JMU's Softball Schedule is 99% Perfect, 1% Necessary Evil
Tons of ACC, SEC, and a Chance to Reassert Dominance in Virginia
James Madison’s softball team released their schedule on Monday December 16th, and I would say that at a glance it is one of the most exciting schedules the Dukes have put together as a program.
Mentioned in an article on JMU’s sporting website, Coach LaPorte talked about traveling to top tier tournaments and playing against some of the best teams in the country.
And she is not kidding.
While they do “ease” into their season with CSU Bakersfield and NC State, teams that the Dukes should not take lightly, it immediately gets ramped up rounding out the Black and Gold classic with games against home run happy Georgia and an always talented UCF program.
After the Dukes come home for a tournament highlighted by a match up against old CAA rival Delaware, they go on the road for quite a stretch. In this stretch they will see the likes of Auburn (sans former JMU SB Coach Mickey Dean) Ole Miss, Miami (OH), Virginia Tech TWICE, Penn State, Villanova, and…Liberty.
Yes, they are the necessary evil. As happy as I would be never playing Liberty in any sport like, ever, for some reason I mildly tolerate them when it’s softball. Maybe it’s because I love softball so much.
Anyway, the Dukes also have a home and home with UVA, and home games against Radford and George Mason which makes for a nice little commonwealth slate for JMU in 2025. It is really shaping up to be a year where JMU can make a statement on being THE college softball program in a state that has many quality ones, especially with the emergence of UVA as of late.
Oh, and JMU gets ACC Cal at home too. Yeah. ACC Cal. Sure, why not, realignment.
The JMU Sun Belt slate is as you would expect. As the East has MASSIVELY improved in softball, it will be on JMU to really go after it this year and make those games especially count. Appalachian State has shown its commitment to softball with hiring a new coach and building a brand new facility, and other SBC East programs have proven to be quite difficult too. Nothing JMU can’t handle, but it’s certainly not the old CAA.
In the West, the Dukes will travel to Lafayette to battle with Louisiana once again. Even with the turmoil of the offseason it would be foolish to underestimate the Ragin Cajuns. So, expect that to be a tough series. They also have to travel to South Alabama, and get Southern Miss at home. They don’t have to play Texas State, but again to take any team in the Sun Belt lightly in a diamond sport is to do so at your own risk.
Honestly, the OOC schedule for the Dukes is daunting and exciting. But if they want to be a team that gets back into the postseason, playing multiple SEC, ACC, and top quality mid majors is the way to go. If JMU can get out of the gauntlet of OOC play with a better than .600 record, that will bode really well not only for their RPI, but the RPI for the entire Sun Belt, which has already shown that is it one of, if not the best mid major conference for softball.
So, it’s time to get excited. Softball season is right around the corner! I can’t wait to watch the Dukes this year and see how they fare against this challenging schedule.
Go Dukes!
Thank you for reading Preston’s Sports Musings. If you enjoy the sports thoughts that fly through my mind on a wide range of subjects, consider becoming a free subscriber.
If a subscription is not in the cards at the moment, consider clicking the link below for a one time donation with “Buy Me A Coffee”. Anything is always appreciated, and you can click the button below as well:
More than anything if this piece moved you, share it far and wide with friends! I love reaching new people and learning new perspectives:
If you believe the writing I do here would be a beneficial read for the people in your life, please consider sharing my publication: