James Madison Dukes

0–0 · 0–0 SUN BELT

Preseason

WEEK 8 · 2026

The Week 8 job

Beat App State and avoid turning a likely win into a season problem.

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ESPNU

playoff chanceNow36%Win39%Loss16%

James Madison

James Madison 88%App State 12%

App State

By importanceWatch plan

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 1

Louisiana

at

Root for

Southern Miss

Root for Southern Miss3.2-point title-game boost

Sun Belt race: Louisiana losing helps your spot in the standings; Southern Miss visits your schedule in week 10: keep them ranked.

80% if Southern Miss wins77% with the other result3.2-point differenceJames Madison Sun Belt title-game chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 2

Root for

Rutgers

at

Northwestern

Root for Rutgers1.4-point playoff boost

Rutgers winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

37% if Rutgers wins36% with the other result1.4-point differenceJames Madison playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 3

BYU

at

Root for

UCF

Root for UCF1.4-point playoff boost

UCF winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

37% if UCF wins35% with the other result1.4-point differenceJames Madison playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 4

Root for

Georgia State

at

Arkansas State

Root for Georgia State2.2-point title-game boost

Sun Belt race: Arkansas State losing helps your spot in the standings.

81% if Georgia State wins78% with the other result2.2-point differenceJames Madison Sun Belt title-game chance

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CBSSN

Priority 5

North Texas

at

Root for

Navy

Root for Navy1.3-point playoff boost

Navy winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

37% if Navy wins35% with the other result1.3-point differenceJames Madison playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 6

Old Dominion

at

Root for

Louisiana Tech

Root for Louisiana Tech1.2-point playoff boost

Louisiana Tech winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

37% if Louisiana Tech wins35% with the other result1.2-point differenceJames Madison playoff chance

47 more games that don't move your needle

South Alabama at Marshall · ESPN2

Middle Tennessee at Florida International · CBSSN

Missouri State at Delaware · ESPNU

Liberty at Kennesaw State · CBSSN

New Mexico State at Sam Houston · ESPN2

East Carolina at Memphis · ESPN2

Duke at Virginia · ESPN

NC State at Stanford · ESPN

Army at Tulsa · ESPN2

Texas A&M at Alabama

LSU at Auburn

Vanderbilt at Kentucky

Oklahoma at Mississippi State

Tennessee at South Carolina

Ole Miss at Texas

Baylor at Kansas

Colorado at Oklahoma State

Houston at Utah

Iowa State at Arizona

Kansas State at Arizona State

Texas Tech at Cincinnati

West Virginia at TCU

California at SMU

Boston College at Georgia Tech

Pittsburgh at Miami

Syracuse at North Carolina

Virginia Tech at Clemson

Oregon at Illinois

Indiana at Michigan

Iowa at Minnesota

Michigan State at UCLA

USC at Wisconsin

San Diego State at Colorado State · The CW Network

Utah State at Texas State · CBSSN

Boise State at Washington State · USA Network

Massachusetts at UConn · CBSSN

Rice at Florida Atlantic

UTSA at Tulane

Air Force at Wyoming · The CW Network

Hawai'i at Northern Illinois · MW+

San José State at Nevada · MW+

Akron at Kent State

Bowling Green at Buffalo

Eastern Michigan at Ohio

Western Michigan at Toledo

Miami (OH) at Central Michigan

UL Monroe at Troy

Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 8, with preseason ratings projected from last season. How the model works.