CFP FIRST ROUND: JAMES MADISON VS OREGON

December 20, 2025

Colin Hitschler

Trent Hendrick

Jacob Thomas

Autzen Stadium

James Madison Dukes

Postgame Press Conference

Oregon 51, James Madison 34

COLIN HITSCHLER: Obviously a tough night. Don't even kind of want to focus on that. Just proud of the guys, proud of what they've accomplished to get here, and proud of their effort, their toughness, their physicality, their willingness to put it all out there and get to this stage and earned it.

Disappointed, obviously, but excited for what we were able to put together as a season.

Q. For both of the players, how do you kind of compartmentalize and not let the way tonight unfolded color the way you remember this season?

JACOB THOMAS: Yeah, I think this season was just special for a lot of us. The returning guys at JMU who stuck through the coaching change, and not having the best of seasons last year and doing this year like we did, it's really special.

But a lot of a wave of emotions happening on the field right after the game. It's definitely hard. But just have to realize that we did something no other JMU team has done.

TRENT HENDRICK: Yeah, just want to be where my feet is at and just appreciative of this team and this program, this city and this town. Guys like J.T., Wayne Knight, Zo that we came in in that class of 2022, just being able to make something special here, especially in today's world of college football, you don't really see that too much, to have bonds with people for four years and being able to go out and do something like this. I appreciate this team, these coaches and these players.

Q. J.T. and Trent, when I asked Coach about Elijah's interception at the end of the first half, he mentioned both of you guys kind of helping him in that position. Being the two captains, what was it like to see a guy like that finally get that interception after some were called back this season?

TRENT HENDRICK: Speaking in the boundary, you know. We call ourselves the Boundary Boys, and we been waiting for that. We had a whole lot called back, and it just felt good to be able to go execute the call and know what's coming and being able to help him. When I seen him with the pick, I'm so mad I fell down. I tried my hardest to get up as fast as possible and pick up a block.

It just goes to show what type of team it is, with J.T. picking up a block; you can always help the next man.

Q. Coach, you talked during the week about the explosive plays. I know you haven't had a chance to review what just happened, but did they strike you as missed assignments, or did they strike you as maybe guys getting out-athleted at some positions?

COLIN HITSCHLER: I mean, every explosive is its own entity. Obviously for an explosive to happen multiple things have to happen on a play. Unfortunately, they were able to take advantage of our mistakes, and when they do, they're explosive enough to go all the way to the end zone.

Credit to them; they're a really talented team, and they made plays to put us behind the sticks.

Q. J.T. and Trent, for you guys to be here all four years, what's it like to have your moments and have it end at this stadium at this level and on the national stage?

JACOB THOMAS: Yeah, I don't think obviously we wanted it to end right here, but no, it's special. Me and Trent have had a lot of conversations, and Zo and Wayne, just where are our goals at.

Everyone on the outside, they want to win the Sun Belt, they want to do this. We knew what we wanted to do at the start of the season and we knew we had the personnel to do that.

For us to get to this stage I think it's awesome, and it's something that we earned it. Just wish we had a different result tonight.

TRENT HENDRICK: He pretty much hit it on the head. Obviously you don't want it to end like this, but I'm not mad that I ended it with the people that I ended it with. It was a quality group of men. Even the staff, the ladies on the staff, too, can't forget them. Everybody who's included, it's a village that took us here. It's not just the players, it's the whole community, so I'm appreciative of everybody.