What happened: The James Madison Board of Visitors voted Monday to terminate its Sun Belt Conference membership. The school plans to apply to join the American, with sources telling On3 the switch takes effect no later than July 1, 2028.

Why it matters: The move would end James Madison's Sun Belt tenure and shift its football and Olympic sports into a new scheduling footprint. It adds another realignment domino affecting conference membership, travel and postseason access. Final terms still depend on acceptance and exit formalities.

What to watch: Watch for formal application confirmation from the American and exit terms from the Sun Belt.