Foolproof in math, the transitive property is perilous in sports. Just because Team X defeated Team Y, and Team Y beat Team Z, does not remotely assure that Team X is better than Team Z.
For example, Indiana’s 27-14 season-opening victory over Old Dominion and subsequent 63-10 demolition of No. 9 Illinois on Saturday, does not mean that the Monarchs would rout the Illini by 40, or even win a matchup between the teams.
But Saturday night’s tour de force, which rocketed the Hoosiers from No. 19 to No. 11 in the Associated Press poll, certainly flatters ODU’s performance at Indiana and should fuel the Monarchs’ confidence as they move from last week’s open date to this Saturday’s nonconference finale, versus Liberty (1-3) at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
While the Flames have dropped consecutive games to Jacksonville State, Bowling Green and James Madison, their first three-game slide that does not include a Power Four opponent since the program elevated to the Bowl Subdivision in 2018, ODU has rebounded from the Indiana setback with two emphatic victories.
The Monarchs dusted North Carolina Central 54-6 and embarrassed Virginia Tech 45-26, the most points they’ve scored in back-to-back outings during Ricky Rahne’s five seasons as head coach. Thanks to touchdown runs of 75 and 78 yards against Indiana, plus a veteran offensive line, Colton Joseph leads all FBS quarterbacks in rushing at 97 yards per game, while also averaging 209.7 yards passing.
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Moreover, a defense led by end Kris Trinidad, linebacker Jeremy Mack and safety Mario Easterly went seven consecutive quarters without allowing a touchdown — the final quarter versus Indiana, all four against Central and the first half at Virginia Tech.
But the next four opponents — Liberty, Coastal Carolina, Marshall and JMU — have been problematic for ODU.
Since the programs moved to FBS, the Flames are 4-0 against the Monarchs, with margins of 42, 28, 14 and 28 points. The Chanticleers, Thundering Herd and Dukes are a combined 6-0 versus ODU the past two seasons.
If the Monarchs are to author their first winning record since 2016, some of those trends need to change.
Conversely, JMU (2-1) is poised for its 12th straight winning season and third bowl appearance in as many years of eligibility. The Dukes smothered Liberty in the second half of Saturday’s 31-13 road win — the Flames lost starting quarterback Ethan Vasko (Oscar Smith High School) to injury late in the opening half — and second-year JMU coach Bob Chesney wisely shelved the Alonza Barnett-Matthew Sluka quarterback swapping that bogged down the offense in a loss at Louisville, instead riding incumbent Barnett.
Credentialed as a head coach at Division III Salve Regina, Division II Assumption and Championship Subdivision Holy Cross, Chesney succeeded Curt Cignetti in Harrisonburg when Cignetti went to Indiana. And once again, the Dukes and Hoosiers are inexorably linked.
Indeed, six former JMU players who followed Cignetti to Indiana were central against Illinois.
DeAngelo Ponds blocked a punt and returned it 11 yards for the game’s first touchdown; Elijah Sarratt caught nine passes for 92 yards and two scores; Solomon Vanhorse and Kaelon Black (Salem High) combined for 118 yards rushing on just 14 carries; Tyrique Tucker (Lake Taylor High) recorded two sacks, and Aiden Fisher made two tackles.
The mass exodus that, as in most coaching transitions these days, accompanied Cignetti’s departure would have derailed an average program. JMU football resists any notion of average.
Guided by then-athletic director Jeff Bourne, the Dukes were savvy and accomplished enough to land Chesney. And given autonomy and resources, Chesney was able to retain some key pieces and supplement with transfers, many of whom came with him from Holy Cross.
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JMU went 9-4 in his debut season, defeating Western Kentucky in the Boca Raton Bowl for the program’s first FBS postseason conquest, and though the offense has yet to hit the overdrive that it’s capable of, the Dukes remain favored to win the Sun Belt’s East Division and reach the conference championship game.
Saturday’s victory at Liberty spotlighted JMU’s promise.
The Dukes scored touchdowns on four of their final five possessions and finished with almost perfect balance: 227 yards rushing and 213 passing. Wayne Knight and Ayo Adeyi ran for 89 and 87 yards, respectively, while transfer receivers Jaylan Sanchez (Villanova), Nick DeGennaro (Richmond) and Landon Ellis (Richmond) combined for 10 catches and 131 yards.
But JMU managed only three points on two first-quarter red-zone opportunities, coming away empty when Liberty safety Brylan Green intercepted Barnett in the end zone on a third-and-1 from the Flames’ 5-yard line.
JMU, which opens league play Saturday at home against Georgia Southern (2-2), ranks third among Sun Belt teams in scoring at 30 points per game. ODU leads the league at 37.7.
The Dukes lead the conference in scoring defense at 17 points per game, with the Monarchs next in line at 19.7.
Their Oct. 18 collision at JMU figures to be appointment viewing.
David Teel, david.teel@virginiamedia.com
https://www.dailypress.com/2025/09/22/david-teel-are-odu-jmu-headed-for-sun-belt-east-showdown/
