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The American Conference has attracted interest from three college football programs. Miami (Ohio), James Madison and UConn have all contacted the league However, the American does not plan to expand right now. The conference confirmed that position after the schools reached out. The news adds another chapter to college football’s ongoing realignment story. Schools continue searching for conference homes that provide stability and stronger financial opportunities. For the American, though, stability currently appears to be the priority.
Miami (Ohio) Makes the Biggest Push
Miami (Ohio) reportedly made the most aggressive push toward membership. The RedHawks offered between $30 million and $40 million for a spot. Miami currently competes in the Mid-American Conference. The program has reached three straight MAC Championship Games. The RedHawks have also invested heavily in their football roster. That investment helped establish Miami as a strong Group of Six program. Meanwhile, Miami’s basketball program has enjoyed major success. The RedHawks went 32-2 last season. They also finished 18-0 in MAC play. The school also approved a $242 million plan for a new basketball arena. Those developments show Miami’s broader investment in athletics.
James Madison Wants a Full Membership
James Madison also contacted the American about joining. The Dukes currently compete in the Sun Belt Conference. They moved from the FCS to the FBS in 2022. Since that move, James Madison has posted a 43-11 record. The Dukes have also reached three straight bowl games. James Madison made history last season as the first Sun Belt program to reach the College Football Playoff. The Dukes are seeking full membership in the American. That differs from UConn’s proposal, which focuses specifically on football. James Madison also released a statement addressing its approach to conference opportunities. The school said it continues evaluating opportunities that could strengthen its athletic department.
UConn Wants Football Membership
UConn represents the third school seeking American membership. The Huskies want football-only membership, according to reports. That arrangement would allow their other sports to remain in the Big East. UConn previously competed in the American from 2014 through 2019. The Huskies left the conference and joined the Big East in 2020. UConn’s football program remained independent after leaving the American. The Huskies are currently one of two FBS independents. The other independent football program is Notre Dame. UConn has shown improvement recently after several difficult seasons. The Huskies posted 9-4 records in both 2024 and 2025. Jason Candle now leads the program after Jim Mora left for Colorado State.
The American Is Staying Put
Despite interest from all three programs, the American isn’t expanding right now. The conference currently has 14 football-playing members. That group includes USF, Army, Navy and several other programs. The league most recently added Army as a football member. That expansion came in 2024. The American also added six schools during its previous expansion cycle in 2023. The conference released a statement after reports surfaced about the three schools. The American said it is not proactively seeking additional members. It added that officials will continue evaluating the changing college sports landscape. That leaves Miami (Ohio), James Madison and UConn on the outside for now.
Why Schools Want into the American
The interest makes sense when looking at the conference’s current position. The American has a stronger media-rights deal than several other Group of Six conferences. ESPN signed a 12-year, $1 billion agreement with the league in 2019. The conference has also increased its commercial operations under commissioner Tim Pernetti. Additionally, the American has built a stronger football profile in recent years. Last season, the conference produced multiple College Football Playoff participants across its history. Cincinnati reached the playoff in 2021, while Tulane made the field last season. For now, however, the American appears comfortable with its current membership. Miami (Ohio), James Madison and UConn have made their interest clear. The conference has made its position equally clear. No expansion is planned at this time, but conference realignment can change quickly.
This is big for the American Conference if they let these three teams in.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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