James Madison

The Dukes enter 2026 with a completely reconstructed roster after losing 214.2 points of production through 30 portal departures, headlined by quarterback Alonza Barnett III's transfer to UCF along with top skill position threats Landon Ellis (UCLA) and Wayne Knight (UCLA). New head coach Billy Napier inherits a program that went 12-1 last season but now sits 50th nationally in JP+ ratings at +2.3 points, carried by a defense that grades 41st (+2.5) while the offense has fallen to 71st (-0.3). The portal additions, led by quarterback Davi Belfort from UCF and interior lineman Tyler Brown from Colorado, brought back just 20.9 points of production — a significant net loss that will test the program's depth throughout the Sun Belt.

JP+ projects just 0.9 wins for James Madison in 2026, with road games against San Diego State and UConn representing both the toughest and easiest matchups on a challenging slate. The gap between last year's success and this year's projection stems entirely from roster construction — the defense that powered the 12-1 campaign lost key contributors while the offense must rebuild around a quarterback competition between Belfort and other newcomers. If the defensive foundation remains intact and the new signal-caller can manage games effectively, the Dukes could exceed their modest projection and compete for bowl eligibility. If not, this transition year under Napier becomes about establishing culture rather than chasing wins.