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Appalachian State snapped James Madison’s 10-game win streak, ending the Dukes’ bid for an undefeated season with a 26-23 overtime victory at Bridgeforth Stadium on Saturday. Here’s what you need to know:

• JMU entered the game ranked No. 18 in the AP Top 25 but cannot appear in the College Football Playoff rankings as a second-year FCS-to-FBS transition team.
• The Dukes trailed the Mountaineers for nearly the entire game before successfully executing a 2-point conversion with less than a minute remaining in regulation to knot the score at 20 and force overtime. App State’s Kaedin Robinson went on to seal the win with an 8-yard TD reception in OT.
• App State quarterback Joey Aguilar was 28-of-46 for 318 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
• JMU’s Jordan McCloud threw for 289 yards, one TD and an interception on 27-of-46 passing.

What does this mean for JMU?

Though not fully bowl-eligible per NCAA rules, James Madison is still likely to get to a bowl game without enough 6-6 eligible teams. But the loss ruins the joys of a potential undefeated season and any chance JMU could call itself a national champion in jest that was kept down by the NCAA.

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Virginia attorney general Jason Miyares, a JMU alum, earlier this week threatened legal action against the NCAA over JMU’s bowl eligibility waiver denial, noting the possibility of playing in a New Year’s Six game. He told the Daily News-Record before Saturday’s game to “stay tuned Monday” regarding a potential lawsuit. It’s not clear if this loss changes anything. JMU wouldn’t be completely out of NY6 contention if eligible, but the loss is a big blow to that hypothetical. — Chris Vannini, senior CFB writer

What does this mean for App State?

With JMU ineligible (pending the potential lawsuit), the Sun Belt East is likely down to App State, Coastal Carolina or Georgia Southern/Old Dominion. With the win, the Mountaineers are still alive at 5-2 in conference play. Coastal is also 5-2 and has a win over App State for the tiebreaker (Georgia Southern and ODU play later Saturday, both 3-3).

App State hosts Georgia Southern next week, while Coastal plays JMU. — Vannini

Backstory

The NCAA Division I Board Administration Committee denied James Madison’s second waiver attempt for full bowl eligibility Wednesday. A law firm engaged by Miyares then sent a demand letter to the NCAA threatening legal action if James Madison football was not granted a full bowl eligibility waiver. JMU is ineligible for full bowl eligibility because it’s in its second year following the transition to FBS, which has been the FBS rule for more than two decades.

Highlight of the game

Ballgame! pic.twitter.com/Je23lR2HN8

— App State Football (@AppState_FB) November 18, 2023

Required reading

(Photo: Troy Babbitt / USA Today)

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