James Madison University to Join American Conference, Depart Sun Belt by 2028

Madison, WI, October 12, 2026 —

James Madison University (JMU) has formally accepted an invitation to join the American Athletic Conference, commonly known as the American Conference. This move will mark the university’s departure from its current conference, the Sun Belt Conference. The transition is scheduled to be completed by the year 2028.

The acceptance into the American Conference signifies a significant shift in JMU’s collegiate athletic landscape. Details regarding the specific timeline and the exact date of departure from the Sun Belt Conference were not immediately available, beyond the general timeframe of 2028. Similarly, further information concerning the reasons behind the move or any formal announcements from university officials beyond the acceptance itself was not provided in the initial summary.

James Madison University has been a member of the Sun Belt Conference. The American Conference is an NCAA Division I athletic conference that sponsors competition in numerous sports. The full implications of this conference realignment for JMU’s athletic programs, recruiting, and scheduling are expected to unfold as the transition date approaches. No additional details regarding potential impacts on specific sports or other member institutions were disclosed.

Story summarized from the original created by Google News on news.google.com, see more information here.