James Madison football is entering unfamiliar territory - and not the kind they’re used to dominating.
For the first time in a while, the Dukes are navigating a postseason that doesn’t involve them. After a season filled with high expectations and a Sun Belt title game appearance, JMU is watching the bowl season unfold from the sidelines. And that absence has opened the door to something else: change.
The program is facing significant roster turnover, with a wave of players entering the transfer portal and several others declaring for the NFL Draft. That includes key names on both sides of the ball - the kind of contributors who helped elevate JMU to national relevance in their transition to FBS. The Dukes are dealing with the kind of attrition that’s become standard in college football, but it still marks a new kind of offseason challenge for a program that’s been a model of consistency.
Among the most notable departures is quarterback Alonza Barnett III, who announced his intention to transfer. Barnett began the 2023 season as the starter before being replaced, but his exit still represents a shift at a position that’s already seen plenty of flux. The quarterback room, once crowded, is now in transition again.
Running back Jobi Malary is also in the portal after contributing in the backfield this season. He’s one of several offensive pieces testing new waters, joining a list that includes wide receivers, offensive linemen, and tight ends. On defense, the Dukes are losing multiple starters to the portal - including players from the secondary and defensive line - while others are pursuing professional opportunities.
It’s not just the players, either. The coaching staff is undergoing changes, too.
Head coach Bob Chesney, who was hired earlier this month following Curt Cignetti’s departure to Indiana, is now tasked with rebuilding on the fly. Chesney inherits a talented but now-thinning roster, and he’ll need to hit the ground running - both in the transfer portal and on the recruiting trail.
This is the new reality of college football. The transfer portal has become as integral to roster building as high school recruiting. For JMU, that means balancing player retention, portal additions, and incoming freshmen - all while implementing a new coaching philosophy.
Chesney has already begun assembling his staff, bringing in familiar faces from his previous stop at Holy Cross. That continuity could help ease the transition, but make no mistake: this is a reset for a program that’s been on a rocket ship trajectory since moving to the FBS level.
Still, there’s reason for optimism. JMU’s recent success, including its run to the Sun Belt title game and a strong regular season record, has helped raise the program’s national profile.
That kind of visibility matters in the portal era, where players are looking for exposure, development, and a shot at the next level. The Dukes can offer all three.
The challenge now is to retool quickly - not just to maintain momentum, but to keep climbing. The Sun Belt isn’t getting any easier, and with new faces on the field and on the sidelines, the road ahead won’t be smooth. But JMU has shown it knows how to win, and that culture doesn’t vanish overnight.
This offseason will test the program in new ways. But if the Dukes can navigate the portal, solidify their coaching staff, and restock the roster, they’ll be in position to contend again. It’s a different kind of fight - not one played between the lines, but one waged in living rooms, Zoom calls, and recruiting visits.
The Dukes have built something special. Now it’s about sustaining it in a college football landscape that changes by the day.