OXFORD — Miami University is continuing to evaluate the changing landscape of college athletics, athletic director David Sayler said, after reports linked the RedHawks to possible membership in the American Conference.
On3’s Brett McMurphy and Pete Nakos reported Friday, Sept. 25, that Miami, James Madison and UConn had contacted the American about potential membership. ESPN also reported that the three schools had made overtures to the conference.
The On3 report went further, citing unnamed sources who said Miami had offered a package worth between $30 million and $40 million in an effort to join the league. Miami and James Madison were reported to be interested in full membership, while UConn was exploring football-only membership that would allow its other sports to remain in the Big East.
Sayler disputed the report’s accuracy while emphasizing that Miami routinely evaluates the rapidly changing college athletics environment.
“In today’s dynamic and ever-changing D1 athletics landscape, it’s understandable that there is speculation, but at Miami we don’t focus on hypotheticals,” Sayler said. “We focus on our student-athletes, developing winning programs, and graduating champions.”
The American, meanwhile, said it is not actively pursuing expansion.
“As the landscape of college sports continues to evolve competitively, legislatively and legally, the American Conference remains focused on driving innovation and helping shape key decisions and opportunities for our member institutions, student-athletes and the industry,” the league said in a statement Friday.
“The American is not proactively seeking additional members. We will continue to evaluate the changing landscape and opportunities that strengthen the conference and support our collective mission.”
The league currently has 15 member institutions, with 14 competing in football. Army and Navy are football-only members, while Wichita State does not sponsor football. Army was the conference’s most recent addition, joining for football in 2024 after six full members — UAB, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice and UTSA — entered in 2023.
The financial and television landscape could make the American an attractive destination for programs looking to reposition themselves.
The American signed a 12-year media rights agreement with ESPN in 2019 reportedly worth $1 billion, or more than $7 million annually per school at the time the agreement was reached. The MAC’s current ESPN agreement runs through the 2026-27 academic year, putting the league near an important point in determining its future media strategy.
Miami has been a MAC member since 1947, making it one of the conference’s longest-tenured institutions.
The university also has made significant investments in athletics while enjoying one of the most successful stretches in department history.
Sayler said Miami has won 18 championships over the past two years, reached three consecutive MAC football championship games and captured both the men’s and women’s MAC all-sports trophies in consecutive years.
Miami’s athletic department completed the first back-to-back sweep of the MAC’s men’s and women’s all-sports awards in conference history following the 2025-26 academic year.
“Last year, Miami was the only Group of 6 school among the 19 institutions that qualified for a bowl game and both the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments,” Sayler said. “Our 31-0 men’s basketball team captured national attention as the fifth program this century to go undefeated in regular season play.”
Miami is also moving forward with one of the largest facility projects in school history. The university’s Board of Trustees has authorized up to $281 million for a new multipurpose arena and related projects. The arena itself is expected to cost approximately $242 million, with completion targeted for fall 2028.
UConn athletic director David Benedict also pushed back on the implication that a move to the American was imminent.
“Would be nice to be contacted about these kind of reports,” Benedict said in response to On3’s original X post about the report. “Wasn’t aware of this.”
The timing of the report provided an unusual backdrop to Miami’s football schedule.
One day after the realignment story surfaced, Miami and UConn — two of the three programs named in the report — met at Yager Stadium for the RedHawks’ Homecoming game. Miami rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat the Huskies 24-21 on Saturday, improving to 2-2.
For now, no move appears imminent. The American has publicly said it is not seeking additional members, while Miami maintains that it will continue evaluating the broader college athletics landscape while concentrating on its current programs.
What happens beyond that could become clearer as the MAC approaches the end of its existing ESPN agreement following the 2026-27 academic year.
