Old Dominion is leaving the Colonial Athletic Association and joining Conference USA.
School President John R. Broderick said in a release Thursday that the move will be effective July 1, 2013.
It means the Monarchs, who began playing football only three seasons ago, will play at the Bowl Subdivision level after one more year in the Championship Subdivision.
The move will be costly for Old Dominion, which will have to add football scholarships, but Broderick says Monarchs boosters have already pledged $3 million in private support to help meet those expenses. The president also says the move will be made without increasing student fees.
The Monarchs become the second school to leave the CAA this week. VCU announced Tuesday that it is heading to the Atlantic 10 in July, 2012.
