Success has followed Bob Chesney each step he has taken up the coaching ladder, and the work he is doing at James Madison is only increasing his name recognition.

The No. 24 Dukes cracked The Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday for the first time in his two seasons, and suddenly they’ve become one of the top candidates for the Group of Five bid in the College Football Playoff in the wake of Memphis’ loss to Tulane last week.

“It’s great to be in the Top 25 conversation — that means people are noticing the work our guys are putting in,” Chesney told the AP through a spokesman. “But that can’t be our focus. Rankings don’t win games — preparation and improvement do. Every day, our job is to get better.”

This is JMU’s fourth season in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Curt Cignetti led the Duk

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