James Madison's College Football Playoff Aspirations Diminished After Overtime Defeat

The James Madison Dukes, who entered Week 8 with an undefeated record and aspirations for the College Football Playoff, suffered a 34-31 overtime defeat against the Appalachian State Mountaineers on Thursday night.

This loss marks a critical turning point for JMU, which was ranked 29th in the AP poll prior to the game, just outside the Top 25 and positioned as the second-highest Group of Six team. With their undefeated status now ended, the Dukes face a challenging path ahead, especially with Boise State set to play as a 13.5-point favorite.

Boise State is now favored to be the top-ranked Group of Six team, potentially securing a playoff spot. Other contenders like New Mexico and Oregon State also remain in the mix, but they face tough matchups in the coming weeks. The remainder of the season promises to be competitive for these teams as they vie for playoff opportunities.