HARRISONBURG — Villanova coach Andy Talley knows what it takes to win in the postseason, and he said for any team, it starts with a healthy roster.

Earlier this month during the second quarter of a Colonial Athletic Association contest at Villanova, James Madison junior quarterback Bryan Schor suffered an injury. He hasn’t played since.

Schor is one of a few Madison players, along with junior running back Cardon Johnson and senior right tackle Mitchell Kirsch, with questionable playing statuses for the postseason.

“The health of you team is important. I’m concerned that JMU has lost their quarterback,” Talley said Monday during the CAA coaches teleconference. “That’s hard. That’s really difficult, so I hope those guys are able to get it right. Staying healthy is critical.”

JMU coach Mike Houston isn’t as concerned —with a first-round bye, the Dukes have an extra week to get their trio of offensive players healthy.

“I would say, right now looking at it, that we would optimistically anticipate to be at full strength by December 3rd,” Houston said.

JMU will host the winner of Lehigh and New Hampshire next Saturday.

Schor was named CAA Offensive Player of the Year by the league Tuesday. He is the nation’s leader in completion percentage (73 percent), threw for 2,026 yards, rushed for 545 yards and was responsible for 27 total touchdowns.

The signal-caller was made available to reporters Tuesday, but was not allowed to speak about his health. The injury initially put Schor’s left arm in a sling and even though he didn’t practice Tuesday, he was no longer wearing the sling.

Houston has said the team expects Schor back “fairly quickly.”

In Talley’s 11 trips to the FCS Playoffs, he’s reached at least the quarterfinal-round six times and won the 2009 national championship.

Villanova earned an at-large bid to the playoffs this year to mark the 12th time it has reached the postseason in Talley’s 32 years at the school. The Wildcats host St. Francis on Saturday in a first-round game.

To reach the playoffs, Villanova finished second in the CAA, falling in league play to another at-large choice, Richmond, and league-champion JMU.

JMU holds the No. 4-seed in the 24-team tournament and is viewed as conference’s best chance at winning a national championship this year.

According to Talley, even if JMU isn’t healthy, it does have one other attribute that could propel a playoff run.

“I think you have to be able to play well on the road,” Talley said. “That’s a real important ingredient and that’s where the CAA gives us a great advantage. The CAA gives you some bad places to be when you’re away from home. I think the challenges of a tough league really help all of us in a playoff setting.”

Madison has won away from Bridgeforth Stadium through the year, picking up win at New Hampshire, Richmond and Villanova en route to a perfect 8-0 record in conference action.

“To have that kind of slate this year, which I think is the hardest that any team has had in this league, it’s a testament to the quality of our players and program,” Houston said.

Should all the top seeds advance in the playoffs, JMU would have to play one true road game — a semifinal-round trip to the FargoDome to take on five-time defending national champion and top-seeded North Dakota State.

NOTES: Johnson did not dress against Elon. He suited up the week before at Villanova, but didn’t have a carry against the Wildcats. Johnson hasn’t practiced in a few weeks and had his right foot in a walking boot Tuesday. ... He is the team’s second-leading rusher with 704 yards and eight touchdowns. ... Kirsch, a first-team All-CAA selection, was injured on a play late in the first half against Elon also. He had to be helped off the field as he limped into the locker room. He did not return to the game.