ESPN ranks the 39 unbeaten teams left

(09-17-2023 10:15 PM)Purple Wrote:  ESPN ranks the 39 unbeaten teams left

Still discounting the SBC teams.

This is similar to the build from last year. Win another couple of games and the media attention gets narrowed on fewer undefeated teams. I can’t argue too much with Connelly’s rating of JMU at 37th of 39 undefeated teams.
The schedule strength is weak and the wins have not been dominant.
But if the Dukes can continue this winning streak, there will be a shrinking list of undefeated teams to be compared to.
The media coverage is priceless while JMU is trying to build a full FBS roster and recruiting next level players.

Cig is doing a great job of building momentum in the 2 transition years and having the program poised to be close to full strength in 2024 as the 12 team college football playoff era begins.

The stars are lining up

https://collegefootballnetwork.com/all-a...midseason/

Lots of love for our defense on this list

(10-10-2023 08:06 AM)fishingduke12 Wrote:  https://collegefootballnetwork.com/all-a...midseason/

Lots of love for our defense on this list

I'm a bit shocked and perhaps a little concerned

Loving Ponds and Fisher and their potential future as Dukes, but I don't see how you can rate Ponds that high as a freshman.

Not breaking new ground, but USAToday had a lengthy post on our beloved Dukes today:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc...234324007/

Of the remaining undefeated teams, JMU is now ranked 8th in ESPN’s weekly article. Here is the JMU section

Last week's ranking: 10th

SP+ and FPI rankings: 41st and 52nd

Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 22.7%

What they did in Week 8: defeated Marshall 20-9

Next big test: Week 10 at Georgia State

Biggest remaining question: Can the Dukes turn 3s into 7s? A 12-0 record is the one thing JMU has to play for this year after political attempts to get the Dukes eligible for the postseason and/or a Sun Belt title in their second FBS season failed. (Granted, JMU and Jacksonville State -- another FBS newcomer with a bowl-eligible record -- should just arrange to meet in a field in mid-December or something, but that's neither here nor there.) Still, going 12-0 in what is currently the best and deepest Group of Five conference would still be one hell of an accomplishment. And the biggest obstacle might be ... field goals.

JMU's defense has grown increasingly dominant of late. The Dukes have allowed just 14 points per game in Sun Belt play, and neither Georgia Southern's passing game nor explosive Marshall back Rasheen Ali could make a dent over the last two weeks. Including sack yardage -- a pretty significant figure, as JMU has made more of them (34) than anyone in the country, thanks in part to national leader Jalen Green (13) -- both Marshall and Troy actually ended up with negative rushing yardage.

The Dukes settled for three field goals in an eventual 16-14 win over Troy, however, and they managed just six points in their first three red zone trips against Marshall. That kept both games far closer than they should have been, and it was part of a trend. JMU has scored touchdowns on just 49% of its red zone trips in 2023, 118th in FBS. A lot of this stems from a terribly inefficient run game (they're 114th in rushing success rate), but a lot of upsets start when the favorite is coming up short near the goal line. JMU's got five more upsets to avoid.

(10-24-2023 07:36 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  neither Georgia Southern's passing game nor explosive Marshall back Rasheen Ali could make a dent over the last two weeks.

Oh I see someone didn't do their research. Please be better, ESPN.

(10-24-2023 07:48 AM)bjk3047 Wrote:  

(10-24-2023 07:36 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  neither Georgia Southern's passing game nor explosive Marshall back Rasheen Ali could make a dent over the last two weeks.

Oh I see someone didn't do their research. Please be better, ESPN.

He did get 0 yards against us. (in zero attempts)

(10-24-2023 08:02 AM)JMaddy Wrote:  

(10-24-2023 07:48 AM)bjk3047 Wrote:  

(10-24-2023 07:36 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  neither Georgia Southern's passing game nor explosive Marshall back Rasheen Ali could make a dent over the last two weeks.

Oh I see someone didn't do their research. Please be better, ESPN.

He did get 0 yards against us. (in zero attempts)

That's proof that Marshall didn't try to run the ball on us hahaha.
Hopefully our future opponents are doing similar research.

(10-24-2023 07:48 AM)bjk3047 Wrote:  

(10-24-2023 07:36 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  neither Georgia Southern's passing game nor explosive Marshall back Rasheen Ali could make a dent over the last two weeks.

Oh I see someone didn't do their research. Please be better, ESPN.

Even ESPN is overlooking ODU ...

Between being ranked and being undefeated, the press from ESPN is amazing.

Click on the image to see the video...

It's a big next step, but man if we could keep it going and knockoff some Big Ten/ACC schools the next upcoming years we could be the next Boise St.

Not an article, but ESPN2 College Football Countdown just had a great interview with Cignetti. It was on at 7:00 PM. I guess it can be found on demand on ESPN online at some point.

(10-27-2023 06:43 PM)PurpleSoloCup84 Wrote:  Not an article, but ESPN2 College Football Countdown just had a great interview with Cignetti. It was on at 7:00 PM. I guess it can be found on demand on ESPN online at some point.

Confirmed. It is available as a reply on ESPN+.

(10-27-2023 08:18 PM)jmu007 Wrote:  

(10-27-2023 06:43 PM)PurpleSoloCup84 Wrote:  Not an article, but ESPN2 College Football Countdown just had a great interview with Cignetti. It was on at 7:00 PM. I guess it can be found on demand on ESPN online at some point.

Confirmed. It is available as a reply on ESPN+.

JMU continues to be ESPN’s media darling even moreso than last year.
Cig had a 5 minute infomercial on the College Football Countdown show leading into the FridayNight game.
Layered over the interview was a package of JMU season highlights.

Dan Mullen got a giggle out of Cig which is hard to do and Matt Barrie stated that JMU is working its way into becoming America’s team.

The 2 year transition to FBS could not possibly be going any better than it has so far. Good stuff

(10-27-2023 02:59 PM)Dukester Wrote:  It's a big next step, but man if we could keep it going and knockoff some Big Ten/ACC schools the next upcoming years we could be the next Boise St.

Not to take anything away from what Boise football has accomplished, but I’d rather aspire to see JMU set a new and higher level of success. The standard of non-P5 success moving forward should be JMU.