James Madison University’s Board of Visitors voted unanimously to apply for and accept an invitation to join the American Conference, with the move to take effect no later than July 1, 2028, the university announced Monday, Oct. 12.
Seventeen of JMU’s 18 athletic programs are expected to compete in the American, according to the announcement. Field hockey will remain in the Mid-American Conference. Women’s lacrosse has been an American affiliate member since 2022 and has won the last two conference championships, while swimming and diving joined as an affiliate this past year, the university said.
The American has 13 member institutions, with Army and Navy participating in football only, according to JMU. The university said all 13 institutions have an R1 or R2 Carnegie Research designation, including 11 classified as R1.
JMU said the transition requires an exit fee to the Sun Belt and an entry fee to the American. Gifts designated for the move will cover the exit fee, while new corporate-partner agreements will fund the entry fee, the university said. The announcement said no student tuition, student fees or state taxpayer funding will be used for the transition.
More than 84,000 JMU alumni live within 100 miles of American Conference campuses, the university said. The announcement was issued by JMU in Harrisonburg on Oct. 12.
