James Madison Joins the American Before Sun Belt Exit Fees Rise

After the American recently said that it wasn’t actively seeking new members, the conference has added a new program. On Monday, James Madison announced that it will be leaving the Sun Belt to join the American as a full league member no later than July 1, 2028.

The timing of the Dukes’ decision appears to be financially motivated.

According to ESPN, one of the primary reasons James Madison is leaving this week is because the Sun Belt is attempting to raise its exit fees for programs that depart from the conference. That process includes a vote on the matter scheduled for later this week, which reportedly “sped up” JMU’s defection.

Reached by Front Office Sports regarding its exit fees, the Sun Belt referred to its initial statements on JMU’s departure, which didn’t directly address the matter.

“With James Madison’s recent announcement of its planned departure, the conference leadership will examine and evaluate all opportunities as it continues its work to ensure the sustained rise of the Sun Belt Conference—the premier FBS non-autonomy conference in the country,” the statement from Sun Belt commissioner Keith Gill read, in part. “The Sun Belt Conference is RISING, and our best days are ahead.”

James Madison’s exit fee for leaving the Sun Belt is expected to be $5 million—the same fee that Texas State paid when it left for the Pac-12 earlier this year, per ESPN. JMU will also pay a $23 million entrance fee to join the American, with the university expected to pay both fees with privately raised funds.

JMU’s announcement comes just three weeks after On3 first reported that James Madison, UConn, and Miami (Ohio) had all expressed interest in joining the American. The conference responded by saying that it was “not proactively seeking additional members,” while JMU neither confirmed nor denied its interest.

On Monday, JMU revealed that it had formally applied for membership in the American, which the conference accepted following “a deliberate and comprehensive due diligence process to evaluate the institution, its alignment with the American and the long-term value of the relationship.” In its statement announcing the decision, JMU said it was “grateful” for its time in the Sun Belt, which it first joined in 2022 while making the jump from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

In joining the American, the Dukes become the conference’s 14th full member; JMU’s lacrosse program has already been an affiliate member of the league since 2022, and its swimming and diving program joined in 2025.

The American last added new members ahead of the 2023 season, with Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB, UTSA, and Wichita State all joining the league following the departures of Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF. Despite UConn and Miami (Ohio)’s potential interest, ESPN reports that the conference isn’t expected to imminently add any more schools.