Alonza Barnett talks about the game against Oregon

James Madison Dukes hopes to make some noise in the College Football Playoff squarely on the shoulders of quarterback Alonzo Barnett III. The Sun Belt Player of the Year will lead No. 12 Dukes at Ausen Stadium on Saturday night to face No. 5 Oregon Ducksmatchup that puts Barnett on the biggest stage of his career against one of the most complete teams in the country.

Oregon football boasts one of the best pass defenses in college football, and the Ducks’ secondary has largely dominated opposing quarterbacks all season. While many of those passers struggled to match Oregon’s speed and complexity, Burnett remains uninterested in the match or the atmosphere.

“You can’t get upset and lose the game before you start the game,” Barnett said (h/t On3 ). “You just have to remember the first day why you started playing this game as a kid.”

Referring to Oregon’s national profile, he added, “I think if you asked everybody on this team, especially, you know, this generation, this era, you know, who was your favorite football team growing up? People would probably say Oregon.”

That mindset will serve as oxygen after the rough featured in the Sun Belt Championship Gamewhere Barnett completed just 10 of 25 passes for 93 yards with one touchdown and one interception against Troy Trojans, and this time the opposition is truly relentless.

For James Madison to remain competitive, improved accuracy and decision-making will be essential. However, Burnett went a step further, acknowledging the personal importance of the setting and the opponent.

“I was one of those kids that grew up watching Oregon. And so, these are the environments you dream of playing in. And, you know, if you’re who you say you are, you can’t turn off when the lights are on,” added Alonza Barnett.

Barnett has been the driving force behind James Madison this season. Enters the playoffs completing 59.9% of his passes for 2,533 yards, 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His dual-threat ability has consistently stressed defenses, but Saturday presents a challenge unlike anything he’s faced.

The first round game of the College Football Playoff kicks off at 7:30 PM ET in Eugene, where the Dukes will look to test an Oregon defense that thrives on creating discomfort. If Burnett can rise to the moment he dreamed of as a child, James Madison he may have the opportunity to turn that dream into something much bigger on college football’s biggest stage.