James Madison is in the College Football Playoff because it won the Sun Belt Conference and finished as one of the five highest‑ranked conference champions under the new 12‑team CFP format for 2025.
CFP format change
Under the expanded 12‑team playoff, the field is made up of the five highest‑ranked conference champions plus seven at‑large teams, all seeded straight 1 through 12. That guarantees at least one spot for a top Group of Five champion if it is ranked high enough by the committee.
What JMU accomplished
James Madison went 12–1 and won the Sun Belt championship, giving it both a strong record and a league title. That résumé put JMU among the top five conference champions nationally, even ahead of some more famous brands that did not win their leagues.
Why a spot opened
Duke upset Virginia in the ACC title game, leaving the ACC champion lower in the rankings and clearing room for JMU to be one of the five highest‑ranked champions. With that result plus its Sun Belt title, JMU was locked into the playoff bracket as the No. 12 seed.
Who JMU plays
As the 12 seed, James Madison is matched up against No. 5 Oregon in the first round and will play that game on the road at Oregon. This also makes JMU the first team from the Sun Belt ever to reach the College Football Playoff.
