Alert James Madison University Athletics announces move to the American Conference SAVANNAH REGER Richmond Times-Dispatch Oct 12, 2026 Oct 12, 2026 Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 × Richmond Folk Festival; Korn Ferry Tour Championship; Henrico’s Cactus House Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save James Madison University Athletics is moving to the American Conference and leaving the Sun Belt, starting no later than July 1, 2028, the university announced Monday.kAmy|& 92D 366? 2446AE65 7@C 25>:DD:@? 27E6C 2AA=J:?8 E@ E96 4@?76C6?46 2?5 C646:G:?8 2 F?2?:>@FD G@E6 7C@> p>6C:42? r@?76C6?46 rt~D] y|&VD q@2C5 @7 ':D:E@CD >6E |@?52J[ G@E:?8 E@ E6C>:?2E6 >6>36CD9:A H:E9 E96 $F? q6=E 2?5 E96? 2AA=J 7@C 25>:DD:@? H:E9 E96 p>6C:42?] k^Am kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]6DA?]4@>^4@==686\DA@CED^DE@CJ^0^:5^d_`eecd_^;2>6D\>25:D@?\6I:E\DF?\36=E\;@:?\2>6C:42?\4@?76C6?46Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmt$!}k^2m[ y|& H:== A2J Sab >:==:@? 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E@ 6I:E E96 $F? q6=E] k^Am People are also reading… Chilhowie confirms it's exploring boundary adjustment Smyth School Board takes next step to address buildings' needs Citizen files court complaint trying to upend Smyth's data center zoning regulations Smyth School Board honors educator who builds on student strengths Diesel costs force Smyth schools to review bus use Smyth County considers permit for second battery energy storage facility Legislators honor T-Bone Lewis, present General Assembly resolution Smyth supervisor, school board member unite to host forum on 1% sales tax referendum Verizon wants to hang up on landlines, but some customers aren’t so sure Serial killer Ted Bundy linked to murder of Utah police chief's 17-year-old daughter Unflappable: QB Grunkemeyer setting the tone for Virginia Tech Patrick Stewart, 'Star Trek' and 'X-Men' star, dies at 86 James Franklin aims to get Virginia Tech freshmen out of 'redshirt mode' JMU football turns to veteran leadership after first loss of season Marion Town Council issues statement about Exit 47 development kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^hhd4`4_f\623d\c3e4\ge23\hcfe345agcfcQm(9:49 9:89 D49@@= 8@=76CD H@? 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E96 ?6HD C6=62D6]k^AmkAm“(6 H@C< 6G6CJ 52J E@ 36DE A@D:E:@? @FC 2E9=6E:4D AC@8C2> 7@C 6I46==6?46[ 2?5 E@52J’D 2??@F?46>6?E :D E96 ?6IE DE6A :? @FC DEC2E68:4 6=6G2E:@?] %96 p>6C:42? @776CD @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C 2== @FC DA@CED E@ E9C:G6[ E@ 8C@H @FC 3C2?5 2?5 >65:2 6IA@DFC6[ E@ 6IA2?5 @FC 4@?DE:EF6?E 32D6[ 2?5 E@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ 6=6G2E6 E96 :>A24E @7 y2>6D |25:D@? @? 4@==686 2E9=6E:4D]k^AmkAmQ(6 2C6 8C2E67F= E@ E96 rt~D 2?5 r@>>:DD:@?6C %:> !6C?6EE: 7@C E9:D :?G:E2E:@? E@ ;@:? E96 p>6C:42?[ 2?5 H6 2C6 3F==:D9 23@FE @FC 7FEFC6 A2E9 2D 4@?76C6?46 >6>36CD] x 2=D@ H2?E E@ E92?< E96 $F? q6=E r@?76C6?46 2?5 76==@H 2E9=6E:4D 5:C64E@CD 7@C E96:C 4@==23@C2E:@? E9C@F89 4@>A6E:E:@? @G6C E96 =2DE 76H J62CD]”k^Am James Madison University announced it will join the American Conference in 2027 or 2028. It will be the school's second league change this decade. Courtesy James Madison University kAmx? a_ad[ y|& 4@>A6E65 :? 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Watch highlights, interviews here. Sports Douglas Freeman football coach Kevin Simonds on Mavericks 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Douglas Freeman football coach Kevin Simonds on Mavericks 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson Sports Zach Martin sack for Douglas Freeman football in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Zach Martin sack for Douglas Freeman football in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson Sports Douglas Freeman QB Will Thouron, DE/TE/P Zach Martin talk Mavericks 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Douglas Freeman QB Will Thouron, DE/TE/P Zach Martin talk Mavericks 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson Sports Will Thouron 8-yard completion to Zach Martin gives Douglas Freeman key first down late in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Will Thouron 8-yard completion to Zach Martin gives Douglas Freeman key first down late in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson Sports Will Thouron game-winning 67-yard TD run for Douglas Freeman football in 16-14 victory at Thomas Jefferson ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Will Thouron game-winning 67-yard TD run for Douglas Freeman football in 16-14 victory at Thomas Jefferson Sports Jaerron Johnson 30-yard TD catch from Gabriel Anderson for Thomas Jefferson in 16-14 loss to Douglas Freeman ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Jaerron Johnson 30-yard TD catch from Gabriel Anderson for Thomas Jefferson in 16-14 loss to Douglas Freeman Sports Robert Brown 21-yard TD catch from Gabriel Anderson for Thomas Jefferson in 16-14 loss to Douglas Freeman ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Robert Brown 21-yard TD catch from Gabriel Anderson for Thomas Jefferson in 16-14 loss to Douglas Freeman Sports Zach Martin TFL for Douglas Freeman football in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Zach Martin TFL for Douglas Freeman football in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson Sports Jude Martin 21-yard FG for Douglas Freeman in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Jude Martin 21-yard FG for Douglas Freeman in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson Sports Julian Gambrel 8-yard TD run for Douglas Freeman in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Julian Gambrel 8-yard TD run for Douglas Freeman in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson Savannah Reger(804) 649-6772sreger@timesdispatch.com@SavannahReger17 on X 0 Comments Locations Virginia Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story A1 Minute! October 12, 2026: Richmond Folk Festival; Korn Ferry Tour Championship; Henrico’s Cactus House Richmond Folk Festival; Korn Ferry Tour Championship; Henrico’s Cactus House JMU football looks to end Statesboro struggles against Georgia Southern Six trips to Statesboro. Six losses. Unbeaten JMU gets another chance Saturday, but the Dukes will be missing three important contributors. Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Bears Trade for Jeffery Simmons: Game-Changer for NFC North? 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Sports Douglas Freeman football coach Kevin Simonds on Mavericks 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Douglas Freeman football coach Kevin Simonds on Mavericks 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson
Sports Zach Martin sack for Douglas Freeman football in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Zach Martin sack for Douglas Freeman football in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson
Sports Douglas Freeman QB Will Thouron, DE/TE/P Zach Martin talk Mavericks 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Douglas Freeman QB Will Thouron, DE/TE/P Zach Martin talk Mavericks 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson
Sports Will Thouron 8-yard completion to Zach Martin gives Douglas Freeman key first down late in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Will Thouron 8-yard completion to Zach Martin gives Douglas Freeman key first down late in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson
Sports Will Thouron game-winning 67-yard TD run for Douglas Freeman football in 16-14 victory at Thomas Jefferson ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Will Thouron game-winning 67-yard TD run for Douglas Freeman football in 16-14 victory at Thomas Jefferson
Sports Jaerron Johnson 30-yard TD catch from Gabriel Anderson for Thomas Jefferson in 16-14 loss to Douglas Freeman ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Jaerron Johnson 30-yard TD catch from Gabriel Anderson for Thomas Jefferson in 16-14 loss to Douglas Freeman
Sports Robert Brown 21-yard TD catch from Gabriel Anderson for Thomas Jefferson in 16-14 loss to Douglas Freeman ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Robert Brown 21-yard TD catch from Gabriel Anderson for Thomas Jefferson in 16-14 loss to Douglas Freeman
Sports Zach Martin TFL for Douglas Freeman football in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Zach Martin TFL for Douglas Freeman football in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson
Sports Jude Martin 21-yard FG for Douglas Freeman in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Jude Martin 21-yard FG for Douglas Freeman in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson
Sports Julian Gambrel 8-yard TD run for Douglas Freeman in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch Updated Oct 12, 2026 0 Julian Gambrel 8-yard TD run for Douglas Freeman in 16-14 win at Thomas Jefferson
A1 Minute! October 12, 2026: Richmond Folk Festival; Korn Ferry Tour Championship; Henrico’s Cactus House Richmond Folk Festival; Korn Ferry Tour Championship; Henrico’s Cactus House
JMU football looks to end Statesboro struggles against Georgia Southern Six trips to Statesboro. Six losses. Unbeaten JMU gets another chance Saturday, but the Dukes will be missing three important contributors.
