College Football Playoffs, Blah, Blah, Blah

Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus and a football playoff.

Nice exacta.

When JMU takes the field in the quarterfinals of the Division I-AA Football Championship Division, their opponent will be a familiar one.

The Dukes will take on Villanova for the 17th time and the second time this season. JMU defeated Nova back in October on a last-second Hail Mary, 23-9. JMU leads the series, 9-7, and has a 4-3 lead in games at JMU.

Evidently, all week a photograph has circulated around James Madison's football offices and locker rooms showing a group of JM players exiting the field at Villanova while a pack of Wildcats fans make obscene gestures and yell at them. Well, Nova is dangerously close to Philadelphia, so what do you expect?  They boo Santa, remember?

Not that Dukes’ fans are all peaches and cream. JMU officials are adding extra security after complaints from visiting Wofford fans after last week’s first-round playoff game at Bridgeforth Stadium.

The winner of the JMU-Villanova game will advance to meet the winner of the Weber State at Montana game. As the top seed in the playoff field, JMU would host a third-round if it advances during second-round play.

The Dukes also defeated playoff participants Richmond and Appalachian State earlier this season.

This weekend’s FCS playoff games include the following:

Noon: Richmond (10-3) at Appalachian State (11-2)
2 p.m.: Weber State (10-3) at Montana (12-1)
3:30 p.m.: Villanova (10-2) at JMU (11-1)
7 p.m.: New Hampshire (10-2) at Northern Iowa (11-2)