This is an interactive overview based on the Wikipedia article on the Sun Belt Conference. Read the full source article here. (opens in new tab)

Sun Belt Showdown

Charting the landscape of collegiate athletics within the dynamic Sun Belt Conference.

Conference Overview ๐Ÿ‘‡ Explore Members ๐Ÿ‘ฅ

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!


When you are ready...
๐ŸŽฎ Play the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge Game๐ŸŽฎ

Conference Overview

Affiliation & Foundation

The Sun Belt Conference (SBC) is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I. Established in 1976, it initially focused on non-football sports before commencing football competition in 2001. Its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Geographic Footprint

The conference's 14 member institutions are strategically located across the Southern United States, fostering regional rivalries and logistical coherence.

Leadership & Broadcasting

Currently led by Commissioner Keith Gill (since 2019), the conference's primary broadcast partner is ESPN, ensuring wide reach for its athletic events.

Historical Evolution

Early Years (1970s-1980s)

Founded in 1976, the conference initially comprised six institutions. Over the subsequent decade, several universities joined, though some departures occurred due to facility limitations, such as the University of New Orleans.

Mergers & Football (1990s-2000s)

The 1990s saw a significant merger with the American South Conference, retaining the Sun Belt name. The conference began exploring football sponsorship in 1991, officially launching the sport in 2001 with the addition of several new members, including those from the former Big West Conference.

Expansion & Realignment (2010s-Present)

The 2010s and 2020s have been marked by substantial conference realignment. The Sun Belt strategically added members like Georgia State, Texas State, and UT Arlington, while also experiencing departures to Conference USA. Recent years have seen further expansion, including the addition of James Madison, Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss, solidifying its FBS standing and expanding its sports offerings.

  • 2013: Georgia State and Texas State join; FIU, North Texas, Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee depart for C-USA.
  • 2014: Appalachian State and Georgia Southern join from the Southern Conference.
  • 2016-2017: Coastal Carolina joins; Idaho and New Mexico State depart.
  • 2018: Conference realigns into East and West divisions for football.
  • 2022: James Madison, Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss join; UT Arlington and Little Rock depart.
  • 2023: UCF joins as a men's soccer affiliate.
  • 2026: Texas State departs for the Pac-12 Conference; Louisiana Tech is announced as a future member.

Member Institutions

Geographic Distribution

๐Ÿ“

Member institutions are primarily located across the Southern United States, fostering regional competition and travel.

The conference is structured into two divisions for football: East and West. Membership includes both public and private institutions.

Current Full Members

As of the 2023-24 academic year, the Sun Belt Conference comprises 14 full member institutions.

Current Full Members (2023-24)
Institution Location Joined Division Nickname
Appalachian State UniversityBoone, North Carolina2014EastMountaineers
Coastal Carolina UniversityConway, South Carolina2016EastChanticleers
Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboro, Georgia2014EastEagles
Georgia State UniversityAtlanta, Georgia2013EastPanthers
James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg, Virginia2022EastDukes
Marshall UniversityHuntington, West Virginia2022EastThundering Herd
Old Dominion UniversityNorfolk, Virginia2022EastMonarchs
Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro, Arkansas1991WestRed Wolves
University of Louisiana at LafayetteLafayette, Louisiana1991WestRagin' Cajuns
University of Louisiana at MonroeMonroe, Louisiana2006WestWarhawks
University of South AlabamaMobile, Alabama1976WestJaguars
University of Southern MississippiHattiesburg, Mississippi2022WestGolden Eagles
Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, Texas2013WestBobcats
Troy UniversityTroy, Alabama2005EastTrojans

Future Members

Future Full Member
Institution Location Joining Current Conference Nickname
Louisiana Tech UniversityRuston, Louisiana2026CUSABulldogs & Lady Techsters

Affiliate Members

Several institutions participate as affiliate members in specific sports, primarily men's soccer and beach volleyball.

Affiliate Members (Selected Sports)
Institution Location Sport(s) Primary Conference
College of CharlestonCharleston, South CarolinaBeach VolleyballCAA
University of KentuckyLexington, KentuckyMen's SoccerSEC
Mercer UniversityMacon, GeorgiaBeach VolleyballSoCon
University of South CarolinaColumbia, South CarolinaMen's SoccerSEC
University of Central FloridaOrlando, FloridaMen's SoccerBig 12
University of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmington, North CarolinaBeach VolleyballCAA
West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, West VirginiaMen's SoccerBig 12

Former Members

The conference has seen numerous changes in membership throughout its history.

InstitutionJoinedLeftSubsequent Conference
UAB19791991Great Midwest
UCF19911992ASUN
Denver19992012WAC
Florida Atlantic20062013CUSA
FIU19982013CUSA
Jacksonville19761998ASUN
Lamar19911998Southland
Little Rock19912022OVC
Louisiana Tech19912001WAC
Middle Tennessee20002013CUSA
New Mexico State20002005WAC
New Orleans19761980Independent
UNC Charlotte19761991Metro
North Texas20002013CUSA
South Florida19761991Metro
UT Arlington20132022WAC
Texas-Pan American19911998Independent
VCU19791991Metro
Western Kentucky19822014CUSA

Conference Leadership

Commissioners Through the Years

The Sun Belt Conference has been guided by several commissioners, each contributing to its development and strategic direction.

  • Vic Bubas (1976โ€“1990)
  • Jim Lessig (1990โ€“1991)
  • Craig Thompson (1991โ€“1998)
  • Wright Waters (1999โ€“2012)
  • Karl Benson (2012โ€“2019)
  • Keith Gill (2019โ€“present)

Notably, Keith Gill is recognized as the first African American to lead an FBS conference.

Sponsored Sports

The Sun Belt Conference sponsors championship competition in a variety of NCAA-sanctioned sports, catering to both men's and women's athletics.

Sport Sponsorship Overview

As of the 2025-26 academic year, the conference sponsors 9 men's and 10 women's sports. Recent additions include beach volleyball and women's swimming & diving.

Sports Sponsored by Sun Belt Conference (2025-26)
SportMen'sWomen's
Baseball14โ€“
Basketball1414
Beach Volleyballโ€“8
Cross Country913
Football14โ€“
Golf1413
Soccer1014
Softballโ€“12
Tennis914
Track & Field (Indoor)713
Track & Field (Outdoor)1013
Volleyballโ€“14

Men's Sports Participation

Detailed breakdown of men's sports sponsorship across member institutions.

SchoolBaseballBasketballCross CountryFootballGolfSoccerTennisTrack IndoorTrack OutdoorTotal
Appalachian StateYesYesYesYesYesNoNoNoYes6
Arkansas StateYesYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYes7
Coastal CarolinaYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYes8
Georgia SouthernYesYesNoYesYesYesYesNoNo6
Georgia StateYesYesNoYesYesYesYesNoNo6
James MadisonYesYesNoYesYesYesYesNoNo6
LouisianaYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYes8
Louisianaโ€“MonroeYesYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYes7
MarshallYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYes8
Old DominionYesYesNoYesYesYesYesNoNo6
South AlabamaYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYes8
Southern MissYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYes7
Texas StateYesYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYes7
TroyYesYesYesYesYesNoYesNoYes7

Women's Sports Participation

Breakdown of women's sports sponsorship across member institutions.

SchoolBasketballBeach VolleyballCross CountryGolfSoccerSoftballTennisTrack IndoorTrack OutdoorVolleyballTotal
Appalachian StateYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes9
Arkansas StateYesNoYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYes8
Coastal CarolinaYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes10
Georgia SouthernYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes9
Georgia StateYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes10
James MadisonYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes9
LouisianaYesNoYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYes8
Louisianaโ€“MonroeYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYes9
MarshallYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes9
Old DominionYesNoNoYesYesNoYesNoNoYes5
South AlabamaYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes9
Southern MissYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes10
Texas StateYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes9
TroyYesNoYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYes9

Teacher's Corner

Edit and Print this course in the Wiki2Web Teacher Studio

Edit and Print Materials from this study in the wiki2web studio
Click here to open the "Sun Belt Conference" Wiki2Web Studio curriculum kit

Use the free Wiki2web Studio to generate printable flashcards, worksheets, exams, and export your materials as a web page or an interactive game.

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Are you ready for the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge?

Learn about sun_belt_conference while playing the wiki2web Clarity Challenge game.
Unlock the mystery image and prove your knowledge by earning trophies. This simple game is addictively fun and is a great way to learn!

Play now

References

References

  1.  Louisiana-Monroe was an affiliate member in football from the 2001 to 2005 fall seasons (2001-02 to 2005-06 school years).
  2.  The main UCF campus has an Orlando mailing address but is in unincorporated Orange County.
  3.  The main UCF campus has an Orlando mailing address but is in unincorporated Orange County.
  4.  Florida Atlantic was an affiliate member for football during the 2005 fall season (2005-06 school year).
  5.  The main FIU campus has a Miami mailing address but is in unincorporated Miami-Dade County.
  6.  New Mexico State was a full member from 2000-01 to 2004-05 and an affiliate member for football from the 2014 to 2017 fall seasons (2014-15 to 2017-18 school years).
  7.  Central Arkansas uses "Bears" only for men's teams, with women's teams known as "Sugar Bears". Men's soccer was the school's only Sun Belt sport.
  8.  Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
  9.  Vanderbilt dropped men's soccer after the 2005 fall season (2005-06 school year). It has been a full member of the Southeastern Conference since 1932.
  10.  Sailing is a coeducational sport not governed by the NCAA, but instead by the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association.
  11.  Sailing is a coeducational sport not governed by the NCAA, but instead by the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association.
  12.  Louisiana's women's basketball team primarily plays at the Cajundome but occasionally plays at Earl K. Long Gymnasium on the main campus.
A full list of references for this article are available at the Sun Belt Conference Wikipedia page

Feedback & Support

To report an issue with this page, or to find out ways to support the mission, please click here.

Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is derived from publicly available data, primarily Wikipedia, and may not reflect the most current information or nuances of the Sun Belt Conference.

This is not professional advice. The information provided is not a substitute for official NCAA or conference documentation, or consultation with sports management professionals. Always refer to official sources for the latest details.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.