 early in the season. While it's unfair to compare against common opponents that far apart (UNT played WSU back on 9/13, so it's a little more than a two month stretch), a close win by JMU might be enough for people to go with UNT. The American does still have the benefit of being the better conference this year, definitely a down year for the Sun Belt is not helping JMU's cause.

[BDKJMU]

My how things can change in a day.
-USF is upset by Navy, getting exposed with a Swiss cheese defende

-Memphis is upset by ECU.

-JMU puts an epic beatdown on App State 58-10. (JMU Even had a pick 6 called back due to roughing passer.)
Total offense:
JMU 627, App 146 (Was 472-29 after 3 qtrs when JMU had more points than App had yds).
JMU rushed for 7 TDS. App rushed for 1 yard.
App 0 for 11 on 3rd down.

JMU might have had a chip on their shoulder from the lack of respect by the playoff committee. Very good offense, and maybe the top defense in G5 (Before today 8th in Total Defense in all of FBS). The 3 AAC contenders left are all bad defenses.

It comes down to:
-1 loss JMU:
-1 loss UNT. DNP a P4, Tulane, Memphis, ECU, so weakest schedule of the AAC. Beat Navy, was boat raced by USF. Really good offense, swiss cheese defense
-2 loss Tulane: Win over Duke but boat raced by Ole Miss and a BAD 3 TD loss to UTSA. Horrendous defense (103 in Total Defense).
-2 loss Navy (would have win @ Memphis and the AAC CCG but would have only 10 wins to JMU‘s 12). Great Triple option, terrible defense (94th in Total defense).

Yeah, it was shocking early on in that USF/Navy game that USF couldn't keep track of running backs coming through the line of scrimmage. They lost the FB once and they repeatedly lost guys going out on patterns. Any time Navy went wide they really had trouble staying with it, including the backup Navy QB getting a big TD run late in the game. Even more so, I thought USF's offense was just relying on the chunk play - when those weren't hitting, they just looked pedestrian. I texted my brother during the game that I was shocked this team had won at Florida earlier in the year.

It's definitely possible for JMU now, although with North Texas shooting into the AP poll after not being ranked, you could see a 9-1 North Texas team ahead of JMU in the all important CFP Poll. North Texas is likely to win out, they have Rice and Temple left (oddly, Temple could remain bowl-ineligible since they have Tulane and North Texas left). Interesting note is that North Texas and JMU do have the common opponent in Washington St, both playing them at home. North Texas blew the doors off Washington St, 59-10 early in the season. While it's unfair to compare against common opponents that far apart (UNT played WSU back on 9/13, so it's a little more than a two month stretch), a close win by JMU might be enough for people to go with UNT. The American does still have the benefit of being the better conference this year, definitely a down year for the Sun Belt is not helping JMU's cause.

I agree JMU does need to win by multiple scores, but this WSU team also only lost by 3 @ #5 Ole Miss and by 2 @ #19 UVA. With a the Bob Chesney to UCLA/Penn State/insert to whatever other P4 school rumor here distractions, JMU might very well lose this game. Lose, and none of this CFP talk matters. Just SBC CCG (JMU has clinched the SBC East) and a glorified exhibition bowl game with a skeleton coaching staff and probably missing players.

11/22 Tulane (-8.5) @ Temple Come on KC Keeler!

11/27 Navy @ Memphis (-9.5) (I don’t like rooting against the Service academies).

11/28 Temple @ UNT. Come on KC Keeler!

ECU (7-3/5-1). If ECU wins their last 2, which they are favored in, and if 2 of the 3 of UNT/Tulane/Navy lose 1 of their last 2 games as predicted, ECU would make the AAC CCG, which I think ECU could very well win. They’ve won 4 straight AAC games, and the last month they appear to be playing as well as anyone in the AAC.

Lot of football to be played. There’s 4 G5 teams that have a CFP shot. It’s playoff football, because when any lose (which at least one of the 3 AAC is guaranteed to) they are done as far as getting the G5 CFP slot. Yeah, there is a REMOTE chance 2 G5 get in, but I’m assuming 1.

[SuperHornet]

Damnit. A distraction JMU doesn‘t need for another month. This distraction is hitting most of the top G5 HC with all the P4 vacancies. In the last 24 hrs. It had looked like VT was going to ink Franklin.

Don't get so excited, BDK. Per CBS Sports this afternoon, Franklin just signed with VA Tech. JMU is off the hook...at least for the moment....

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... ead-coach/

[BDKJMU]

Damnit. A distraction JMU doesn‘t need for another month. This distraction is hitting most of the top G5 HC with all the P4 vacancies. In the last 24 hrs. It had looked like VT was going to ink Franklin.

Don't get so excited, BDK. Per CBS Sports this afternoon, Franklin just signed with VA Tech. JMU is off the hook...at least for the moment....

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... ead-coach/

Just one damn rumor after another. Neuheisel needs to shut his whore mouth.

This afternoon:
UCLA Unlocked: Might Bob Chesney be the Bruins’ football coaching savior?
https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/new ... ob-chesney

$3 million college football coach reportedly emerges as Penn State HC candidate
Penn State could have an ideal candidate to replace James Franklin in one of college football's emerging head coaches, but it could have competition for his services.

Bob Chesney has James Madison in the AP rankings and emerging as a Group of Five contender for the College Football Playoff, and that success has put his name in the ring as a candidate for one of college football’s current head coaching vacancies.

Penn State is still on the lookout for James Franklin’s replacement, but if they want to get in the Bob Chesney business, they might have some competition for his services...

https://www.si.com/fannation/college/cf ... ach-rumors

[BDKJMU]

Finding the next Curt Cignetti in college football's coaching carousel
https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... g-carousel

Published last Fri, so records don’t reflect this past weekend’s games. Four main points made:
1. Winner at multiple levels
2. A hands-on approach toward personnel
3. A clear vision for the program
4. The ability to bring along key assistants and players

10 coaches profiled:
-8 G5
-1 new P4 (Houston’s Willie Fritz)
-1 FCS (NDSU’s Polasek)

6 in their 40s, 2 in their 50s, 2 in their 60s. NT’s Eric Morris the youngest at 40. KC Keeler the oldest at 66.

[GannonFan]

Damnit. A distraction JMU doesn‘t need for another month. This distraction is hitting most of the top G5 HC with all the P4 vacancies. In the last 24 hrs. It had looked like VT was going to ink Franklin.

Don't get so excited, BDK. Per CBS Sports this afternoon, Franklin just signed with VA Tech. JMU is off the hook...at least for the moment....

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... ead-coach/

That helps and hurts JMU a bit. Helps in that it's one less place for the current head coach to go. It hurts in that Va Tech was looking more and more irrelevant over these past few years, and the loss to ODU at home this year wasn't helping that. Franklin, for all of his faults, is one of the best recruiters in college football and consistently put together fantastic recruiting classes at Penn St. It was almost time to close the book on Va Tech ever really being relevant again, and hiring Franklin is probably the biggest signing they could've made to reverse that. Va Tech might become a major player again in recruiting and possibly puts them in a different discussion for what happens when the ACC blows up after the ESPN contract ends in a few years.

[BDKJMU]

Damnit. A distraction JMU doesn‘t need for another month. This distraction is hitting most of the top G5 HC with all the P4 vacancies. In the last 24 hrs. It had looked like VT was going to ink Franklin.

Don't get so excited, BDK. Per CBS Sports this afternoon, Franklin just signed with VA Tech. JMU is off the hook...at least for the moment....

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... ead-coach/

Well damn it to hell.

Has Penn State's Coaching Search Zeroed in on a Primary Target?
CBS college football analyst Josh Pate believes the Nittany Lions have identified their top candidate.

…On his YouTube show Sunday night, Pate said that he believes Penn State is focused on James Madison's Bob Chesney as its next football coach. Chesney is in his second season at James Madison with a team that's 10-1 (7-0 in the Sun Belt Conference) and has an outside chance at the College Football Playoff.

"I think they have zeroed in on their guy the past several days," Pate said on his show. "I think that guy may be Bob Chesney. ... Now that's not the only [coach] who's gotten a look here. I don't even think that's the only guy they have gotten well down the road in contract negotiations with."

However, Chesney has emerged as a stronger name in Penn State's coaching search over the past week. Chesney has kept James Madison in the national conversation since taking over for Curt Cignetti in 2024. The Dukes are 19-5 under Chesney, who is in his first FBS coaching position after spending his career at FCS, Division II and Division III programs…

https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/fo ... r=ee8f531c

[BDKJMU]

Last offseason, 5 P4 changed HC:
-UNC
-UCF
-Purdue
-Wake Forest
-WVU

By post Week 9, 7 already have fired their HC:
-VT
-UCLA
-OK St,
-Arkansas
-PSU
-LSU

On deck:
Wisconsin (2-6/0-5)
FSU (3-4/0-4)
UNC (2-5/0-3)
BC (1-7/0-5)
Auburn (4-4/1-4)

LSU fires Brian Kelley after 2nd straight loss and 3rd loss in 4 games to fall to 5-3/1-3. Those losses were to current ranked @ #7 Ol Miss, @ #9 Vandy, and thumped at home by #3 TX A&M.

Kelly signed a 10 year, 95 million contract in 2021, and was set to make 10.175 million this year.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... -contract/

Bottom line if you‘re getting paid 8 figures annually, then anything less than double digit wins and making the CFP is unacceptable.

Updated. By post Week 13, 9 already have fired their HC:
-VT
-UCLA
-OK St,
-Arkansas
-PSU
-UF
-LSU
-Auburn
-Cal

On deck:
-BC (1-10/0-7)
-SC (4-7/1-7) (Preseason AP#13)
-Wisconsin (4-7/2-6) (Fickell probably gets another season).
-FSU (5-6/1-6). FSU has said keeping Norvell, but this poor season after last seasons 1-10/0-8, but the pitchforks are out in Tallahassee.

[GannonFan]

Don't get so excited, BDK. Per CBS Sports this afternoon, Franklin just signed with VA Tech. JMU is off the hook...at least for the moment....

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... ead-coach/

Well damn it to hell.

Has Penn State's Coaching Search Zeroed in on a Primary Target?
CBS college football analyst Josh Pate believes the Nittany Lions have identified their top candidate.

…On his YouTube show Sunday night, Pate said that he believes Penn State is focused on James Madison's Bob Chesney as its next football coach. Chesney is in his second season at James Madison with a team that's 10-1 (7-0 in the Sun Belt Conference) and has an outside chance at the College Football Playoff.

"I think they have zeroed in on their guy the past several days," Pate said on his show. "I think that guy may be Bob Chesney. ... Now that's not the only [coach] who's gotten a look here. I don't even think that's the only guy they have gotten well down the road in contract negotiations with."

However, Chesney has emerged as a stronger name in Penn State's coaching search over the past week. Chesney has kept James Madison in the national conversation since taking over for Curt Cignetti in 2024. The Dukes are 19-5 under Chesney, who is in his first FBS coaching position after spending his career at FCS, Division II and Division III programs…

https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/fo ... r=ee8f531c

I still wouldn't be shocked if Penn State just went with the interim guy, Terry Smith. I don't see him staying if they bring in a new guy and there's a lot of sentimentality for Smith to get the job. Chesney's not a slam dunk for this job right now.

[BDKJMU]

Well damn it to hell.


https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/fo ... r=ee8f531c

I still wouldn't be shocked if Penn State just went with the interim guy, Terry Smith. I don't see him staying if they bring in a new guy and there's a lot of sentimentality for Smith to get the job. Chesney's not a slam dunk for this job right now.

I agree. No matter the rumors, I’d be surprised if Chesney got the PSU job. That’s a Top 15, maybe Top 10 P4 job. Don’t think their fanbase is going to be satisfied with hiring a 2 yr G5, no matter how successful at G5 lower levels and being a PA guy.

One very well in the know poster on the JMU board said JMU has offered Chesney an extension that would put him in the Top 10 for G5 head coaches. That is currently 2+ million a year. Would be a significant boost from the current published 833k a year, and make him by far the highest paid in the SBC. Not enough to keep him from being poached by a Top tier or even 2nd or 3rd tier FBS, but maybe a 4th tier that’s not going to offer 3-4x that and could be a career ender as far as being an HC. Also pretty much prevents another moneyed G5 from poaching him Also it’s been stated JMU NIL has or will be upped to 2m a year, which helps.

In 2023 it took IU offering about 3.5x what JMU was offering to pry Cignetti away. He turned down 2x. I’m hoping with Chesney it’s the same way- he’s going to have to be offered 3-4x what JMU is offering to make the jump. That’s life changing money where if you are fired within 5 years you and you family are still set for life.

[GannonFan]

Chesney to UCLA. So not Penn State, but another B1G school on the other side of the country.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... -deal-ucla

[SuperHornet]

The word I'm hearing is that unlike the mess at MS, JMU will allow Chesney to coach JMU if they sneak into the Postseason Invitational Tournament after Dook takes VA (and all the ACC) out of the running.

[BDKJMU]

Chesney to UCLA. So not Penn State, but another B1G school on the other side of the country.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... -deal-ucla

To me any SEC, ACC (except the 2 West Coast) or eastern Big 10 hiring BC make sense. UCLA hiring him is bizarre. Has there ever been a guy
-from the East Coast
-who has coached his entire career on the East Coast (or near)
-with no connections to the West
who was hired by an FBS West Coast School? Or vice versa (Complete West Coast guy hired by an East Coast school) and had big success?

I couldn’t imagine JMU hiring a guy from the West Coast who has coached his entire career on the West Coast, with no connections to the East, no matter how successful. For one he would have no ties to the instate and regional high school recruiting.

[GannonFan]

Chesney to UCLA. So not Penn State, but another B1G school on the other side of the country.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... -deal-ucla

To me any SEC, ACC (except the 2 West Coast) or eastern Big 10 hiring BC make sense. UCLA hiring him is bizarre. Has there ever been a guy
-from the East Coast
-who has coached his entire career on the East Coast (or near)
-with no connections to the West
who was hired by an FBS West Coast School? Or vice versa (Complete West Coast guy hired by an East Coast school) and had big success?

I couldn’t imagine JMU hiring a guy from the West Coast who has coached his entire career on the West Coast, with no connections to the East, no matter how successful. For one he would have no ties to the instate and regional high school recruiting.

Yup. There's a reason why UCLA has not really been relevant for many years, and this coaching hire is just one more brick in the wall in that regard, for all the reasons you point out. I'm sure he's a good coach, but he's going into a situation that's going to be hard to be successful in. But, it is a lot of money, so that's the reason he's going.

[BDKJMU]

To me any SEC, ACC (except the 2 West Coast) or eastern Big 10 hiring BC make sense. UCLA hiring him is bizarre. Has there ever been a guy
-from the East Coast
-who has coached his entire career on the East Coast (or near)
-with no connections to the West
who was hired by an FBS West Coast School? Or vice versa (Complete West Coast guy hired by an East Coast school) and had big success?

I couldn’t imagine JMU hiring a guy from the West Coast who has coached his entire career on the West Coast, with no connections to the East, no matter how successful. For one he would have no ties to the instate and regional high school recruiting.

Yup. There's a reason why UCLA has not really been relevant for many years, and this coaching hire is just one more brick in the wall in that regard, for all the reasons you point out. I'm sure he's a good coach, but he's going into a situation that's going to be hard to be successful in. But, it is a lot of money, so that's the reason he's going.

My previous post was a copy of the one I posted on the JMU board. Another:

Cignetti at least had some ties to the larger region. BC as far as I know had none to the West Coast.

5 years ago before NIL/Pay to Play free for all, when you had to build your rosters mostly from the high school ranks with some JUCOs, you needed 3-5 years to turn a struggling program around, and having ties and relationships to the regions high school recruiting pipelines was paramount. Thats why you never, or rarely (don‘t know of any) saw any from East Coast/whole career on East Coast hired by a West Coast school, and vice versa. Is BC the 1st?

Chesney is a phenomenal coach. He’s been hugely successful at every level (Div III, Div II, FCS, and G4). A lot of P4’s are looking for the ‘Next Cignetti’, and Chesney has been touted at/near the top of the list. I’m sure he had other opportunities outside of UCLA (PSU?). Apparently he’d been talking to UCLA for 2 months, and I sure he wouldn’t have went without UCLA pledging a major financial commitment as far as staff and NIL $$$. Don‘t think he‘ll be as good as Cignetti at IU, but don‘t think he‘ll be a flop either.

[BDKJMU]

College Football Playoff Rankings reaction: Why James Madison at No. 25 could spell disaster for the ACC

The most significant ranking in the penultimate College Football Playoff Rankings had nothing to do with Miami or Texas. Instead, the playoff committee showed their hand.

With the final spot in the rankings, the CFP Committee ranked James Madison at No. 25 in the country. The Dukes are 11-1 and face Troy in the Sun Belt Championship Game on Friday. By winning, James Madison can all but assure itself a spot in the final rankings for the first time in program history.

But if JMU accomplishes the feat and finishes as a ranked conference champion, it could set off a nightmare scenario for the ACC that would leave them out of the playoff entirely.

For clarity, let's go back to the protocol. The top five conference champions are guaranteed auto bids in the College Football Playoff field. It's very specifically the top five conference champions; the Power Four conferences are not implicitly guaranteed a spot. Technically, all five spots could be taken by Group of Six champions, if they were earned in the rankings.

When the CFP bracket is mocked, No. 12 Miami plays the role of the fourth conference champion auto-bid. There's just one problem: The Hurricanes -- the best team in the ACC -- aren't eligible for the auto-bid. In fact, thanks to a bloated conference and convoluted set of tiebreakers, unranked Duke plays No. 17 Virginia for the ACC crown.

And in Duke, the ACC has its perfect, disastrous storm.

The Blue Devils had a lackluster season, limping out to a 7-5 record. Three of those losses came in nonconference play, with horrendous performances against Illinois, Tulane and UConn. But when it comes to conference contention, none of those games matter. Duke's only losses came against Georgia Tech and Virginia.

And therefore, Duke is now in the ACC Championship Game as one of the weakest conference finalists in years. As only 3.5-point underdogs, the Blue Devils have a serious chance of pulling the upset. But with five losses, Duke would be all but guaranteed to finish behind both the American Conference champion and Sun Belt champ James Madison, despite winning a power conference championship.

If James Madison was unranked, it would be easy for the committee to sit back and say that they consider the Blue Devils and Dukes as comparable teams. A win over No. 17 Virginia would supersede any on JMU's schedule. But by ranking James Madison, the committee has shown their hand.

James Madison is a top 25 team in the eyes of the committee. Duke is not. And furthermore, based on their resume, the Blue Devils aren't anywhere close. If Duke wins the ACC, the conference could become the first power league to ever miss the 12-team College Football Playoff…..

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... Z19SQotwE0

[BDKJMU]

Not sure what to make of this..

Sources: James Madison set to hire ex-Florida coach Billy Napier
https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... lly-napier

Napier‘s buyout at UF.

$10.6 million due Nov. 19, 2025
$2.65 million due July 15, 2026
$2.65 million due July 15, 2027
$2.65 million due July 15, 2028
$2.65 million due July 15, 2029

Napier signed a seven-year, $51.8 million deal back in 2021 with a base salary that increases $100,000 every year. His salary for 2025 is $7.4 million, with another $22.8 million that was due to him over the next three seasons through January 2029…

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... ead-coach/
Well, he‘s going to be getting a fraction of that at JMU. lol..

[GannonFan]

Not sure what to make of this..

Sources: James Madison set to hire ex-Florida coach Billy Napier
https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... lly-napier

Napier‘s buyout at UF.

$10.6 million due Nov. 19, 2025
$2.65 million due July 15, 2026
$2.65 million due July 15, 2027
$2.65 million due July 15, 2028
$2.65 million due July 15, 2029

Napier signed a seven-year, $51.8 million deal back in 2021 with a base salary that increases $100,000 every year. His salary for 2025 is $7.4 million, with another $22.8 million that was due to him over the next three seasons through January 2029…

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... ead-coach/
Well, he‘s going to be getting a fraction of that at JMU. lol..

Yeah, hard to say. He's a big name, for sure, and he did well at La Lafayette to warrant getting the Florida gig originally. He wasn't terrible at Florida, but he wasn't good either. Of course, you look at Florida since then and they haven't been better so maybe there's something not working at Florida. He's clearly looking at JMU as a way to get a second chance - JMU is proving itself to be a place where coaches go to have a good chance at winning and then moving up to a P4 school. If he puts in a year or two with good results he can get back into the game with a P4 school. Like I said, he won eventually at LA Laf so he should be able to do the same in a better situation at JMU.