before leaving to become a FBS Independent or form a new FBS conference (football-only or full). Keep in mind that the way the current bylaws are written, a public school is unlikely to receive a hardship waiver from the NCAA like Liberty received a few years in order to be able to switch DI subdivisions in football. If JMU wants to become either a FBS Independent or create a new "northern" FBS conference, then JMU's only option is to join 1 of the 10 existing ones and then leave that conference after a certain period of time.

Also, it could be interesting to see what impact being in the Sun Belt has on its out-of-state students demographics. Does JMU see an increase in enrollment from states within the Sun Belt footprint? Does the percentage of students from the Mid-Atlantic and/or Northeast regions increase/decrease/remain the same?