Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson said the league has been preparing for Western Kentucky’s departure after the school accepted an invitation to join Conference USA. Western Kentucky will become a member of Conference USA on July 1, 2014.
Benson’s Statement
In a statement released by the conference office, Benson said the move was expected.
“Today’s announcement that Western Kentucky University has accepted an invitation to join Conference USA is not a surprise given the communication that I have had with university officials and the rampant speculation over the past several months,” Benson said.
Benson said the conference has been planning for the possibility for some time. With the support of the Sun Belt board of directors, he said, he will continue to make recommendations on future members and on the league’s divisional structure.
“I remain confident that we have numerous options and that there are universities that have a strong desire to be members of the Sun Belt Conference,” Benson said.
Benson pointed to the league’s additions last week as evidence of that interest. Appalachian State and Georgia Southern were added as all-sports members, while Idaho and New Mexico State were added as football-only members.
Sun Belt Football Lineup
The Sun Belt will have eight football-playing members in 2013:
- South Alabama
- Arkansas State
- Louisiana-Lafayette
- Louisiana-Monroe
- Troy
- Western Kentucky
- Georgia State (new member)
- Texas State (new member)
In 2014, Appalachian State and Georgia Southern will join the football lineup while completing their two-year transition from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision. Idaho and New Mexico State will also join for football, and Western Kentucky will depart for Conference USA.
Texas-Arlington and Arkansas-Little Rock are also Sun Belt members but do not sponsor football.
What Comes Next
No timeline has been announced for adding new members. The Sun Belt intends to move to divisional play in football, which would require one more football-sponsoring school and would allow the league to hold a conference championship game.
