Offense
SCHEMERun-first, efficiency-driven attack under OC Dean Kennedy (followed Chesney from James Madison). JMU's 2025 offense ranked among national leaders in rushing and scoring with elite turnover margin; Chesney also hired a dedicated OL/run-game coordinator (Chris Smith) — ground identity is explicit.
QBIamaleava returns for a second season as the starter (redshirt junior) — passed on the portal/draft to stay. Depth: redshirt freshman Madden Iamaleava and Cal Poly transfer Dieffenbach. Second-year continuity at QB is the lone carryover on an otherwise rebuilt offense.
RETURNIamaleava, QB — second-year starter, only meaningful offensive continuity · Woods, RB — led team in all-purpose yards in 2025 (541); pass-catching change-of-pace
ADDSKnight, RB (James Madison) — 1,373 yards, 9 TD in 2025; AP second-team All-American; projected lead back · Ellis, WR (James Madison) — 36-624-5 in Kennedy's system; likely WR1 · Smith, WR (San Jose State) — 43-688; contested-catch profile · Morgan, WR (Michigan) — slot · Mizell, WR (Florida) — vertical speed · Schmidt, OT (Boise State) and Davis, OT (South Alabama) — projected tackles · Robell and Sweazie, IOL (James Madison) — all-Sun Belt guards, eight OL signed total
Whole unit rebuilt around Iamaleava: eight portal OL, six portal WR, and the JMU backfield/receiver spine imported wholesale. The bet is that a functional line plus Knight's downhill run game stabilizes an offense that was bottom-tier in 2025. Talent is adequate; September cohesion is the open question.
Defense
SCHEMEDC Colin Hitschler (from JMU) ran spring with a flexible four-down look: two DTs plus a hybrid middle/edge linebacker (Taylor) in place of a traditional second DE — expect multiple fronts between that and a base 4-3.
RETURNPleasant, CB — projected outside starter, top returning cover man · Jackson, CB — senior, other outside spot · Martin, S — strong safety mainstay in 2025 · Woods (Jalen), LB — redshirt senior · Taylor, LB/Edge — sophomore, the hybrid piece in Hitschler's front
ADDSWest, DE (James Madison) — Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, freshman All-American; primary pass-rush threat · Washington, DT (Texas Tech) and Ford, DT (Cal) — projected interior starters · Gobaira, DE (James Madison) · Omosigho, LB (Oklahoma) — projected MIKE · Barksdale, nickel (James Madison) — projected slot corner · Johnson, S (Utah) and Hartford, S (Ohio State)
Beat coverage calls this the roster's strongest unit: nine portal DL signed, the JMU pressure pieces (West, Gobaira, Barksdale) bolted onto a returning corner/safety core of Pleasant, Jackson and Martin. Secondary continuity is real; the rebuilt interior DL against B1G run games is the unknown.
Coaching
HCBob Chesney · 1st year NEW 2026
OCDean Kennedy (from James Madison)
DCColin Hitschler (from James Madison)
CHANGESEntire staff new for 2026: Chesney hired from JMU in December 2025, brought Kennedy (OC), Hitschler (DC) and Canan (ST/TE) with him · Replaces the 2025 interim regime (Skipper) after Foster was fired three games into 2025
Chesney is a program-builder (132-52 career; Assumption, Holy Cross, JMU — CFP appearance and Sun Belt title in 2025) running the same coordinator pairing that won at JMU. Proven system, zero Power 4 track record; year one is about installing identity, not ceiling.
Roster Changes
IN
- Knight, RB (James Madison) — AP second-team All-American
- West, DE (James Madison) — Sun Belt Freshman of the Year
- Morgan, WR (Michigan)
- Hartford, S (Ohio State)
- Schmidt, OT (Boise State)
OUT
- Flores Jr., WR — Virginia
- Gilmer, WR — Nebraska
- Jones, DL — Nebraska
- Jordan Jr., defense — Auburn
- Hasselbeck, QB — Appalachian State
Roughly 40 in, 24 out — one of the largest portal hauls in the country (On3 No. 11 class nationally, No. 2 in the B1G), with ten JMU players following the staff. The 2026 two-deep is majority newcomers; only the secondary and QB carry real 2025 continuity.
Special Teams
Bhaghani back at kicker (20-of-24 in 2025, long of 57; pulled his name out of the portal) with long snapper Abdul-Wahab also returning. Punter is an open competition headlined by Tulane transfer Karoll (42.8 avg in 2024); return roles unsettled.
Vegas
5.5WIN TOTAL · Not specified in market coverage (Fox Sports betting roundup, April 2026)
· +20000 Big Ten (DraftKings, May 2026)
Market prices a near-.500 rebound off 3-9; Fox's betting analysis backs the over on 5.5 citing Chesney's career record, Iamaleava's return and a back-half-of-the-B1G schedule. Long-shot conference odds — nobody is pricing in contention.
