STATS No. 1 2016 record 14–1 (8–0 CAA) | FCS Coaches No. 1 | |
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Conference Colonial Athletic Association Head coach Mike Houston (1st year) Offensive coordinator Donnie Kirkpatrick (1st year) | ||
The 2016 James Madison Dukes football team represented James Madison University during the 2016 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by first year head coach Mike Houston and played their home games at Bridgeforth Stadium and Zane Showker Field. They were a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). They finished the season 14–1 overall with a 8–0 mark in CAA play to win the conference title. They received the automatic bid to the FCS playoffs, where they defeated New Hampshire, Sam Houston State, and five-time defending champions North Dakota State to advance to the National Championship Game, where they defeated Youngstown State. This was their first national championship since 2004.
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Previous season
In 2015, the Dukes finished with a record of 9–3, 6–2 in CAA play, to finish in a first-place tie with Richmond and William & Mary. They received an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs and hosted Colgate in the second round. The Dukes lost to the Raiders, 44–38, and were eliminated from the playoffs.
Semifinals–North Dakota State
It was this game that ended NDSU's streak of five consecutive FCS titles.