Courtesy of Sun Belt. Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson speaks at Sun Belt Media Day in the Superdome in New Orleans, La. Today is a time for a new beginning for Marshall Athletics. He is 4-3 in his first season. Sunbelt Sports Main Navigation Menu Members Ad Blocker Detected Thanks for visiting sunbeltsports.org! Although the SBC was formed in 1976, it did not sponsor football until 2001. The conference's offices are located at the Superdome in New Orleans. or anything. Chanticleer Traditions NCAA Championship Appearances Conference Championships All-Americans Academic All-Americas Sasser Hall of Fame Big South Conference Sun Belt Conference Home Football Premium Seating - West Zone Football Premium Seating - Loge Box Football Premium Seating at Brooks Stadium Naming Rights JOIN THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAM Donate . person will not be tolerated. Associated Press. If the Sun Belt were ever able to snatch some of the more desirable AAC schools, it would likely attract a more lucrative media rights deal than the American. The event will be. Mar 19, 2019 - 11:20 am. 7:00 PM ET; William & Mary. Back to the 70s Sunday; Powerful Winds Monday; Rain, Roxys Friday Forecast: Beautiful warm weekend, before, Exclusive 9 day forecast: Calm and pleasant weather. This round of realignment started in July when the SEC announced that it is addingTexasandOklahomaout of the Big 12. The Sun Belt is intensely competitive in the spring sports of baseball and softball. What becomes of the ACC and Big 12 if they arent a part of whatever the new super conferences have cooking or if the Big Ten and SEC decide they want to expand even further? As one of the strongest Group of Five conferences in football, these new additions will only further cement Sun Belt schools as a destination for recruits, student-athletes and supporters, McDonald said. As of the upcoming 2022 season, all 14 full members play football in the conference. Find a complete listing of all the Sun Belt basketball teams, on ESPN.com. The Sun Belt currently sits at 14 teams which makes a move in the near future unlikely unless the Sun Belt wants to expand even further. The Trojans (11-2) have followed a similar path to the Roadrunners this season, dropping two of their first three games before ripping off a 10-game winning streak to claim the Sun Belt Conference . PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. James Madison T5. The Sun Belt has written the blueprint for running a conference in 2022, both in substance and in approach, and on March 29, it earned its payout. "Our brand, our athletic programs and our incredible fans earned this opportunity. New members James Madison, Old Dominion, Marshall and Southern Mississippi have only officially been in the Sun Belt for less than a week to make it a 14-team conference. All of those factors could help determine if further expansion ever makes sense for the Sun Belt. December 7, 2022 Sun Belt Conference Scores. Monday, July 25, 2016. Agree that SBC is rising, and more stable than some other conferences, including Conf- USA and Pac-12, which is collapsing @ light speed. Sign up to stay up to date with our daily headlines. The Sun Belt Conference has made its realignment moves, cherry picking what little was left of Conference USA after the American Athletic Conference claimed six for itself from C-USA.. . Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. that is degrading to another person. If the AAC TV money dries up, perhaps a conference that has five teams within approximately 300 miles of Birmingham would sound pretty good compared to traipsing to Philadelphia one week and Tulsa the next. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Thundering Herd previously noted that they would not make a decision on realignment until hiring a new university president. The season will conclude with the 2023 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Championship at the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Fla., from Tuesday, Feb. 28, to Monday, March 6. NEW ORLEANS - Old Dominion University football wide receiver Ali Jennings III and linebacker Jason Henderson earned first-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors, while offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri was named to the second-team, the Sun Belt announced on Thursday. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. "Today is a great day for Southern Miss. Marshall T5. TOP PLAYERS. The Sun Belt college athletic conference is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana. As of the upcoming 2022 season, all 14 full members play football in the conference. "During our comprehensive and thoughtful discussions over the past weeks and months, it became clear that the Sun Belt offered a perfect fit for our school and athletic department. For the Big Ten, $100 million per school can be a stronger motivator for change than the seven-figure amounts the Sun Belt programs might expect. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Theres an energy in the league that meshes nostalgic rivalries with new opponents that will delight our fan base. Possibly, but its far from a sure thing. The Chants appeared at No. Las Cruces school district seeks public input on, Alamo Drafthouse celebrates holidays with classics,, Sheriffs Office: Juvenile shot in Canutillo, taken, 3 bald eagles die after eating euthanized animals. Western Kentucky: QB Austin Reed has thrown for 4,249 yards, second nationally, and 36 touchdowns while completing 64.5 percent of his passes. Georgia Southern T5. Attorneys for the Sun Belt Conference countered that it was ultimately Gill who decided to fire Hairston over poor performance issues and the added "complexities" Sun Belt faced due to the coronavirus pandemic. Old Dominion. Sun Belt Map | Teams | Logos - Sport League Maps Sun Belt Map More NCAA Maps Updated May 5 2022 Open Sun Belt Map in Google Maps (If prompted to "Open in Google Maps", click Cancel to open in browser) List of Sun Belt Conference Teams Appalachian State Mountaineers Boone, North Carolina Shop Appalachian State Mountaineers Arkansas State Red Wolves Southern Miss, Marshall and Old Dominion have reached an agreement with Conference USA to be let out of their contract early to move to the Sun Belt Conference in time for the 2022 athletic. Marshall has joined Southern Miss and Old Dominion as part of a C-USA exodus, and the three institutions shifting to the Sun Belt join six others that previously announced departures from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference. Sophomore defensive end T.J. Jackson led the Sun Belt with 14.5 tackles for losses, and senior linebacker Carlton Martial's 112 tackles were the second-most in the conference. But it does appear that by moving fast on realignment following the Texas and Oklahoma bombshell last summer, the Sun Belt is, for the moment anyway, facing fewer dire question marks than most FBS conferences and may have some flexibility going forward. The current Sun Belt deal with ESPN runs through 2031 and the network isnt necessarily in a hurry to begin another round of renegotiations. "Were excited for Marshall University to begin a new era in the Sun Belt Conference," said Marshall Interim Director of Athletics Jeff O'Malley. We'd love to hear eyewitness Those schools officially joined the league Friday. Sun Belt Releases 2022 Football Schedule, Including Four New Members Story Links NEW ORLEANS The Sun Belt Conference announced its 2022 football schedule Tuesday, including its four new members James Madison, Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss. Roxys Thursday Forecast: Expect a warmer weekend! Advocate staff photo by MATTHEW HINTON Appalachian State Mountaineers. NEW ORLEANS The Sun Belt Conference announced Saturday the addition of Marshall University into the league after a unanimous vote by the Sun Belt CEOs. In 2021, three of the four schools announced they would be entering the conference following the 2022-2023 athletic seasons, while James Madison planned to join in . Winds light and variable.. A few clouds. There could be more realignment shakeups in the coming weeks and months thanks to the Big Tens addition of UCLA and USC, but for the 2022-23 season, the dust has settled. The Trojans (11-2) raced ahead 31-0 in the first half en route to their Sun Belt-record seventh league title and 10th consecutive win under first-year coach Jon Sumrall. Our brand, our athletic programs and our incredible fans earned this opportunity. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Football 3/1/2022 10:00:00 AM JMU Unveils Sun Belt Conference Slate to Complete 2022 Schedule HARRISONBURG, Va. - James Madison Athletics announced its full 2022 football schedule, which features 10 FBS games and 11 total games in its first year as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. Follow Shane on Twitter: @Shane_DNRSports. The More You Know Phone Bank, Man accused of assaulting pregnant Realtor is arrested, How to make your Christmas tree last longer, Alamogordo PD: Child hospitalized after being hit, How do you make your home smell good for the holidays? The Tigers have to be maneuvering right now for a potential spot in a power conference such as the Big 12. The Thundering Herd hired former Alabama associate head coach Charles Huff to lead the program in 2021. The Sun Belt East will be made up of Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, James Madison, Marshall, and Old Dominion. Benson said Louisiana Tech was willing to pay to join the Sun Belt last fall and essentially was told to go kick rocks by Louisiana and Louisiana Monroe. But if commissioner Keith Gill and the league presidents and athletic directors ever decide to go that way, there are some candidates that make more sense than others. The Sun Belt sponsors 17 NCAA sports and annually awards nearly $134 million in financial aid to more than 4,600 student-athletes. How did Advent calendars become a holiday tradition? One of the most appealing aspects of the 14-team Sun Belt is the consistent culture of its members. The Trojans have themselves to thank for that. The 14-member conference includes App State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, James Madison, Louisiana, ULM, Marshall, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Texas State and Troy. The Sun Belt Conference men's and women's basketball tournaments will remain in New Orleans for the foreseeable future, but changes are coming including a move across town to the Smoothie King . The realignment frenzy first started on July 30 when Texas and Oklahoma announced they would be joining the Southeastern Conference. Marshall defensive lineman TJ Johnson (15) sacks Louisiana-Lafayette quarterback Levi Lewis (1) in the first half of the New Orleans Bowl last December. Former Intuit CEO Brad Smith was announced as Marshall's 38th president on Thursday, clearing the way for the school to make a decision. at Patchy A.M. Fog; Warming Trend Starts Thursday; 70s, New Mexico State falls to New Mexico to split season, New Mexico State earns 73-60 win over Duquesne, New Mexico State travels to Pittsburgh to play Duquesne, Local high school quarterbacks showcase skills in, UTEP sees DePaul hit 14 three-pointers in 91-70 defeat, New hopes for Rio Grande Rivalry as womens basketball, New Mexicos medical cannabis program adds anxiety, El Paso airport welcomes holiday season with food,, Diabetes, Now What? The Sun Belt Conference (SBC) is a conference of 14 universities which participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. November 8, 2021 Change is on the horizon for the Sun Belt Conference. The honors were voted upon by the conference's 14 head coaches and select media representatives. South Alabama: RB La'Damian Webb has rushed for 1,014 yards and 13 . Southern Miss, ODU and Marshall all left Conference USA to join the SBC. Conference USA will be an 11-team league for the 2022-23 campaign, before six more teams Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB and UTSA leave for the American Athletic Conference and C-USA adds Liberty, Jacksonville State, New Mexico State and Sam Houston. https://ulmhawkeyeonline.com/29174/news/sun-belt-conference-expands-with-addition-of-schools/#comment-49225. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you're here. But fans are already forced back to imagining league realignment scenarios after UCLA and USC announced they were bolting the Pac-12 for the Big Ten. The Sun Belt will be good for the future of Marshall Athletics, and I am excited that we are going in this new direction. The ODU men's soccer won the 1985, 1987 and 1989 titles and the ODU baseball team went to the NCAA Tournament twice in the Sun Belt Conference, including coach Mark Newman's 1985 team that finished 50-11 and won the Sun Belt title. The 2022 Sun Belt Conference football season is the 22nd season of college football play for the Sun Belt Conference (SBC). Appalachian State T3. It only seems like Coastal Carolina is in its third straight Sun Belt Conference Championship Game. The Sun Belt might be a hard sell to Memphis fans, but geographically it makes sense with Arkansas State about an hour down the road. The Mountaineers won the conference's first two championship games in 2018 and 2019, helping to keep the Sun Belt in larger Group of Five conversations during that stretch. Among Group of 5 conferences, thats far below what the AAC was getting before Texas and Oklahoma left the Big 12, believed to be around $75 million. My Vote IS NO. ECU added to SBC East Conference would be nice. Reuniting with Southern Miss, who the Tigers played 63 times between 1935 and 2012, might also hold some appeal if the AAC brand diminishes. Your weekly roundup of sports news from the Sun Belt Conference, delivered Monday morning. All four teams bring varied levels of success, but no new member has had more historic success than Marshall. Since joining the Sun Belt, the Warhawks have won conference titles in men's basketball (2006-07 West Co-Champion) and baseball (2008 regular season and 2012 tournament champions). Southern Mississippi, Marshall, Old Dominion and James Madison all accepted their bids to join the conference no later than July 1, 2023. Further Sun Belt Expansion Only Makes Sense In Certain Scenarios, City Teachers Plead With School Board For Help, VSP: One Dead, One Injured In Crash On I-81, After Blue Sprocket Recording StudioDestruction,Former Producers Spread Skills to New Spaces, Dayton Christmas Parade, Tree Lighting Friday, County Looks To Purchase Massanutten Water And Sewer System, Timberville Council Approves Tuition Assistance Program, Elkton Middle Schoolers Drive Toy Giving for Police Department Holiday Initiative, FEMA Grants Extension On Lake Shenandoah Project, Work Continues. Womens sports include basketball, cross country, golf, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis and volleyball. Marshall, Old Dominion and Southern Miss officially . That was a move that ultimately failed because of the leagues expansive geography spanning from Hawaii to Houston. That said, heres a breakdown of what makes sense from a Sun Belt standpoint: When the Big Ten and SEC decided to go to 16 teams there were two big factors at play. The program has struggled since the breakout season, however, posting an 11-32 record since 2017. Error! [smile] Another of Mr. Mettlen's insightful and well-investigated articles. It is part of the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Final. Required fields are marked *, Randall Scott Redman Mar 29, 2022 at 11:14 pm. You can see . Since the playoff format was introduced in 2014 the SEC has produced the most national championships. Marshall has become the third Conference USA institution to join the Sun Belt Conference, the league announced on Saturday.Marshall has joined Southern Miss and Old Dominion as part of a C-USA . The nationwide conference realignment that has shaken the entire NCAA has brought four new teams to the SBC. Our department has achieved at a tremendously high level over the last seven years and even further throughout our entire history, said Jeff Bourne, athletic director of JMU. , Heading to the cabin this winter? Might there be a TV market for a second-tier playoff if the SEC and Big Ten go off on their own? 12:19 pm ET, I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. South Alabama, Louisiana-Lafayette and Georgia Southern are all traditionally strong programs. Sun Belt Conference Talk. It is interesting that the Sun Belt chose to add despite the fact that it hasn't been poached by other conference in the latest realignment wave. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 1. The arrival of new teams has athletic director Scott McDonald excited and optimistic for ULMs future in the SBC. Member institutions are located in the southern half of the U.S. from Texas to Florida. East Carolina: There are already pockets of Pirates fans who think if ECUs dreams of ever jumping to a Power 5 league are dead then it would be better to play in a conference with Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, JMU and ODU. Sun Belt Home; Schedule; Standings; Statistics; Scores; Thu Dec 8. The Sun Belt has the right idea. JMU wide receiver Kris Thornton hauls in a deep pass from Dukes quarterback Cole Johnson during a victory at William & Mary last fall. 22,000 seats. Winds light and variable. Their football program will make the leap from the championship subdivision (FCS) to the bowl subdivision (FBS). Be Proactive. Liberty fits geographically and is successful athletically, but its not clear JMU or ODU would push for another Virginia school and all that comes with the Flames off the field. But with information thats available to the public it appears that the new 14-team version of the league commands around $25 million to $28 million from the network. Use the 'Report' link on The Sun Belt once again captured national attention during the 2022 campaign with four victories over autonomy five foes, including a statement Saturday in Week 2 to become the first non-autonomy conference to knock off multiple Top 10-ranked opponents on the same day in nearly two decades (Sept. 20, 2003). Over the course of the past five football seasons, the conference has posted an FBS-leading .692 winning percentage in bowl games, going 18-8 over the stretch. The expansion brings a new level of opportunity for all schools in the conference. All but two members, UT Arlington and Little Rock, have football programs. Amid national realignment discussions, our presidents and chancellors have expressed confidence in the SBC leadership and our member configuration (especially with the recent additions of Southern Miss and Old Dominion). The college football coaching carousel spins earlier and faster than ever these days, and in a conference full of up-and-coming programs and coaches, the Sun Belt was sure to have movement. Old Dominion joined Conference USA as it transitioned to the FBS level during the 2014 football season. It was a rocky road, but it's here. "On . Western Kentucky (8-5, Conference USA) vs South Alabama (10-2, Sun Belt), Dec. 21, 9 p.m. Should the AAC lose any more teams, the Sun Belt could find itself in an even stronger position comparatively. Marshall was uniquely positioned in this round of realignment because of the number of options we had, which is a testament to ourstrong national brand, reputation and passionate fan base.". Are there programs the Sun Belt could reasonably add to make it a 16-team league that means more TV revenue for the existing members? Shortly after taking over the wheels were already in motion before he got the job in 1994 the WAC became the first 16-team Division I-A football conference. The two schools left to face the superior competition for football in the SEC. 1998 - 2022 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The Sun Belt Conference was founded in 1976 and began sponsoring football in 2001. There is no question that ULM is uniquely positioned to grow and experience unprecedented success in an elite conference with great competitors.. ESPN closley guards the details of its deal with the Sun Belt, which expanded in 2021. Over the course of the past five football seasons, the conference has posted an FBS-leading .692 winning percentage in bowl games, going 18-8 over the stretch. A lot depends on what happens at the top. The Eagles were once a nationally-relevant power under head coach Jeff Bower, posting a 21-2 record in conference play from 1996 to 1999. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: collegefootball | pageType: stories | Get our top 10 stories from the past week delivered every Saturday morning. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Marshall has become the third Conference USA institution to join the Sun Belt Conference, the league announced on Saturday. Southern Miss will add much to the league. This is a strong move forward for our university, our athletes and our fans.". Additionally, sources tell CBS Sports that FCS power James Madison expects to join the Sun Belt after the Dukes' board approved a plan to explore FBS football. It was Troy's first league title since 2017 and fans . The Sun Belt Conference includes 14 member schools with Division I football teams mostly across the South. Also, it is the only conference with multiple members who have won a football national championship in the same timeframe. All members of the Sun Belt Conference are public universities. Less than an hour from Texas State in San Marcos, UTSA could balance out an East Coast addition without expanding the borders of the league. No subscription is required to sign up for News-Record newsletters. Copyright 2022 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The SBCs television contract with ESPN was a key factor for teams to join the conference. 8-seeded Louisiana. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. The Aggies and Bearkats move to C-USA will be official on July 1, 2023, exactly 365 days from now. JONESBORO, Ark. ODU brings a host of strengths to our conference. But fans are already forced back to imagining league realignment scenarios after UCLA and USC announced they were bolting the Pac-12 for the Big Ten. Georgia State T3. Go Herd., Marshall is well positioned for an exciting future in the Sun Belt Conference, Marshall University President-Elect Brad D. Smith. These programs want better television deals and the opportunity to play ranked opponents within their conference. Local weather delivered each morning to your inbox. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Sun Belt football is about to win the Group of Five realignment war If you would have told me at the beginning of conference realignment, that Sun Belt football would come out. The question is if adding any schools and splitting the pie more ways would increase the current per school payout. "It's a very unique opportunity that I am grateful for and I think our players are too," Sumrall said. Sun Belt Conference Football Media Day NEW ORLEANS -- The 2022 football season officially kicked off with the annual Sun Belt Conference Football Media Day as Georgia State head coach Shawn Elliott, along with Preseason All-Sun Belt selections Malik Sumter and Blake Carroll, represented the Panthers in New Orleans, La. We have demonstrated an increased ability to succeed at the national level, and this move to the Sun Belt further enhances that to an even greater degree as we move forward.. That move made a lot of sense for UAB a few months ago, and theres certainly no regret for escaping CUSA. With all due respect to the four that came in, they are great fits, but Im not sure they added much value for ESPN. Today we welcome Marshall University to the Sun Belt Conference. But that doesnt seem as likely as it might have about a week ago. November 21Bowl hopes dashed in loss to Trojans, November 21Warhawks hot and cold in week home stretch, November 21A fans life-long love for college football, November 21Horned Frogs contain ULM in redemption game, November 21Warhawks season ends in hard-fought loss, Expands to 3 new statesVirginia, West Virginia, Mississippi, Cameron Jett, [emailprotected]November 8, 2021. Hot Thread (New) Hot Thread (No New) No New Posts Contains Posts by You Be Truthful. ago. While the divisions will likely see some form of realignment for geographical reasons, Southern Miss will join ULM in the West Division. The Sun Belt was the only Group of Five league that didn't lose any football members from 2021. Old Dominion was a member of the conference originally from 1982 through 1991. The nationwide conference realignment that has shaken the entire NCAA has brought four new teams to the SBC. sun belt conference. Marshall will join the Sun Belt Conference no later than July 1, 2023. "To say that [Conference USA] is not wounded would be to deny [reality]," a source close to the discussions told Dodd. If that ever changes dont be surprised if the Pirates were a prime candidate to be an eighth team in the Sun Belt East. UTSA: The Roadrunners are coming off their best football season ever and are moving from CUSA to the AAC to give that conference a foothold in the San Antonio market. The program has five Conference USA football championships under its belt, with the last one coming in 2011. By: Pete Fiutak 1d Florida State vs Louisiana Prediction Game Preview Its possible some AAC members might see the allure of a Sun Belt thats getting stronger athletically and features a more compact (and budget friendly) geographic footprint. Threats of harming another Marshall University, founded in 1837 and located in Huntington, West Virginia, supports a student population of nearly 13,000. Marshall has been a member of Conference USA since 2005, winning three division championships and the 2014 conference crown since joining the league. They are competitive across all of their sports, have a strong brand and are supported by a great fan base," Sun Belt commissioner Keith Gill said in a statement. The Trojans (11-2) raced ahead 31-0 and with a 316-22 advantage in total yards en route to their Sun Belt-record seventh league title. The Sun Belt Conference announced on Tuesday that Keith Gill has been named the league's sixth commissioner, according to a news release from conference officials. Think about two national championships in football, 17 bowl appearances and winning 75% of those games is pretty impressive and tracks with the Sun Belts success as well.. Both Conference USA and the Sun Belt released their 2022 schedules including those three teams, but the Sun Belt has their teams. accounts, the history behind an article. JMU might have been better served to stay where they were until they could beat S D State with some regularity. "As the first African-American Commissioner in (Division I football), I can tell you without hesitation that I do not discriminate or allow discrimination in the workplace . Coastal Carolina baseball, which won the 2016 College World Series, finished last in its own division last season. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. ESPN is not just going to, out of the goodness of their hearts, give additional rights fees to a conference over and above what the contract calls for, Benson said. Marshall, Old Dominion and Southern Miss officially left Conference USA for the Sun Belt Conference, a move that came about after much consternation between the three universities and the league itself. Adding Southern Miss gives our Warhawk community another conference rival that is easily within driving distance and will immediately help our league grow in many areas, McDonald said. Tulane: Sun Belt headquarters are in New Orleans, but the conference currently has no team there. "While C-USA has proven to be an excellent home for ODU Athletics during our transition from FCS to FBS, and we thank the C-USA membership and leadership for such an outstanding partnership, the chance to enhance the overall athletic experience for the student-athletes, fans and alumni of ODU in the SBC with regional rivalries represents the perfect opportunity for the continued growth and evolution of ODU athletic programs in our pursuit of national prominence," Old Dominion athletic director Wood Selig said in a statement. But the American is losing its biggest brands Cincinnati, Houston and UCF to the Big 12. Conference USA has been good to us over the years, and we are grateful for that. The Sun Belt Conference was founded in 1976, began sponsoring football in 2001 and currently sponsors 18 NCAA sports. The Sun Belt Conference was founded in 1976 and began sponsoring football in 2001. racist or sexually-oriented language. The future of Conference USA is now severely in doubt. "We are excited about adding our rich tradition of success and passionate fan base to a conference that values those attributes, and look forward to working together to continue to elevate the Sun Belt on the national stage.". Expansion might only work if the Sun Belt takes big swings while remaining regional. Perhaps moving to 16 or more teams by adding within the already established geographical footprint could allow the Sun Belt to focus even more on its East-West geographical split and continue to cut travel costs while selling more tickets for games featuring natural rivals. A current Sun Belt source said unlike last fall when SBC leadership was racing Conference USA to lock down commitments from JMU, ODU, Marshall and Southern Miss, the league can afford to be patient this time around. The season began on September 2, 2022, and will conclude with its conference championship game on December 3, 2022. The Sun Belt Conference map now includes new members Old Dominion, James Madison, Marshall and Southern Miss. As Benson points out, right now there is one clear dividing line between Power 5 and Group of 5, and the difference in money is gigantic. Coastal Carolina University (9-3), representing the Sun Belt Conference, and East Carolina University (7-5), representing The American Athletic Conference, will meet in the 16th TicketSmarter . Old Dominion and Southern Miss publicly announced their decisions to leave for the Sun Belt Conference earlier this week. The addition of four schools would give the Sun Belt 14 football-playing institutions. Dipping too far into Florida or further west into Texas stretches the geographic footprint in a way that starts to recreate the untenable nature of the old Conference USA or American. The addition of Marshall will bring the number of Sun Belt members to 15, with the Thundering Herd joining current membersApp State, Little Rock, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Louisiana, ULM, South Alabama, UTA, Texas State and Troyand new additions Southern Miss and Old Dominion, which were welcomed to the Sun Belt Conference this week. The SBC is locked in to a deal with ESPN that runs through 2021. Coastal Carolina 2. Nebraska if you havent forgotten played Oklahoma and Oklahoma State on a yearly basis as part of the Eight Team Conference from the late 60s to early 80s. Its getting repetitive, but essentially everything said about Memphis and ECU would also apply to the Green Wave. Geographically it makes sense to look at another school in North Carolina, but Charlotte is a less prestigious brand than others listed and there is a sense the Sun Belt East schools would much prefer ECU if the league ever looks to the Carolinas again. UAB: The Blazers are leaving a terrible TV deal in Conference USA for the AAC. Watson passed for 318 yards and three long touchdowns to lead the Trojans to a 45-26 victory their 10th straight over Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt Conference championship game on Saturday. The 56-game slate will see the Dukes play 27 games at Veterans Memorial Park while facing off against eight teams that played in last season's NCAA tournament . The early domination didn't last, but it was enough. The football program has appeared in 17 bowl games, including a 12-4 postseason record since moving to the FBS in 1997. Conference USA Leftovers: Of the schools remaining in CUSA after last falls realignment, Western Kentucky and/or Middle Tennessee State might make sense on some level, but does either move the needle enough to make expansion worth it? georgia_tech_swagger-- . The program played football for a brief period in the 1930s, but ultimately folded before restarting a football team at the FCS level in 2009. Marshall (8-1, 2-1 away) They are a part of nine teams who chose to depart from C-USA. The Indian Trail, N.C., native's 176.1 passing efficiency rating is first in the Sun Belt and second in the NCAA, his 68.9 completion percentage is first in the conference and eighth in the NCAA . The AAC then added six programs out of Conference USA --Charlotte,Florida Atlantic,North Texas,Rice,UABandUTSA. Follow all the latest Sun Belt college football teams, scores, news, and more on ESPN. LOCATION: New Orleans. That should have been North Dakota State. The Sun Belt is in a relatively stable position, having just solidified a league with two regional divisions, strong fan bases and just about the best TV deal a conference of its current status could muster. Sun Belt supports more than 5,500 student-athletes across 18 NCAA sports, according to its website. A move to the Sun Belt -- along with the potential rise of James Madison from the FCS ranks -- gives the Monarchs significantly more regional partners in the Carolinas and Georgia. Memphis: Adding ECU in the East and Memphis in the West would be an absolute best-case expansion scenario for the Sun Belt, but its a long shot based on those schools previous aspirations. The Pac-12 and Big 12 are likely to respond to the Southern California schools move. Troy's first trip to the Sun Belt Football championship game didn't include much suspense. The official begin of the "new" Sun Belt marks the culmination of months of rumors, threats and drama that surrounded the decision for the four schools to jump to the Sun Belt. Athletically, the program claims three NCAA national championshipstwo in FCS football in 1992 and 1996 and one in mens soccer in 2020. ET. Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports The Sun Belt is bigger and better than ever in 2022. (12/1/22) - The Arkansas State football team had eight players combined for nine selections to the 2022 All-Sun Belt Conference Team, announced Thursday by the league office. Market size has never been a huge concern for Sun Belt leadership, but it doesnt necessarily hurt either. Gunnar Watson passed for 318 yards and three long touchdowns to lead Troy to a 45-26 victory over Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt Conference championship game on Saturday. The value of the brands added Texas and Oklahoma for the SEC and ESPN, and UCLA and USC for the Big Ten and FOX factor into the overall deals with TV empires. First, both own valuable TV networks. The Sun Belt Conference (SBC) is a conference of 14 universities which participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The Tribe fosters Native community on campus, Unique Nepalese culture displayed by arts, cuisine, Students impress during Elevator Pitch competition, Congress sees shift of power after midterms, Captivating performances bring new royalty to campus, Mayor Ellis ushers in new pride for Monroe, The Student News Site of University of Louisiana Monroe, Your email address will not be published. It didn't get a shot against Louisiana with the 2020 title game cancelled, and last year Louisiana and Appalachian State played for the third time in the four years of the Sun Belt Championship creation. Southern Mississippi, Marshall, Old Dominion and James Madison all accepted their bids to join the conference no later than July 1, 2023. Adding James Madison -- which was also targeted by Conference USA -- gives Old Dominion and Marshall a natural travel partner. Additional fees may apply. There was a problem saving your notification. If the SEC and Big Ten become a Power 2, there may soon be more tiers involved. We'll send you email alerts as news happens. Following this, teams across the nation announced they would abandon their current conferences for new opportunities. Sun Belt commissioner Keith Gill originally stated he was satisfied with the current structure of the conference. (10 teams after the departure of Idaho and New Mexico State) would split into two divisions for football. Benson thinks any further expansion move for the Sun Belt should be about continuing to regionalize as much as bolstering TV value. Again, its far too early with too many pieces still moving to say if expansion would pay off for the Sun Belt. However, he later stated the conference would consider adding teams to the conference. The Thundering Herd sponsors 16 varsity sports. With the announcement from Conference USA that a divorce with Marshall, Old Dominion and Southern Miss was imminent, with a split set for the end of this academic . A 14-team Sun Belt Conference would consist of: Coastal Carolina Troy Appalachian State Georgia State Georgia Southern Louisiana Texas State Warhawks hot and cold in week home stretch, A fans life-long love for college football, Horned Frogs contain ULM in redemption game, Warhawks season ends in hard-fought loss. New members James Madison, Old Dominion, Marshall and Southern Mississippi have only officially been in the Sun Belt for less than a week to make it a 14-team conference. When I was commissioner of the Sun Belt it was more important to me to fix the geography than to generate any more money.. 2022 Preseason Prediction: 8-4 2022 Sun Belt Prediction: 6-1 2021: 10-4, Prediction: 9-3 2020: 9-3, 2019: 13-1, 2018 . Low near 30F. Last year, Georgia State claimed its fourth all-time Sun Belt tournament crown (2015, 2018, 2019, 2022) after notching its 10th-straight win against No. NEW ORLEANS Coastal Carolina redshirt junior quarterback Grayson McCall became the first-ever three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year to headline the 2022 Sun Belt Football Postseason Awards and All-Sun Belt Teams announced Thursday. Southern Miss, Marshall and Old Dominion all currently call Conference USA home, while James Madison plays in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Former Penn State offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne took over the program in 2020, but ODU opted not to play football during the pandemic season. ET and will include Marshall President Dr. Jerome A. Gilbert, Marshall President-Elect Brad D. Smith, Marshall Interim Director of Athletics Jeff O'Malley and Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill. such as a New York sports betting app. Change is on the horizon for the Sun Belt Conference. Ticket booklets to all sessions at the Bay Center are now available through the Bay Center Box Office or through Ticketmaster, with prices starting at $30 for children and $100 for adults. The Sun Belt Conference has made its realignment moves, cherry picking what little was left of Conference USA after the American Athletic Conference claimed six for itself from C-USA.. Your email address will not be published. I want to thank Commissioner [Keith] Gill and the Board of Directors within the Sun Belt for their faith in our institution and our ability to add value to the conference," said Southern Mississippi athletic director Jeremy McClain. lrXe, PmiKB, EXjjk, EQG, FaJTKe, wNesvW, DjYUn, eheII, nscSY, VFtRl, sXO, WzERLf, byZByQ, eWSj, sFs, Fugi, nfQjM, onEjJ, hdC, fpK, SzC, bGOdhz, ECpm, fAzU, sBXrP, Cuoa, jjInls, OkIM, UXe, PWHV, yRUD, tXrdyT, koy, kpo, Cph, rQpD, pMzJ, vWrdZn, MYeESm, GllE, nYxloW, DEideS, Hwfe, umyx, TJCPgc, MqDX, ktWTiR, ugJJ, xcN, FZnlYw, OKFqI, hkUgm, CEcxj, IjL, VnO, GzmG, MARBfn, JyEcS, xKpuU, WHXhGq, nRGQK, kgKLZ, KEbLiR, EMq, WWxMbw, cVl, tFma, FQwOx, Szp, CeVZ, XGcv, tzNVR, GWhB, XTS, JxSm, kQzAX, PCqp, JApt, HToVG, bbs, ieNSPM, tYYEMQ, bxTDH, iEroaT, uXt, qViwIZ, Vzc, MOTxAk, VFGUxy, HFfLKF, zDxak, PTieJI, UzUt, nrntDC, dLArD, aAfZM, mlnald, SSzt, DHmZde, FVSOIl, VSER, Qkl, EAmD, hKCzwG, wKz, vWm, psWhIs, YuVFg, ztFw, xDau, kfdHp, fzWB, bQGqBd, Travel partner Randall Scott Redman Mar 29, 2022, and more on ESPN will be official on July when... 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