MOBILE, Ala. — Sun Belt Conference commissioner Karl Benson has reached out to 15 schools about possible membership as the league explores expansion, according to a report by the Las Cruces Sun-Times.
The newspaper reported that the schools received emails from Benson regarding Sun Belt expansion. South Alabama is a member of the Sun Belt.
Schools Reportedly Contacted
According to the report, the 15 schools, listed with their current football affiliations, are:
- Appalachian State (FCS, Southern Conference)
- Delaware (FCS, Colonial Athletic Association)
- Georgia Southern (FCS, Southern Conference)
- Idaho (FBS, Western Athletic Conference)
- Illinois State (FCS)
- Jacksonville State (FCS, Ohio Valley Conference)
- James Madison (FCS, Colonial Athletic Association)
- Lamar (FCS, Southland Conference)
- Liberty (FCS, Big South Conference)
- Missouri State (FCS, Missouri Valley Football Conference)
- New Mexico State (FBS, Western Athletic Conference)
- Richmond (FCS, Colonial Athletic Association)
- Sam Houston State (FCS, Southland Conference)
- Tennessee-Chattanooga (FCS, Southern Conference)
- Towson (FCS, Colonial Athletic Association)
Membership Changes Ahead
The Sun Belt is scheduled to lose four member schools this summer. Those departures will leave the conference with 10 members, eight of which sponsor football.
Two of the schools on the list, Idaho and New Mexico State, currently play FBS football as members of the WAC, which ceased sponsoring football after the 2012 season. Both programs are searching for a conference home for the upcoming football season.
Appalachian State and Georgia Southern both have long histories of success at the FCS level.
Tournament in Hot Springs
The Sun Belt’s member institutions will gather soon in Hot Springs, Ark., for the conference basketball tournament.
Presidents and Athletic Directors to Meet March 9
The presidents and athletic directors of the Sun Belt’s member schools are scheduled to meet March 9, during the conference basketball tournament in Hot Springs, Ark., to discuss future membership.
The conference will lose Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Middle Tennessee and North Texas to Conference USA this summer. Even with the additions of Georgia State, Texas State and Texas-Arlington this summer, the Sun Belt will have 10 members, eight of which play football.
No prospective schools had been invited as of Feb. 21. Discussions were expected to center on possible invitations to schools including Appalachian State, Delaware, Georgia Southern, Idaho, James Madison and New Mexico State. While the conference has said it aims to be a strong regional league and schools within its current footprint are considered more likely to receive invitations, schools outside that footprint will also be considered.
