Last Updated on October 12, 2026 11:04 am
The Sun Belt Conference issued a joint statement from its commissioner and board president Monday on conference realignment, shortly after James Madison announced it will leave the league for the American Conference.
According to published reports, JMU’s Board of Visitors voted to end its Sun Belt membership, and the American Conference accepted the school. JMU is expected to join the American no later than July 1, 2028. The Dukes have played in the Sun Belt since 2022.
James Madison is scheduled to visit Appalachian State on Thursday, Oct. 22, for the sold-out, nationally televised Family Weekend game at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
Sun Belt statement
Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill:
“Since expanding to 14 football-playing members, the Sun Belt Conference has experienced the best four-year stretch in the conference’s 50-year history.
Over the span, the league has led all FBS non-autonomy conferences in football postseason representation for four-straight years, has been a multi-bid conference in eight different sports and has earned more postseason berths in major team sports than any other FBS non-autonomy conference. The conference has sent two teams to the Men’s College Cup, two teams to the Men’s College World Series and one team to the College Football Playoff and has competed in a pair of national championship finals.
In an era of collegiate athletics marked by nationwide conference expansion, the Sun Belt has distinguished itself in its commitment to a geographic footprint and a divisional model that fosters regional rivalries, engages passionate fanbases and supports its member institutions’ pursuit of excellence in all sports at a reasonable cost. It just makes sense.
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 Sun Belt Conference is RISING, and our best days are ahead.”
Sun Belt Board of Directors President Dr. Kyle Marrero:
“Through a tumultuous period in collegiate athletics, the Sun Belt has remained steadfast in its commitment to regional rivalries, geographic alignment and broad-based competitive excellence—pillars that have ushered in the most successful era in the conference’s history.
These pillars have guided the Sun Belt Board of Directors and the conference leadership under the direction of Commissioner Gill as it continuously evaluates opportunities to safeguard the Sun Belt and sustain its rise.”
