MOBILE, Ala. — Appalachian State and Georgia Southern, two of the most successful programs in Football Championship Subdivision history, are joining the Sun Belt Conference, according to multiple media reports, adding two new league partners for South Alabama.
The schools are leaving the Southern Conference. According to the reports, both will join the Sun Belt in all sports except football beginning in 2014, with their football programs joining in 2015 as they complete the transition from FCS to the Football Bowl Subdivision. A formal announcement from the schools and league officials is scheduled for later this week.
Sun Belt Football Membership
The additions would give the Sun Belt 10 football-playing members in 2015: Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Arkansas State, Georgia State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, South Alabama, Texas State, Troy and Western Kentucky.
Arkansas-Little Rock and Texas-Arlington, which join the conference for 2013-14, do not sponsor football and will compete in all other sports.
Appalachian State Brings Championship History
Appalachian State and Georgia Southern have combined to win nine FCS national championships in football.
Appalachian State joined the Southern Conference in 1972 and has won or shared the league title 12 times, including seven of the last eight seasons. The Mountaineers have made 20 appearances in the FCS playoffs and won three straight national titles from 2005 to 2007 under former head coach Jerry Moore.
Appalachian State opened the 2007 season with a win at fifth-ranked Michigan, the first victory by an FCS school over a team ranked in the AP Top 25.
The school commissioned a feasibility study two years ago on a possible move to FBS, which recommended that the program pursue FBS membership. The Mountaineers also draw large crowds; NCAA figures released in 2011 showed Appalachian State led the FCS in attendance for the third time in four years, averaging 25,715 fans per game.
Georgia Southern’s Path to FBS
Georgia Southern has won a record six FCS national championships, in 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999 and 2000, along with nine Southern Conference titles.
The university announced its intention to move to FBS last April. Georgia Southern students approved a $75 student fee increase to help fund the transition, and the school announced plans to expand Paulson Stadium by 6,300 seats.
Further Expansion Possible
New Mexico State and Idaho are expected to be considered as possible football-only members of the Sun Belt. Both schools are in need of a new conference home with the Western Athletic Conference set to dissolve this summer. Adding both would give the Sun Belt 12 football members, making the league eligible to stage a conference championship game.
At the Sun Belt basketball tournament two weeks ago, Commissioner Karl Benson said most of the schools the league was considering for expansion were at the FCS level.
Speaking March 9 about New Mexico State and Idaho, Benson said: “They are in need of a conference and are being assessed. We are looking specifically for schools that will add stability and value. We also are exploring the possibility of football-only members, and it’s not just limited to NMSU and Idaho. We have created a lot of maps with different possibilities that would fit many of our needs including geography.”
There has also been speculation that Western Kentucky could leave the Sun Belt for Conference USA.
