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Despite receiving interest from multiple prospective schools, the American Conference is not planning to expand at this time.
“The American is not proactively seeking additional members,” the league said in a statement shared with FOS on Friday. “We will continue to evaluate the changing landscape and opportunities that strengthen the conference and support our collective mission.”
The American has received interest from Miami (Ohio) and James Madison to join as full members, according to an On3 report.
Miami (Ohio), currently a member of the MAC, appears to be interested in moving conferences after making waves with an impressive men’s basketball season. Sun Belt member James Madison has only been an FBS program since 2022, when it jumped from the FCS level, but has already become one of just three non-power conference programs to reach the 12-team College Football Playoff.
“In today’s dynamic and ever-changing D1 athletics landscape, it’s understandable that there is speculation, but at Miami we don’t focus on hypotheticals. We focus on our student athletes, developing winning programs, and graduating champions,” Miami (Ohio) AD AD David Sayler told FOS.
Meanwhile, a JMU spokesperson told FOS: “We strive every day for excellence and to best position our student-athletes and university. Our charge is to evaluate every opportunity to make JMU Athletics the best it can be now and moving forward.”
UConn has reportedly reached out with the interest in re-joining the conference as a football-only member. University representatives did not respond to a request for comment.
When the old Big East transitioned to the AAC (now called the American) a decade ago, the Huskies stayed in the conference and became members of the league. But in 2020, they left for the new, current iteration of the Big East, which doesn’t sponsor football, so the Huskies football program has had to be independent. Though the program has found major success at the basketball level in the Big East, the independent football status has created challenges for the program.
Despite the overtures, however, the American is not interested in these offers—at least for now.
Representatives from UConn did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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