This win earned 5.03 ranking points because James Madison defeated a Power 5 opponent (Washington State from the Pac-12) in a close, competitive game, which carries significant weight in ranking systems that reward quality victories against higher-tier competition. The narrow 4-point margin of victory (24-20) demonstrates that James Madison was able to compete at a high level against a traditionally stronger program, making this a valuable resume-building win worth substantial ranking points.