Sun Belt Conference facts for kids
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| Association | NCAA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1976 |
| Commissioner | Keith Gill (since 2019) |
| Sports fielded |
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| Division | Division I |
| Subdivision | FBS |
| No. of teams | 14 (13 in 2026) |
| Headquarters | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Region | Southern United States |
| TV partner(s) | ESPN |
| Locations | |
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The Sun Belt Conference (SBC) is a group of colleges that compete in sports. It is part of the NCAA's top level, called Division I. The Sun Belt started in 1976. At first, it did not have football teams. But in 2001, it began to include football. Its football teams play in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). There are 14 schools in the Sun Belt Conference, located across the Southern United States.
Contents
Discover the Sun Belt Conference History
How the Sun Belt Conference Started
The Sun Belt Conference began on August 4, 1976. Six schools were the first members. These included the University of New Orleans, the University of South Alabama, and Georgia State University. Over the next ten years, more schools joined.
One early member, the University of New Orleans, had to leave in 1980. This was because their on-campus gym was too small for conference games. New Orleans later joined a new group called the American South Conference.
Changes in the 1990s
After the 1990–91 school year, many Sun Belt schools left for other conferences. The Sun Belt then joined with the American South Conference. Even though the American South was bigger, they kept the Sun Belt name. This merger brought in new schools like Arkansas State University and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
In 1991, the conference started thinking about adding football. Some schools left and new ones joined over the next few years. Florida International University joined in 1998, and the University of Denver joined in 1999.
Football Begins in the 2000s
The Sun Belt Conference officially started sponsoring football in 2001. They added new schools like New Mexico State University and the University of North Texas. These new members helped the Sun Belt have seven football teams in its first season.
More schools joined for football in the following years. Troy University became a full member in 2005. Florida Atlantic University joined in 2006. By 2009, Western Kentucky University also added its football team to the Sun Belt.
Big Changes in the 2010s
The early 2010s saw many schools move in and out of the Sun Belt. In 2012, Georgia State University returned to the conference. Texas State University and the University of Texas at Arlington also joined.
However, several schools, including Florida International and North Texas, left the Sun Belt for Conference USA. This made the Sun Belt need to find new members quickly.
To grow stronger, the Sun Belt invited Appalachian State University and Georgia Southern University to join in 2014. Both schools had very successful football programs. The conference also brought back Idaho and New Mexico State for football.
In 2015, Coastal Carolina University accepted an invitation to join. By 2018, the Sun Belt football teams were divided into two groups: East and West. The best team from each group plays in the Sun Belt Championship game.
Recent Growth in the 2020s
The world of college sports saw many changes in the 2020s. The Sun Belt Conference grew even more. In 2021, it was reported that Southern Miss, Marshall University, and Old Dominion University would join. These schools came from Conference USA.
James Madison University also joined the Sun Belt in 2022. This meant the Sun Belt now had 14 full members. With new schools joining, the Sun Belt brought back men's soccer as a sponsored sport in 2022. They also added beach volleyball and swimming & diving for women.
In 2025, Texas State University announced it would leave the Sun Belt in 2026. The Sun Belt quickly voted to replace them with Louisiana Tech University, keeping the conference strong.
Sun Belt Conference Schools
Current Full Members
Member departing for the Pac-12 Conference in 2026.
| Institution | Location | Founded | Joined | Type | Enrollment | Endowment (millions) |
Nickname | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Division | ||||||||
| Appalachian State University | Boone, North Carolina | 1899 | 2014 | Public | 21,570 | $191 | Mountaineers | |
| Coastal Carolina University | Conway, South Carolina | 1954 | 2016 | 10,894 | $44.6 | Chanticleers | ||
| Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, Georgia | 1906 | 2014 | 26,106 | $98.4 | Eagles | ||
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, Georgia | 1913 | 2013 | 50,521 | $220 | Panthers | ||
| James Madison University | Harrisonburg, Virginia | 1908 | 2022 | 21,496 | $123 | Dukes | ||
| Marshall University | Huntington, West Virginia | 1837 | 2022 | 11,962 | $201 | Thundering Herd | ||
| Old Dominion University | Norfolk, Virginia | 1930 | 2022 | 24,286 | $312 | Monarchs | ||
| West Division | ||||||||
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, Arkansas | 1909 | 1991 | Public | 14,109 | $122.6 | Red Wolves | |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette, Louisiana | 1898 | 1991 | 19,188 | $232 | Ragin' Cajuns | ||
| University of Louisiana at Monroe | Monroe, Louisiana | 1931 | 2006 | 9,060 | $37.3 | Warhawks | ||
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, Alabama | 1963 | 1976 | 14,834 | $466 | Jaguars | ||
| University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | 1910 | 2022 | 14,606 | $131 | Golden Eagles | ||
| Texas State University | San Marcos, Texas | 1899 | 2013 | Public | 40,678 | $393 | Bobcats | |
| Troy University | Troy, Alabama | 1887 | 2005 | Public | 17,494 | $164 | Trojans | |
Future Members
| Institution | Location | Founded | Joining | Type | Enrollment | Endowment (millions) |
Nickname | Colors | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Tech University | Ruston, Louisiana | 1894 | TBD | Public | 12,039 | $92.2 | Bulldogs & Lady Techsters | CUSA |
Affiliate Members
These schools play only certain sports in the Sun Belt.
| Institution | Location | Founded | Joined | Type | Enrollment | Nickname | Colors | Sport | Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of Charleston | Charleston, South Carolina | 1770 | 2022 | Public | 10,468 | Cougars | Beach volleyball | CAA | |
| University of Kentucky | Lexington, Kentucky | 1865 | 2022 | 32,710 | Wildcats | Soccer (m) | SEC | ||
| Mercer University | Macon, Georgia | 1833 | 2022 | Private | 8,740 | Bears | Beach volleyball | SoCon | |
| University of South Carolina | Columbia, South Carolina | 1801 | 2022 | Public | 35,364 | Gamecocks | Soccer (m) | SEC | |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, Florida | 1963 | 2023 | 70,406 | Knights | Soccer (m) | Big 12 | ||
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | Wilmington, North Carolina | 1947 | 2022 | 14,765 | Seahawks | Beach volleyball | CAA | ||
| West Virginia University | Morgantown, West Virginia | 1867 | 2022 | 26,269 | Mountaineers | Soccer (m) | Big 12 |
Sun Belt Conference Commissioners
The commissioner is like the leader of the conference. Here are the people who have been in charge:
- Vic Bubas (1976–1990)
- Jim Lessig (1990–1991)
- Craig Thompson (1991–1998)
- Wright Waters (1999–2012)
- Karl Benson (2012–2019)
- Keith Gill (2019–present)
Keith Gill became the commissioner on March 18, 2019. He is the first African American to lead any FBS conference.
Sports in the Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference offers championships in many sports. For the 2025–26 school year, they have 9 men's sports and 10 women's sports. Men's soccer returned in 2022–23. Women's beach volleyball and swimming & diving also started in recent years.
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | 14 | – |
| Basketball | 14 | 14 |
| Beach volleyball | – | 8 |
| Cross country | 9 | 13 |
| Football | 14 | – |
| Golf | 14 | 13 |
| Soccer | 10 | 14 |
| Softball | – | 12 |
| Tennis | 9 | 14 |
| Track and field indoor | 7 | 13 |
| Track and field outdoor | 10 | 13 |
| Volleyball | – | 14 |
Sun Belt Football
For more information see Sun Belt Conference football.
The Sun Belt started sponsoring football in 2001. It began with seven football teams. The conference has grown and changed over the years. Since 2018, the Sun Belt football teams are split into two divisions: East and West. The winners of these divisions play in the Sun Belt Championship game.
The Sun Belt Conference has agreements with several "bowl games." These are special games played at the end of the football season. As of the 2024–25 season, the Sun Belt had agreements with five bowl games.
Football Rivalries
Some Sun Belt teams have exciting rivalries:
| Teams | Rivalry Name |
Trophy | Meetings (last) |
Record | Series Leader |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State | Georgia Southern | Deeper Than Hate | — | 40 (2024) |
22–17–1 | Appalachian State |
| Appalachian State | Marshall | Old Mountain Feud | — | 27 (2024) |
16–11 | Appalachian State |
| Georgia State | Georgia Southern | Modern Day Hate | — | 11 (2024) |
6–5 | Georgia State |
| James Madison | Old Dominion | Royal Rivalry | Crown | 5 (2024) |
3–2 | James Madison |
| Louisiana | Louisiana–Monroe | Battle on the Bayou | Wooden Boot | 60 (2024) |
33–26 | Louisiana |
| South Alabama | Troy | Battle for the Belt | Belt | 13 (2024) |
9–4 | Troy |
Basketball in the Sun Belt
The Sun Belt Conference holds basketball tournaments for both men's and women's teams. These tournaments happen in early March in Pensacola, Florida. All 14 teams play in the tournament. The winners get to go to the NCAA Division I basketball tournament.
Baseball in the Sun Belt
The Sun Belt Conference has an annual baseball tournament. This tournament decides the conference champion. South Alabama has won the most championships, with 13 titles.
Athletic Facilities
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S.B. Ballard Stadium, on the campus of Old Dominion University.
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Trojan Arena, on the campus of Troy University.
Each school in the Sun Belt Conference has its own stadiums and arenas for different sports. These facilities are where the teams play their home games.
| School | Football stadium | Capacity | Basketball arena | Capacity | Baseball stadium | Capacity | Softball stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State | Kidd Brewer Stadium | 30,000 | Holmes Center | 8,325 | Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium | 1,000 | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium | 1,000 |
| Arkansas State | Centennial Bank Stadium | 30,406 | First National Bank Arena | 10,563 | Tomlinson Stadium–Kell Field | 1,200 | Non-softball school | |
| Coastal Carolina | Brooks Stadium | 21,000 | HTC Center | 3,370 | Springs Brooks Stadium | 5,400 | St. John Stadium – Charles Wade-John Lott Field | 500 |
| Georgia Southern | Paulson Stadium | 25,000 | Hill Convocation Center | 5,500 | J. I. Clements Stadium | 3,000 | Eagle Field | 400 |
| Georgia State | Center Parc Stadium | 24,333 | GSU Convocation Center | 8,000 | GSU Baseball Complex | 1,092 | Robert E. Heck Softball Complex | 500 |
| James Madison | Bridgeforth Stadium | 24,877 | Atlantic Union Bank Center | 8,500 | Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park | 1,200 | Veterans Memorial Park | 1,500 |
| Louisiana | Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium | 41,426 | Cajundome | 12,068 | M. L. Tigue Moore Field | 6,000 | Yvette Girouard Field | 2,790 |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Malone Stadium | 27,617 | Fant–Ewing Coliseum | 7,085 | Lou St. Amant Field | 1,800 | Geo-Surfaces Field | 500 |
| Louisiana Tech | Joe Aillet Stadium | 28,562 | Thomas Assembly Center | 8,098 | J. C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park | 2,000 | Dr. Billy Bundrick Field | 1,000 |
| Marshall | Joan C. Edwards Stadium | 30,475 | Cam Henderson Center | 9,048 | Jack Cook Field | 3,500 | Dot Hicks Field | 1,000 |
| Old Dominion | S.B. Ballard Stadium | 21,944 | Chartway Arena | 8,472 | Bud Metheny Ballpark | 2,500 | Non-softball school | |
| South Alabama | Hancock Whitney Stadium | 25,450 | Mitchell Center | 10,041 | Eddie Stanky Field | 4,500 | Jaguar Field | 1,050 |
| Southern Miss | M. M. Roberts Stadium | 36,000 | Reed Green Coliseum | 8,095 | Pete Taylor Park | 4,300 | Southern Miss Softball Complex | 607 |
| Texas State | UFCU Stadium | 30,008 | Strahan Arena | 10,000 | Bobcat Ballpark | 2,000 | Bobcat Softball Stadium | 1,000 |
| Troy | Veterans Memorial Stadium | 30,470 | Trojan Arena | 6,000 | Riddle–Pace Field | 2,500 | Troy Softball Complex | 800 |
School Finances for Athletics
This table shows how much money each school's sports programs earned and spent in the 2023–24 school year. This information is reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
| Institution | 2023–24 Total Revenue from Athletics | 2023–24 Total Expenses on Athletics |
|---|---|---|
| James Madison University | $66,110,281 | $66,110,281 |
| Old Dominion University | $51,827,948 | $51,827,948 |
| Texas State University | $46,310,998 | $46,310,998 |
| Marshall University | $45,966,327 | $45,966,327 |
| Coastal Carolina University | $43,509,290 | $43,509,290 |
| Appalachian State University | $43,110,256 | $43,110,256 |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | $42,952,287 | $42,952,287 |
| Georgia State University | $39,204,432 | $39,204,432 |
| Georgia Southern University | $36,967,213 | $36,967,213 |
| Troy University | $36,937,664 | $36,937,664 |
| University of South Alabama | $30,591,632 | $30,591,632 |
| Louisiana Tech University | $30,305,928 | $30,305,928 |
| Arkansas State University | $28,162,528 | $28,162,528 |
| University of Southern Mississippi | $28,107,301 | $28,107,301 |
| University of Louisiana at Monroe | $20,253,458 | $20,253,458 |
Academics at Sun Belt Schools
Many Sun Belt schools are known for their strong academics. Four of them, Georgia State, Louisiana, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss, are top-level research universities. This means they do a lot of important research.
Appalachian State is also ranked as one of the top regional schools in the South.
See also
In Spanish: Sun Belt Conference para niños
