James Madison joining 49ers, American Conference

James Madison, which earned an FBS playoff spot last season and could be headed for another berth this year, is joining the Charlotte 49ers and 12 other schools in the American Conference.

The school, based in Harrisonburg, Va., made the announcement Monday.

JMU officials said they were approved for American membership unanimously by the conference’s athletic officials and will join the new conference no later than July 1, 2028.

According to several published sources, James Madison will pay $23 million to join the American and will ante up $5 million for an exit fee from the Sun Belt.

In addition to football, James Madison also has won Sun Belt championships in men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, women’s soccer, and swimming and diving.  The men’s basketball team reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2024.

“We’re ecstatic for James Madison to take the next step in our university’s growth, byu joining the American Conference,” JMU athletics director Matt Roan said. “The American offers opportunities for all our sports to thrive.”

In addition to the 49ers, the American members are East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Memphis, North Texas, Rice, South Florida, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB and UTSA. Army and Navy are members in football only, and Wichita State is a member in all sports except football.

James Madison was a member of the Colonial (now Coastal Athletic) from 1985 to 2022, when it joined the Sun Belt and moved its football program from FCS to FBS.

The Dukes were a power in FCS (or Division I-AA, as it was known previously) before moving up, as they won football championships.in 2004 and 2016.

From a financial standpoint, James Madison will have no problem competing in its new conference.  The school’s athletic budget reported is more than $60 million, which is more than most schools in the American.

James Madison’s football program has gained national attention in recent seasons. Former head coach Curt Cignetti left the school in 2023 for Indiana, where he built the Hoosiers into an FBS champion. Bob Chesney replaced Cignetti for two seasons with the Dukes, then left for UCLA.  His Bruins’ team is undefeated this season.

James Madison is 6-0 this season under head coach Billy Napier, formerly of Louisiana and Florida.