With conference championship weekend approaching, James Madison football has been one of the quiet stories of the college football season. The Dukes have raced out to an 11-1 record and will play for a Sun Belt Championship, and possibly a College Football Playoff berth, on Friday against Troy.

JMU is also a victim of its own success in a way, as head coach Bob Chesney was recently hired by UCLA to become its next head coach. Now, just before the conference title game, it has hired the next face of its program. Former Florida head coach Billy Napier is coming to Harrisonburg on a five-year contract , according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

“Sources: Billy Napier is finalizing a five-year deal to become the next head coach at James Madison,” Thamel reported on X, formerly Twitter. “A for

See Full Page