At least one college football team will be competing in its new conference in 2022

James Madison celebrates a landing by large receiver Riley Stapleton (10) in the course of the FCS championship sport on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Frisco, Texas. The Dukes reportedly will start FBS competitors in 2022.

Sam Hodde, Related Press

For a lot of the autumn, convention realignment was a always evolving dialog.

As soon as information broke that Texas and Oklahoma had been leaving the Huge 12 for the SEC, domino after domino fell.

BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF left the American Athletic Convention (independence in BYU’s case) for the Huge 12. Six Convention USA faculties then made the transfer to the AAC. After that, each the Solar Belt and C-USA added further groups to their ranks.

As attention-grabbing as all of the motion was, none of it was anticipated to have a direct affect on competitors. Precise realignment was anticipated happen years sooner or later, the earliest being 2023.

The longer term, nevertheless, was nearer than beforehand thought.

Former FCS powerhouse James Madison will formally transition to the FBS stage on July 1, and the Dukes will compete within the Solar Belt in the course of the 2022-23 season.

A number of retailers first reported the information Wednesday morning, after which the varsity formally introduced it.

“JMU is ecstatic to be becoming a member of the Solar Belt Convention, and it’s a win-win for everybody concerned that this transition will happen this July,” JMU athletic director Jeff Bourne mentioned in a information launch.

“Every of our sports activities will probably be an excellent match for the Solar Belt and convey worth to the convention whereas additionally being positioned to achieve success from day one. I’d prefer to thank Keith Gill, the remainder of the Solar Belt workers, and the member establishment presidents and athletic administrators for his or her laborious work to make this occur.”

James Madison went 12-2 final fall in its last FCS season and superior to the nationwide semifinals for the fifth time within the final six years.

The Dukes are a powerful 33-5 in three seasons below head coach Curt Cignetti.

The Dukes’ early transition to the FBS stage provides the Solar Belt 11 groups at the moment, together with Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Louisiana, ULM, South Alabama, Texas State and Troy.

Moreover, there's a reported expectation that Southern Miss, Marshall, and Outdated Dominion may also start Solar Belt competitors this upcoming school soccer season.

“It’s not finalized simply but, however that’s one thing we’re anticipating,” Bryan Maggard, Louisiana’s athletic director, advised ESPN.

At present, Texas and Oklahoma are anticipated to hitch the SEC forward of the 2025 season, whereas BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF are slated to hitch the Huge 12 forward of the 2023 season.

The six departing Convention USA groups, in the meantime, are believed to be eyeing 2023 as they transition to the AAC.