| Season | Head coach | Conference affiliation | Season results | Playoff or bowl result | Final ranking |
|---|
| Conference finish | W-L-T record | Conference record |
|---|
| Madison Dukes |
| 1972 | Challace McMillin | Independent | | 0–4–1 | | | |
| 1973 | | 4–5 | | | |
| 1974 | Virginia Collegiate Athletic Association (VCAA) | 5th | 6–4 | 3–2 | | |
| 1975 | 1st | 9–0–1 | 5–0 | | |
| 1976 | DII Independent | | 7–4 | | | |
| James Madison Dukes |
|
| 1977 | Challace McMillin | DIII Independent | | 5–5 | | | |
| 1978 | | 8–2 | | | |
| 1979 | DII Independent | | 4–6 | | | |
| James Madison moved to Division I-AA (1979–2005); Division I FCS (2006–2021) |
| 1980 | Challace McMillin | DI-AA Independent | | 4–6 | | | |
| 1981 | | 3–8 | | | |
| 1982 | | 8–3 | | | |
| 1983 | | 3–8 | | | |
| 1984 | | 6–5 | | | |
| 1985 | Joe Purzycki | | 5–6 | | | |
| 1986 | | 5–5–1 | | | |
| 1987 | | 9–3 | | Lost NCAA FCS First Round | #8 |
| 1988 | | 5–6 | | | |
| 1989 | | 5–4–1 | | | |
| 1990 | | 5–6 | | | |
| 1991 | Rip Scherer | | 9–4 | | Lost NCAA FCS Quarterfinals | #16 |
| 1992 | | 4–7 | | | |
| 1993 | Yankee | 3rd (Mid-Atlantic) | 6–5 | 4–4 | | |
| 1994 | 1st (Mid-Atlantic) | 10–3 | 6–2 | Lost NCAA FCS Quarterfinals | #13 |
| 1995 | Alex Wood | 2nd (Mid-Atlantic) | 8–4 | 6–2 | Lost NCAA FCS First Round | #13 |
| 1996 | 4th (Mid-Atlantic) | 7–4 | 5–3 | | #23 |
| 1997 | Atlantic 10 (A-10) | 6th (Mid-Atlantic) | 5–6 | 3–5 | | |
| 1998 | 6th (Mid-Atlantic) | 3–8 | 2–6 | | |
| 1999 | Mickey Matthews | T-1st | 8–4 | 7–1 | Lost NCAA FCS First Round | #13 |
| 2000 | 4th | 6–5 | 4–4 | | |
| 2001 | 11th | 2–9 | 0–9 | | |
| 2002 | 9th | 5–7 | 3–6 | | |
| 2003 | 7th | 6–6 | 4–5 | | |
| 2004 | T-1st | 13–2 | 7–1 | Won NCAA Division I Championship | #1 |
| 2005 | 2nd (South) | 7–4 | 5–3 | | #25 |
| 2006 | 1st (South) | 9–3 | 7–1 | Lost NCAA FCS First Round | #9 |
| 2007 | Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) | 2nd (South) | 8–4 | 6–2 | Lost NCAA FCS First Round | #12 |
| 2008 | 1st | 12–2 | 8–0 | Lost NCAA FCS Semifinals | #3 |
| 2009 | 5th (South) | 6–5 | 4–4 | | |
| 2010 | 8th | 6–5 | 3–5 | | |
| 2011 | 6th | 8–5 | 5–3 | Lost NCAA FCS Second Round | #15 |
| 2012 | 6th | 7–4 | 5–3 | | |
| 2013 | 8th | 6–6 | 3–5 | | |
| 2014 | Everett Withers | 3rd | 9–4 | 6–2 | Lost NCAA FCS First Round | #18 |
| 2015 | T-1st | 9–3 | 6–2 | Lost NCAA FCS Second Round | #11 |
| 2016 | Mike Houston | 1st | 14–1 | 8–0 | Won NCAA Division I Championship | #1 |
| 2017 | 1st | 14–1 | 8–0 | Lost NCAA FCS Championship | #2 |
| 2018 | 2nd | 9–4 | 6–2 | Lost NCAA FCS Second Round | #9 |
| 2019 | Curt Cignetti | 1st | 14–2 | 8–0 | Lost NCAA FCS Championship | #2 |
| 2020 | 1st (South) | 7–1 | 3–0 | Lost NCAA FCS Semifinals | #3 |
| 2021 | T-1st | 12–2 | 7–1 | Lost NCAA FCS Semifinals | #3 |
| James Madison moved to Division I FBS (2022–present) |
| 2022 | Curt Cignetti | Sun Belt | T-1st (East) | 8–3 | 6–2 | Ineligible | |
| 2023 | 1st (East) | 11–2 | 7–1 | Lost Armed Forces Bowl | RV |
| 2024 | Bob Chesney | 3rd (East) | 9–4 | 4–4 | Won Boca Raton Bowl | |
| 2025 | 1st (East & CG) | 12–2 | 8–0 | Lost College Football Playoff first round | #19 |