Conference realignment has quieted down at college football’s Power 4 level recently, but it has been a constant in the Group of 6 ever since the Texas-Oklahoma-SEC earthquake of 2021. That trend continued Monday when James Madison announced it would join the American Conference by July 1, 2028.

James Madison is leaving the Sun Belt for the American Conference.

James Madison’s Board of Visitors voted to terminate its Sun Belt membership and apply to the American Conference. What the JMU realignment move means for the Dukes.

The Sun Belt Conference announced Monday that it would be realigning. This came shortly after James Madison University Dukes (JMU) decided to pack its bags and head to the American conference. The move is set to take place in 2028.

This major Group of 6 powerhouse appears to be kicking off the next round of college football realignment by joining a new conference.

The University of North Carolina issued a statement about the Protect College Sports Act on Friday, urging legislators to exclude an amendment that would limit conference realignment with a number of restrictions.

Perhaps the most significant change to college football comes in the form of an expanded Playoff. After a decade of pitting the four best teams against each other in a small tournament bracket, the CFP grows next season to 12 squads as the sport once again changes its methodology for determining the national champion.

College football faces renewed rumors of major conference shifts just as the 2026 season begins its new alignment. The rapid turnover since the Pac-12 breakup has left fans and programs scrambling to build stability and rivalries. A temporary pause on ...