James Madison Faces the Ducks-and the Bigger Fight for the Soul of College Football
When James Madison takes the field against Oregon this Saturday, they’re not just lining up across from one of the most talented teams in the country-they’re stepping into a much larger battle. One that’s not just about football, but about access, opportunity, and what kind of stories the sport is still willing to tell.
Yes, the Ducks are loaded. They’ve got the speed, the size, the depth, and the dollars.
But this game is about more than just who wins on the scoreboard. It’s about whether programs like JMU still have a seat at the table in the evolving world of college football.
Because make no mistake: that seat is getting harder and harder to keep.
The CFP’s Shifting Landscape
Over the past two weeks, the conversation around the College Football Playoff has made one thing crystal clear-there’s a growing appetite among power brokers to phase out the underdog. The idea that a Group of Five team could crash the playoff party doesn’t sit well with certain voices in the media and among decision-makers.
“It’s time to get rid of the Group of Five schools,” ESPN’s Paul Finebaum said after the CFP field was announced. Joel Klatt echoed a similar sentiment, saying, “We’re not looking for a Cinderella… We want the best teams playing each other at the end.”
It’s a stance that reflects a broader shift in the sport. As the playoff expands to 12 teams next year-and potentially 16 down the line-the concern isn’t that the door is opening wider. It’s that it’s being redesigned entirely to favor the biggest brands, the richest programs, and the most marketable matchups.
Oregon State and the Fight to Stay Relevant
For schools like Oregon State, this isn’t just a philosophical debate-it’s existential. After the collapse of the Pac-12, the Beavers have pinned their hopes of long-term survival on maintaining a path to the CFP. Without it, they risk falling into irrelevance.
And they’re not alone. The current structure guarantees a spot for the highest-ranked Group of Five champion. But with the CFP expansion looming and the power structure of college football constantly shifting, there’s real concern that the voices calling for exclusivity will eventually get their way.
“Everything’s up for grabs and everything’s a concern,” Oregon State athletic director Scott Barnes said before the playoff field was finalized. “We don’t know what next year looks like… But there’s a huge case to be made for why we should have that path. We’ll fight for that.”
A Financial Chasm
The disparity between programs like Oregon and JMU goes beyond the field. According to recent reports, Oregon generates $93 million more in athletic revenue than James Madison. Some Ducks players are believed to make more in NIL deals than JMU’s head coach earns in salary.
That’s the kind of gap that doesn’t just show up in recruiting rankings-it shows up in facilities, depth charts, and game-day rosters. If these two teams played 93 million times, Oregon might win 92,999,999 of them.
But that one? That’s why we watch.
Because college football, at its best, has always been about possibility. About the idea that, on any given Saturday, the little guy can land a punch.
The sport has thrived on stories like Boise State’s legendary Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma. It’s built its mythology on moments where David stuns Goliath.
But lately, it feels like the system is being engineered to make sure David doesn’t get invited to the fight.
The Underdog Is the Tradition
We love underdogs in movies. We cheer for Hickory High in Hoosiers, for Rudy at Notre Dame, for the Little Giants taking on the big bad Cowboys. But in real life, the powers that be seem more interested in writing those characters out of the script.
If those stories were made today, the Hickory boys might be told they’re not tall enough to play. Rudy would be buried on a depth chart behind five-star recruits and seven-figure NIL deals.
And Becky “Ice Box” O’Shea? She’d be poached before the playoffs with a lucrative offer from a rival team.
The underdog isn’t just a storyline-it’s the heartbeat of American sports. It’s what makes the whole thing feel alive. But in a college football world increasingly defined by revenue, realignment, and resource gaps, that heartbeat is starting to fade.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just about James Madison. It’s about what kind of sport college football is becoming.
One where the biggest schools with the deepest pockets can cherry-pick talent, dominate headlines, and shape the postseason to their liking. One where the charm, unpredictability, and joy of an upset is slowly being replaced by a cold, calculated hierarchy.
And yet, even knowing all that, JMU still shows up. Still takes the field. Still believes.
No, they probably won’t beat Oregon. The Ducks are faster, deeper, and more experienced. By the time the final whistle blows, the scoreboard might say everything you need to know about the gap between these two programs.
But that doesn’t mean James Madison didn’t belong in the game.
Because belonging isn’t always about winning. Sometimes it’s about showing up when the odds are stacked against you. It’s about reminding everyone-fans, players, and decision-makers alike-that college football is at its best when it makes room for the unexpected.
So yes, James Madison better bring its “A” game on Saturday.
Not just because Oregon is that good.
But because the fight they’re in is bigger than just one game.