James Madison University’s football program entered the 2026 season as the clear favorite in the Sun Belt Conference’s East Division, collecting 94 total votes — including 11 of the 14 first‑place ballots — in the league’s preseason coaches poll.
Old Dominion trailed with 73 points and a single first‑place vote, underscoring the Dukes’ overwhelming preseason expectations as the coaches’ poll was compiled by head coaches and one media member from each member institution.
A Rematch on the Horizon
JMU will host Troy, the West Division preseason favorite, on Oct. 29 in a rematch of the 2025 Sun Belt Football Championship, a game that promises to set the tone for the upcoming schedule.
Head coach Billy Napier, who assumed leadership earlier this year, will guide a roster that returns 34 letterwinners and five starters from the 2025 campaign while welcoming 61 newcomers, among them 39 transfers and 22 high‑school seniors.
The full roster spans 109 players representing 26 U.S. states and four foreign nations, reflecting the program’s expanding national footprint.
Preseason All‑Sun Belt Honors
Center Zach Greenberg and edge rusher Amar Thomas earned first‑team honors, while running back George Pettaway was placed on the second team. Greenberg, a 2025 second‑team selection, started all 14 games last season, and Thomas, a 2025 honorable mention, also made 14 starts. Pettaway’s recognition marks his second consecutive year on the all‑conference list after surpassing 1,000 rushing yards and five touchdowns over the past two campaigns.
JMU opens the 2026 season on Sept. 5 at Bridgeforth Stadium, hosting Liberty University in an in‑state rivalry that will feature a noon kickoff and a lively atmosphere for fans.