Sun Belt Conference Holds Off on Expansion Vote as Search for 12th Football Member Continues

Sun Belt Conference leaders did not vote on expansion when they met in New Orleans last week, and Commissioner Karl Benson said he is not sure when, or whether, a vote will take place.

Benson and administrators from the member schools, including South Alabama, met during the Sun Belt basketball tournament. The possibility of adding a 12th school was discussed but not brought to a vote.

Western Kentucky’s Departure

The conference has been weighing expansion with Western Kentucky set to leave for Conference USA. WKU will join former Sun Belt members Middle Tennessee, North Texas, Florida International and Florida Atlantic in that league.

Early last year, the Sun Belt chose not to immediately add a 12th football-playing member. If the league wants to add a school from the Football Championship Subdivision in time for the 2015 season, it would need to do so by June 1.

The same administrators will meet again in mid-May for the conference’s annual spring meetings. Benson said he does not know whether expansion will come to a vote there.

Why 12 Teams Matter

A 12th football member would allow the Sun Belt to split into two geographically balanced divisions and stage a conference championship game. A title game would give the league more visibility and additional revenue.

Interested Programs

At least four FCS programs are interested in joining. Liberty University in Virginia is one school that has been mentioned repeatedly. The Flames won or shared the Big South Conference championship every season from 2007 through 2013.

“We’re going through the process of evaluating and doing our due diligence,” Benson said of adding a 12th school. He did not say whether that review includes Liberty or any other specific school.

Any school seeking membership would need the support of 75 percent of the Sun Belt’s member institutions.