| Season
|
Head coach
|
Conference affiliation
|
Season results
|
Playoff or bowl result
|
Final ranking
|
| Conference finish
|
W-L-T record
|
Conference record
|
| Madison Dukes
|
| 1972
|
Challace McMillin
|
Unaffiliated
|
|
0-4-1
|
|
|
|
| 1973
|
|
4-5
|
|
|
|
| 1974
|
Virginia Collegiate Athletic Association (VCAA)
|
5th
|
6-4
|
3-2
|
|
|
| 1975
|
1st
|
9-0-1
|
5-0
|
|
|
| 1976
|
DII Independent
|
|
7-4
|
|
|
|
| James Madison Dukes
|
| 1977
|
Challace McMillin
|
DIII Independent
|
|
5-5
|
|
|
|
| 1978
|
|
8-2
|
|
|
|
| 1979
|
|
4-6
|
|
|
|
| James Madison moved to Division I-AA (1979-2005); Division I FCS (2006-2021)
|
| 1980
|
Challace McMillin
|
DI-AA Independent
|
|
4-6
|
|
|
|
| 1981
|
|
3-8
|
|
|
|
| 1982
|
|
8-3
|
|
|
|
| 1983
|
|
3-8
|
|
|
|
| 1984
|
|
6-5
|
|
|
|
| 1985
|
Joe Purzycki
|
|
5-6
|
|
|
|
| 1986
|
|
5-5-1
|
|
|
|
| 1987
|
|
9-3
|
|
Lost NCAA FCS First Round
|
#8
|
| 1988
|
|
5-6
|
|
|
|
| 1989
|
|
5-4-1
|
|
|
|
| 1990
|
|
5-6
|
|
|
|
| 1991
|
Rip Scherer
|
|
9-4
|
|
Lost NCAA FCS Quarterfinals
|
#16
|
| 1992
|
|
4-7
|
|
|
|
| 1993
|
Yankee
|
3rd (Mid-Atlantic)
|
6-5
|
4-4
|
|
|
| 1994
|
1st (Mid-Atlantic)
|
10-3
|
6-2
|
Lost NCAA FCS Quarterfinals
|
#13
|
| 1995
|
Alex Wood
|
2nd (Mid-Atlantic)
|
8-4
|
6-2
|
Lost NCAA FCS First Round
|
#13
|
| 1996
|
4th (Mid-Atlantic)
|
7-4
|
5-3
|
|
#23
|
| 1997
|
Atlantic 10 (A-10)
|
6th (Mid-Atlantic)
|
5-6
|
3-5
|
|
|
| 1998
|
6th (Mid-Atlantic)
|
3-8
|
2-6
|
|
|
| 1999
|
Mickey Matthews
|
T-1st
|
8-4
|
7-1
|
Lost NCAA FCS First Round
|
#13
|
| 2000
|
4th
|
6-5
|
4-4
|
|
|
| 2001
|
11th
|
2-9
|
0-9
|
|
|
| 2002
|
9th
|
5-7
|
3-6
|
|
|
| 2003
|
7th
|
6-6
|
4-5
|
|
|
| 2004
|
T-1st
|
13-2
|
7-1
|
Won NCAA Division I Championship
|
#1
|
| 2005
|
2nd (South)
|
7-4
|
5-3
|
|
#25
|
| 2006
|
1st (South)
|
9-3
|
7-1
|
Lost NCAA FCS First Round
|
#9
|
| 2007
|
Colonial Athletic Association (CAA)
|
2nd (South)
|
8-4
|
6-2
|
Lost NCAA FCS First Round
|
#12
|
| 2008
|
1st
|
12-2
|
8-0
|
Lost NCAA FCS Semifinals
|
#3
|
| 2009
|
5th (South)
|
6-5
|
4-4
|
|
|
| 2010
|
8th
|
6-5
|
3-5
|
|
|
| 2011
|
6th
|
8-5
|
5-3
|
Lost NCAA FCS Second Round
|
#15
|
| 2012
|
6th
|
7-4
|
5-3
|
|
|
| 2013
|
8th
|
6-6
|
3-5
|
|
|
| 2014
|
Everett Withers
|
3rd
|
9-4
|
6-2
|
Lost NCAA FCS First Round
|
#18
|
| 2015
|
T-1st
|
9-3
|
6-2
|
Lost NCAA FCS Second Round
|
#11
|
| 2016
|
Mike Houston
|
1st
|
14-1
|
8-0
|
Won NCAA Division I Championship
|
#1
|
| 2017
|
1st
|
14-1
|
8-0
|
Lost NCAA FCS Championship
|
#2
|
| 2018
|
2nd
|
9-4
|
6-2
|
Lost NCAA FCS Second Round
|
#9
|
| 2019
|
Curt Cignetti
|
1st
|
14-2
|
8-0
|
Lost NCAA FCS Championship
|
#2
|
| 2020
|
1st (South)
|
7-1
|
3-0
|
Lost NCAA FCS Semifinals
|
#3
|
| 2021
|
T-1st
|
12-2
|
7-1
|
Lost NCAA FCS Semifinals
|
#3
|
| James Madison moved to Division I FBS (2022-present)
|
| 2022
|
Curt Cignetti
|
Sun Belt
|
T-1st (East)
|
8-3
|
6-2
|
Ineligible
|
| 2023
|
1st (East)
|
11-2
|
7-1
|
Lost Armed Forces Bowl
|
|
| 2024
|
Bob Chesney
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
