JMU's record $23M American entrance fee is being paid by new corporate sponsors, and it's one of the smartest realignment plays I've seen. The Dukes reportedly owe the American $23M, plus a $5M exit fee to the Sun Belt. Donors who gave specifically for it are covering the exit fee, and new corporate partners are funding the entry fee in full. None of it comes from tuition, student fees or state money. The interesting part is that JMU is bringing those new partners to the conference itself, per the Daily News-Record. So the American gets relationships that can keep paying long after the $23M is covered. AD Matt Roan called it "the FedEx strategy," a nod to Memphis's reported Big 12 pitch built on FedEx sponsorships. JMU appears to be the first to actually pull it off. From my seat, this shows how far a school's business community can carry it when people believe in the ask… I'd expect other schools eyeing a move to study this one closely.