Conferencia Sun Belt | |
---|---|
Establecido | 1976 |
Asociación | NCAA |
División | División I |
Subdivisión | FBS |
Miembros | 12 |
Deportes en campo |
|
Región | Sur de Estados Unidos |
Sede | Nueva Orleans, Louisiana |
Notario | Keith Gill (desde 2019) |
Sitio web | www |
Ubicaciones | |
La Conferencia Sun Belt ( SBC ) es un colegiado conferencia atlética que se ha afiliado a la NCAA 's División I desde 1976. Originalmente una conferencia no el fútbol, la correa del sol comenzó a patrocinar el fútbol en 2001. Sus fútbol equipos participan en la División I Subdivisión Football Bowl (FBS). Las 12 instituciones miembros del Sun Belt se distribuyen principalmente en el sur de los Estados Unidos .
Historia [ editar ]
The Sun Belt Conference was founded on August 4, 1976 with the University of New Orleans, the University of South Alabama, Georgia State University, Jacksonville University, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and the University of South Florida. Over the next ten years the conference would add Western Kentucky University, Old Dominion University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Nueva Orleans fue expulsada de la liga en 1980 debido a su pequeño gimnasio en el campus que la Conferencia no consideró adecuado para la competencia de la Conferencia. UNO compitió como independiente antes de unirse a la recién formada Conferencia Sur Americana en 1987.
After the 1990–91 basketball season, all members of the Sun Belt, except Western Kentucky, South Alabama, and Jacksonville, departed for other conferences. The Sun Belt, including incoming member in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, then merged with the American South Conference, made up of Arkansas State University, Louisiana Tech University, the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette), the University of Texas–Pan American (now merged into the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), New Orleans (re-joined), Lamar University, and the University of Central Florida. Aunque el sur de Estados Unidos fue la conferencia más grande, la liga fusionada retuvo el nombre de Sun Belt. En 1991, la liga comenzó a explorar la idea de patrocinar el fútbol. [1]
Florida Central abandonó la liga después del año académico 1991-1992 debido a una disputa sobre los derechos de televisión, entre otras razones. [2] [3] Lamar, Texas – Pan American y Jacksonville partieron al final del año académico 1997–98. Florida International University se unió a Sun Belt en 1998 y la Universidad de Denver se agregó en 1999. Louisiana Tech se retiró después del año académico 2000-01.
La conferencia no patrocinó fútbol americano hasta 2001, cuando la liga agregó a ex miembros de la Conferencia Big West New Mexico State University y la Universidad del Norte de Texas y ex miembro de la Ohio Valley Conference (un FBS Independiente en fútbol) Middle Tennessee State University como miembros de pleno derecho (todos tres de ellos se unieron un año antes para todos los deportes en el año escolar 2000-01) y agregaron la Universidad Independiente de Louisiana de FBS en Monroe y la Universidad de Idaho, miembro de Big Westcomo miembros "solo de fútbol". Estos nuevos miembros le dieron al Sun Belt siete miembros jugadores de fútbol en su primera temporada, ya que Arkansas State y Louisiana-Lafayette ya eran miembros de pleno derecho que patrocinaban el fútbol. Otra escuela de Big West, la Universidad Estatal de Utah , se agregó como miembro "solo de fútbol americano" en 2003, luego se fue en 2005 con Idaho y el estado de Nuevo México para la Conferencia Atlética Occidental (WAC).
En 2004, la Universidad de Troy se convirtió en miembro "solo de fútbol" hasta que los troyanos se unieron a la conferencia en todos los deportes, efectivamente en el año académico 2005-06. En 2005, Florida Atlantic se convirtió en miembro "solo de fútbol" hasta que los Owls se unieron a la conferencia en todos los deportes, efectivamente en el año académico 2006-07. En 2006, Louisiana – Monroe se unió a la conferencia como miembro de pleno derecho de todos los deportes cuando los Warhawks dejaron su antigua casa, la Southland Conference .
Western Kentucky, miembro de Sun Belt desde hace mucho tiempo, se unió a la conferencia de fútbol de Sun Belt en 2009 después de que su Junta de Regentes votara para actualizar el programa de fútbol de la escuela a División I FBS . [4]
On November 11, 2009, New Orleans announced it was investigating a move from Division I to the NCAA's Division III. In order to maintain athletic scholarships, UNO instead opted for entry into Division II. On April 20, 2011, UNO officially received transition approval from the NCAA Division II Membership Committee.[5] (UNO later decided to remain in Division I, and joined the Southland Conference in 2013.)
Early 2010s realignment[edit]
On April 9, 2012, Georgia State, one of the founding members of the Sun Belt Conference, announced that it would be returning to the conference as a full member in 2013. As part of the move, the football program began a transition from FCS to FBS in the 2012 season; it played a full Sun Belt schedule as a "transitional" FBS member in 2013, and became a full FBS member, with bowl eligibility, in 2014.[6] On May 2, 2012, Texas State University announced it would leave the WAC after just one year and join the Sun Belt in July 2013 to begin play for the 2013–14 academic year. At the press conference to announce Texas State's addition, Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson also hinted that more changes could be on the way for the conference.[7] On May 25, 2012, the conference announced that the University of Texas at Arlington (a non-football member) had accepted an invitation to join the conference and would become a full member by 2013.[8]
On May 4, 2012, FIU and North Texas announced that they would be leaving the Sun Belt for Conference USA on July 1, 2013 as part of a Conference USA expansion effort involving four other schools.[9] On November 29, 2012, Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee State announced that they would also leave the Sun Belt for Conference USA.[10] The move for Florida Atlantic and MTSU was originally scheduled to take place in 2014, however, the two schools announced on January 28, 2013 that they would leave for Conference USA a year early, departing on July 1, 2013 with FIU and North Texas. Western Kentucky also accepted an invitation to join Conference USA on April 1, 2013, and departed from the Sun Belt on July 1, 2014.[11]
These moves depleted the Sun Belt and made the need to expand their membership more urgent than ever, as the Sun Belt was left with ten full members and only eight members that sponsor football (the minimum number required for a conference to sponsor football at the FBS level) for the 2013 season. Appalachian State University accepted an invitation on March 27, 2013 to join the Sun Belt effective July 1, 2014.[12] Georgia Southern University accepted a similar Sun Belt invitation at the same time as Appalachian State.[13] Appalachian State and Georgia Southern both joined for all sports from the Southern Conference on July 1, 2014. Both schools had been very successful within the Football Championship Subdivision, combining to win nine national championships since 1985. They upgraded to the Football Bowl Subdivision, and were eligible for Sun Belt conference championships in 2014, but were not postseason-eligible in football until 2015.
The Sun Belt also granted football-only invites to Idaho and New Mexico State on March 28, 2013.[14] Idaho and New Mexico State were both former Sun Belt members (Idaho for football only, New Mexico State for all sports) from 2001 to 2005. The large number of defections from the WAC forced that conference to drop football after the 2012 season. Idaho and New Mexico State were the only remaining WAC members that sponsored football, and competed as FBS independents for the 2013 season before competing in the Sun Belt in 2014. Idaho is located by far the farthest away from the other Sun Belt conference members, but it was rejected by the Mountain West Conference,[15] leaving it with no other choice.[16][17]
On September 1, 2015, Coastal Carolina University accepted an invitation to join the Sun Belt Conference. The university joined in all sports except for football starting July 1, 2016, with football joining in 2017.[18]
The conference announced on March 1, 2016, that the affiliation agreement with Idaho and New Mexico State would not be extended past the 2017 season.[19]
La conferencia anunció que a partir de 2018, la conferencia (10 equipos) se dividirá en dos divisiones para el fútbol: Este: Estado de los Apalaches , Costa de Carolina , Georgia del Sur , Georgia State , y Troy ; Oeste: Estado de Arkansas , Luisiana , Luisiana-Monroe , Sur de Alabama y Estado de Texas . El ganador de cada división se enfrentará en el juego Sun Belt Championship. [20]
Miembros actuales [ editar ]
Institución | Localización | Fundado | Unido | Inscripción | Dotación (millones) | Apodo | Colores |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Universidad Estatal de los Apalaches | Boone, Carolina del Norte | 1899 | 2014 | 20,023[21] | $122.4 | Mountaineers | |
Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, Arkansas | 1909 | 1991 | 13,891[22] | $84.43 | Red Wolves | |
Coastal Carolina University | Conway, South Carolina | 1954 | 2016 | 10,894[23] | $51.4 | Chanticleers | |
Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, Georgia | 1906 | 2014 | 27,459[24][25] | $56.3 | Eagles | |
Georgia State University | Atlanta, Georgia | 1913 | 1976; 2013 | 53,619[25] | $178.8 | Panthers | |
University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, Arkansas | 1927 | 1991 | 9,579[26] | $80 | Trojans | |
University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette, Louisiana | 1898 | 1991 | 19,188[27] | $153.2 | Ragin' Cajuns | |
University of Louisiana at Monroe | Monroe, Louisiana | 1931 | 2006 | 9,060[28] | $23 | Warhawks | |
University of South Alabama | Mobile, Alabama | 1963 | 1976 | 14,834[29] | $383.5 | Jaguars | |
Texas State University | San Marcos, Texas | 1899 | 2013 | 38,231[30] | $208.4 | Bobcats | |
University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington, Texas | 1895 | 2013 | 42,863[31] | $159 | Mavericks | |
Troy University | Troy, Alabama | 1887 | 2005 | 17,494[32] | $129.2 | Trojans |
- Louisiana–Monroe — football was an affiliate member from 2001 to 2006
- Troy — football was an affiliate member in 2004–05.
Associate members[edit]
Institution | Location | Founded | Joined | Enrollment | Nickname | Colors | Sport | Primary Conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of Central Arkansas | Conway, Arkansas | 1907 | 2019 | 10,870[33] | Bears[a] | soccer (M) | Southland[b] |
- ^ Central Arkansas uses "Bears" for only men's teams, with women's teams known as "Sugar Bears". Men's soccer is the school's only Sun Belt sport.
- ^ Central Arkansas will leave the Southland Conference in July 2021 to join the ASUN Conference, which sponsors men's soccer.[34]
Former members[edit]
Institution | Location | Founded | Nickname | Joined | Left | Subsequent Conference | Current Conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, Alabama | 1969 | Blazers | 1979 | 1991 | Great Midwest | C-USA |
University of Central Florida | Orlando, Florida | 1963 | Knights | 1991 | 1992 | ASUN | The American |
University of Denver | Denver, Colorado | 1864 | Pioneers | 1999 | 2012 | WAC | The Summit |
Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, Florida | 1961 | Owls | 2005 | 2013 | C-USA | |
Florida International University | Miami, Florida | 1965 | Panthers | 1998 | 2013 | C-USA | |
Jacksonville University | Jacksonville, Florida | 1934 | Dolphins | 1976 | 1998 | ASUN | |
Lamar University | Beaumont, Texas | 1923 | Cardinals | 1991 | 1998 | Southland (WAC in 2021) | |
Louisiana Tech University | Ruston, Louisiana | 1894 | Bulldogs & Lady Techsters | 1991 | 2001 | WAC | C-USA |
Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | 1911 | Blue Raiders | 2000 | 2013 | C-USA | |
New Mexico State University | Las Cruces, New Mexico | 1888 | Aggies | 2000 | 2005 | WAC | |
University of New Orleans | New Orleans, Louisiana | 1958 | Privateers | 1976; 1991 | 1980; 2010 | Independent (1980) Independent (2010) | Southland |
University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina | 1946 | 49ers | 1976 | 1991 | Metro | C-USA |
University of North Texas | Denton, Texas | 1890 | Mean Green | 2000 | 2013 | C-USA | |
Old Dominion University | Norfolk, Virginia | 1930 | Monarchs | 1982 | 1991 | Colonial | C-USA |
University of South Florida | Tampa, Florida | 1956 | Bulls | 1976 | 1991 | Metro | The American |
University of Texas–Pan American | Edinburg, Texas | 1927 | Broncs | 1991 | 1998 | Independent | WAC |
Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond, Virginia | 1838 | Rams | 1979 | 1991 | Metro | Atlantic 10 |
Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, Kentucky | 1906 | Hilltoppers & Lady Toppers | 1982 | 2014 | C-USA |
- Florida Atlantic — football was an affiliate member in 2005–06.
- Texas–Pan American — Merged into UTRGV in 2015; the merged school inherited UTPA's athletic program, with the new nickname of Vaqueros, and membership in the Western Athletic Conference.
- New Mexico State — was a full member from 2000 to 2005.
Former affiliate members[edit]
Institution | Location | Founded | Nickname | Joined | Left | Sport | Conference in Former Sun Belt Sport[a] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hartwick College | Oneonta, New York | 1797 | Hawks | 2014 | 2018 | soccer (M) | Empire 8 (NCAA D-III) |
Howard University | Washington, D.C. | 1867 | Bison | 2014 | 2021[b] | soccer (M) | Northeast (from July 2021) |
University of Idaho | Moscow, Idaho | 1889 | Vandals | 2001; 2014 | 2005; 2018 | football | Big Sky |
New Jersey Institute of Technology | Newark, New Jersey | 1881 | Highlanders | 2014 | 2016 | soccer (M) | America East |
New Mexico State University | Las Cruces, New Mexico | 1888 | Aggies | 2014 | 2018 | football | FBS independent |
Utah State University | Logan, Utah | 1888 | Aggies | 2003 | 2005 | football | Mountain West |
- ^ In all cases except those of Howard and New Mexico State, this matches the school's primary conference affiliation. Howard is a full member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, including FCS football. New Mexico State is a full member of the Western Athletic Conference, which will add FCS football in fall 2021; however, NMSU will continue to play as an FBS independent.
- ^ Due to COVID-19 concerns, Howard chose not to play soccer in the 2020–21 school year, although the Sun Belt chose to hold a men's soccer season, with the four remaining men's soccer members playing a fall conference schedule and spring non-conference games to accommodate the NCAA's move of the Division I tournament from fall 2020 to spring 2021.
Membership timeline[edit]
Full members (all sports) Full members (non-football) Associate members (football-only) Associate members (other)
Commissioners[edit]
- Vic Bubas (1976–1990)
- Jim Lessig (1990–1991)
- Craig Thompson (1991–1998)
- Wright Waters (1999–2012)
- Karl Benson (2012–2019)
- Keith Gill (2019–present)
In addition to the five Sun Belt commissioners, three future league leaders served on the Sun Belt staff prior to becoming conference commissioners, including Doug Elgin (Missouri Valley), John Iamarino (Northeast, Southern) and Tom Burnett (Southland).
On October 12, 2011, ESPN reported that Wright Waters would retire, effective July 1, 2012.[35] On February 15, 2012, Karl Benson was hired as the new commissioner of the Sun Belt, after having been the commissioner of the Western Athletic Conference for 17 years. Waters would later move his departure date to March 15, allowing Benson to take over at that time.[6]
Keith Gill was named the commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference on March 18, 2019.[7] [8] [9] [10] [11]
Sports[edit]
The Sun Belt Conference sponsors championship competition in nine men's and nine women's NCAA sanctioned sports.[36]
Sport | Men's | Women's |
---|---|---|
Baseball | ||
Basketball | ||
Cross Country | ||
Football | ||
Golf | ||
Soccer | ||
Softball | ||
Tennis | ||
Track & Field Indoor | ||
Track & Field Outdoor | ||
Volleyball |
Men's sponsored sports by school[edit]
Member-by-member sponsorship of the nine men's SBC sports for the 2020–21 academic year.
School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross Country | Football | Golf | Soccer[a] | Tennis | Track & Field Indoor | Track & Field Outdoor | Total Sun Belt Sports |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appalachian State | 6 | |||||||||
Arkansas State | 7 | |||||||||
Coastal Carolina | [b] | 8 | ||||||||
Georgia Southern | [c] | 6 | ||||||||
Georgia State | [c] | 6 | ||||||||
Little Rock | 6 | |||||||||
Louisiana | 8 | |||||||||
Louisiana–Monroe | 7 | |||||||||
South Alabama | 8 | |||||||||
Texas State | 7 | |||||||||
UT Arlington | 7 | |||||||||
Troy | 7 | |||||||||
Totals | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 83 |
Affiliate Members | ||||||||||
Central Arkansas | [d] | 1 |
Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Sun Belt Conference which are played by Sun Belt schools:
School | Wrestling |
---|---|
Appalachian State | SoCon |
Little Rock | Pac-12 |
- ^ The Sun Belt is likely to drop men's soccer after the 2020–21 school year. Of the six schools that had been members of Sun Belt men's soccer in 2019–20, one dropped the sport after that season; both schools that had been associate members announced that they would move men's soccer to other conferences in July 2021; and one of the three remaining Sun Belt members with men's soccer also announced it would move men's soccer to another league.
- ^ Coastal Carolina men's soccer will join Conference USA in July 2021.[37]
- ^ a b As of July 2021, Georgia Southern and Georgia State are the only remaining Sun Belt men's soccer programs that have yet to announce a future affiliation in that sport.
- ^ Central Arkansas will move its men's soccer program to its new all-sports home of the ASUN Conference in July 2021.
Women's sponsored sports by school[edit]
Member-by-member sponsorship of the nine women's SBC sports for the 2020–21 academic year.
School | Basketball | Cross Country | Golf | Soccer | Softball | Tennis | Track & Field Indoor | Track & Field Outdoor | Volleyball | Total Sun Belt Sports |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appalachian State | 9 | |||||||||
Arkansas State | 8 | |||||||||
Coastal Carolina | 9 | |||||||||
Georgia Southern | 9 | |||||||||
Georgia State | 9 | |||||||||
Little Rock | 7 | |||||||||
Louisiana | 8 | |||||||||
Louisiana–Monroe | 9 | |||||||||
South Alabama | 9 | |||||||||
Texas State | 9 | |||||||||
UT Arlington | 8 | |||||||||
Troy | 9 | |||||||||
Totals | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 103 |
Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Sun Belt Conference which are played by Sun Belt schools:
School | Beach Volleyball | Bowling | Field Hockey | Lacrosse | Rifle | Swimming & Diving |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appalachian State | MAC | |||||
Arkansas State | SBL | |||||
Coastal Carolina | ASUN | SoCon | ||||
Georgia Southern | SoCon | CCSA | ||||
Georgia State | CCSA | |||||
Little Rock | MVC | |||||
Louisiana–Monroe | CCSA |
Championships[edit]
"RS" is regular season, "T" is tournament. Championships from the previous academic year are flagged with the calendar year in which the most recent season or tournament ended.
Current Sun Belt champions[edit]
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NCAA champions[edit]
No current Sun Belt member has won an NCAA Division I team championship while a member of the conference. Four current members have won NCAA Division I team championships prior to joining the conference; Coastal Carolina won its only D-I national title on the day before it officially joined the Sun Belt.
School | NCAA titles | Sport | Years |
---|---|---|---|
Georgia Southern | 6 | Football (Division I-AA/FCS) | 1985 • 1986 • 1989 • 1990 • 1999 • 2000 |
Appalachian State | 3 | Football (Division I-AA/FCS) | 2005 • 2006 • 2007 |
Louisiana–Monroe | 1 | Football (Division I-AA/FCS) | 1987 |
Coastal Carolina | 1 | Baseball | 2016 |
Total | 11 |
See also: List of NCAA schools with the most NCAA Division I championships, List of NCAA schools with the most Division I national championships, and NCAA Division I FBS Conferences
Football[edit]
For more information see Sun Belt Conference football. For the upcoming season, see 2021 Sun Belt Conference football season.
West Division | East Division |
---|---|
Arkansas State | Appalachian State |
Louisiana | Coastal Carolina |
Louisiana-Monroe | Georgia Southern |
South Alabama | Georgia State |
Texas State | Troy |
The Sun Belt first began sponsoring football in 2001. It originally consisted of seven football playing schools, three of which are still members of the conference. Up until 2009, the conference only had a contract with one bowl, the New Orleans Bowl. Following the Sun Belt's improved football success and geographical membership changes, other bowls began to sign contracts with the Sun Belt Conference. As of November 2019[update], the conference has six bowl game tie-ins.
Throughout the years, the conference has experienced flux in membership changes, similar to many other FBS conferences. The conference announced that beginning in 2018, the conference (10 teams after the departure of Idaho and New Mexico State)[38] will be divided into two divisions for football: East: Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, and Troy; West: Arkansas State, Louisiana, Louisiana–Monroe, South Alabama, and Texas State. The winner of each division will meet in the Sun Belt Championship game.[39]
[40][when?][failed verification]
Team | First Season | All-Time Record | All-Time Win % | Bowl Appearances | Bowl Record | All-Time Conference Titles | Current Head Coach |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appalachian State | 1928 | 636–340–28 | .647 | 6 | 6–0 | 22 | Shawn Clark |
Arkansas State | 1911 | 484–497–37 | .494 | 8 | 3–5 | 14 | Butch Jones |
Coastal Carolina | 2003 | 138–77 | .642 | 1 | 0–1 | 9 | Jamey Chadwell |
Georgia Southern | 1924 | 338–150–1 | .692 | 4 | 3–1 | 11 | Chad Lunsford |
Georgia State | 2010 | 39–86 | .312 | 3 | 2–1 | 0 | Shawn Elliott |
Louisiana | 1901 | 534–562–34 | .488 | 9 | 6–3 | 13 | Billy Napier |
Louisiana–Monroe | 1951 | 316–436–8 | .421 | 1 | 0–1 | 5 | Terry Bowden |
South Alabama | 2009 | 60–73 | .451 | 2 | 0–2 | 0 | Kane Wommack |
Texas State | 1904 | 512–468–26 | .522 | 0 | 0–0 | 12 | Jake Spavital |
Troy | 1909 | 548–414–28 | .568 | 8 | 5–3 | 21 | Chip Lindsey |
Sun Belt champions[edit]
Starting in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS Season, the Sun Belt Conference held a football championship game.[41]
Season | Champion | Conference Record |
---|---|---|
2001 | Middle Tennessee State North Texas | 5–1 |
2002 | North Texas | 6–0 |
2003 | North Texas | 7–0 |
2004 | North Texas | 7–0 |
2005 | Arkansas State Louisiana–Lafayette Louisiana–Monroe | 5–2 |
2006 | Middle Tennessee State Troy | 6–1 |
2007 | Florida Atlantic Troy | 6–1 |
2008 | Troy | 6–1 |
2009 | Troy | 8–0 |
2010 | Florida International Troy | 6–2 |
2011 | Arkansas State | 8–0 |
2012 | Arkansas State | 7–1 |
2013* | Arkansas State | 5–2 |
2014 | Georgia Southern | 8–0 |
2015 | Arkansas State | 8–0 |
2016 | Appalachian State Arkansas State | 7–1 |
2017 | Appalachian State Troy | 7–1 |
2018 | Appalachian State | 7–1 |
2019 | Appalachian State | 7–1 |
2020 | Coastal Carolina Louisiana | 8-0 7-1 |
- Notes
- Louisiana–Lafayette vacated 2013 shared Sun Belt Conference co-championship due to major NCAA violations.[42]
- The 2020 championship game was canceled due to COVID-19 issues; the divisional champions were declared league co-champions.
Bowl games[edit]
As of the 2019–20 NCAA football bowl games, the Sun Belt Conference has tie-ins with the following bowl games:
Name | Location | Opposing conference |
---|---|---|
Boca Raton Bowl | Boca Raton, Florida | C–USA |
Camellia Bowl | Montgomery, Alabama | MAC |
Cure Bowl | Orlando, Florida | The American |
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl | Boise, Idaho | Mountain West |
First Responder Bowl | Dallas, Texas | MAC |
Frisco Bowl | Frisco, Texas | The American |
LendingTree Bowl | Mobile, Alabama | MAC |
Myrtle Beach Bowl | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | MAC |
New Mexico Bowl | Albuquerque, New Mexico | MAC |
New Orleans Bowl | New Orleans, Louisiana | C–USA |
Football rivalries[edit]
- Conference play
Teams | Rivalry Name | Trophy | Meetings (last) | Record | Series Leader | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appalachian State | Georgia Southern | Deeper Than Hate | — | 34 (2020) | 18–15–1 | Appalachian State |
Louisiana | Louisiana–Monroe | Battle on the Bayou | Wooden Boot | 54 (2019) | 28–25 | Louisiana |
Georgia State | Georgia Southern | Modern Day Hate | — | 7 (2020) | 4–3 | Georgia State |
South Alabama | Troy | Battle for the Belt | Belt | 8 (2019) | 5–3 | Troy |
- Non-conference play
Teams | Rivalry Name | Trophy | Meetings (last) | Record | Series Leader | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arkansas State | Memphis | Paint Bucket Bowl | — | 59 (2013) | 30–24–5 | Memphis |
Louisiana | Lamar | — | Sabine Shoe | 34 (2012) | 22–12 | Louisiana |
Louisiana | McNeese State | — | Cajun Crown | 37 (2007) | 20–15–2 | McNeese State |
Louisiana | Southeastern Louisiana | — | Cypress Mug | 38 (1981) | 18–17–3 | Louisiana |
Texas State | Nicholls State | Battle for the Paddle | Paddle | 31 (2019) | 16–15 | Nicholls State |
Troy | Middle Tennessee | Battle for the Palladium | Palladium | 20 (2012) | 12–8 | Middle Tennessee |
Troy | UAB | — | — | 12 (2014) | 7–5 | Troy |
Appalachian State | Western Carolina | Battle for the Old Mountain Jug | Old Mountain Jug | 78 (2013) | 59–18–1 | Appalachian State |
Basketball[edit]
Since the 2018–19 season, the Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments, held in early March, have involved only 10 of the conference's 12 teams, and have been bracketed in a semi-stepladder format. The bottom four seeds play in the first round; the 5 and 6 seeds receive byes to the second round, the 3 and 4 seeds to the quarterfinals, and the top two seeds to the semifinals. The semifinals and finals are held in New Orleans; the 2019 men's and women's events were at Lakefront Arena, and from 2020 will be at Smoothie King Center.[43] Winners of the tournaments earn automatic bids to their respective NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament.
Season | Men's Regular Season Champion | Men's Tournament Champion | Women's Regular Season Champion | Women's Tournament Champion |
---|---|---|---|---|
1977 | North Carolina–Charlotte | North Carolina–Charlotte | No Regular Season | No Tournament |
1978 | North Carolina–Charlotte | New Orleans | No Regular Season | No Tournament |
1979 | South Alabama | Jacksonville | No Regular Season | No Tournament |
1980 | South Alabama | Virginia Commonwealth | No Regular Season | No Tournament |
1981 | Virginia Commonwealth | Virginia Commonwealth | No Regular Season | No Tournament |
1982 | Alabama–Birmingham | Alabama–Birmingham | No Regular Season | No Tournament |
1983 | Virginia Commonwealth | Alabama–Birmingham | Old Dominion | Old Dominion |
1984 | Virginia Commonwealth | Alabama–Birmingham | Old Dominion | Old Dominion |
1985 | Virginia Commonwealth | Virginia Commonwealth | Old Dominion | Old Dominion |
1986 | Old Dominion | Jacksonville | Western Kentucky | Western Kentucky |
1987 | Western Kentucky | Alabama–Birmingham | Old Dominion | Old Dominion |
1988 | North Carolina–Charlotte | North Carolina–Charlotte | Old Dominion | Western Kentucky |
1989 | South Alabama | South Alabama | Old Dominion | Western Kentucky |
1990 | Alabama–Birmingham | South Florida | Alabama–Birmingham | Old Dominion |
1991 | South Alabama | South Alabama | Alabama–Birmingham | Western Kentucky |
1992 | Southwestern Louisiana | Southwestern Louisiana | Western Kentucky | Western Kentucky |
1993 | New Orleans | Western Kentucky | Western Kentucky | Western Kentucky |
1994 | Western Kentucky | Southwestern Louisiana | Louisiana Tech | Louisiana Tech |
1995 | Western Kentucky | Western Kentucky | Louisiana Tech | Western Kentucky |
1996 | Arkansas–Little Rock | New Orleans | Louisiana Tech | Louisiana Tech |
1997 | South Alabama | South Alabama | Louisiana Tech | Louisiana Tech |
1998 | South Alabama | South Alabama | Louisiana Tech | Louisiana Tech |
1999 | Louisiana Tech | Arkansas State | Louisiana Tech | Louisiana Tech |
2000 | Louisiana–Lafayette | Louisiana–Lafayette | Louisiana Tech | Louisiana Tech |
2001 | Western Kentucky | Western Kentucky | Louisiana Tech | Louisiana Tech |
2002 | Western Kentucky | Western Kentucky | Florida International | Florida International |
2003 | Western Kentucky | Western Kentucky | Western Kentucky | Western Kentucky |
2004 | Vacated | Vacated | South Alabama | Middle Tennessee State |
2005 | Denver | Vacated | Western Kentucky | Middle Tennessee State |
2006 | Western Kentucky | South Alabama | Western Kentucky | Middle Tennessee State |
2007 | South Alabama | North Texas | Middle Tennessee State | Middle Tennessee State |
2008 | South Alabama | Western Kentucky | Western Kentucky | Western Kentucky |
2009 | Western Kentucky | Western Kentucky | Middle Tennessee State | Middle Tennessee State |
2010 | Troy | North Texas | Arkansas–Little Rock | Middle Tennessee State |
2011 | Florida Atlantic | Arkansas–Little Rock | Middle Tennessee State Arkansas–Little Rock | Arkansas–Little Rock |
2012 | Middle Tennessee State | Western Kentucky | Middle Tennessee State | Arkansas–Little Rock |
2013 | Middle Tennessee State | Western Kentucky | Middle Tennessee State | Arkansas–Little Rock |
2014 | Georgia State | Louisiana–Lafayette | Arkansas State | Western Kentucky |
2015 | Georgia State | Georgia State | Arkansas–Little Rock | Arkansas–Little Rock |
2016 | Little Rock | Little Rock | Arkansas State | Troy |
2017 | UT Arlington | Troy | Little Rock | Troy |
2018 | Louisiana | Georgia State | Little Rock | Little Rock |
2019 | Georgia State | Georgia State | Little Rock UT Arlington | Little Rock |
2020 | Little Rock | Tournament Cancelled | Troy | Tournament Cancelled |
2021 | Texas State | Appalachian State | Louisiana | Troy |
Baseball[edit]
The Sun Belt Conference has sponsored an annual baseball tournament to determine the conference winner since 1978. South Alabama has won the most championships, at 12.
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Facilities[edit]
School | Football Stadium | Capacity | Basketball Arena | Capacity | Baseball Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appalachian State | Kidd Brewer Stadium | 30,000 | Holmes Center | 8,325 | Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium | 1,000[44] |
Arkansas State | Centennial Bank Stadium | 33,410 | First National Bank Arena | 10,563 | Tomlinson Stadium–Kell Field | 1,200[45] |
Coastal Carolina | Brooks Stadium | 20,000 | HTC Center | 3,370 | Springs Brooks Stadium - Vrooman Field | 5,400[46] |
Georgia Southern | Paulson Stadium | 25,000 | Hanner Fieldhouse | 4,325[47] | J. I. Clements Stadium | 3,000 |
Georgia State | Center Parc Stadium | 24,333 | GSU Sports Arena | 3,854[48] | GSU Baseball Complex | 1,092 |
Little Rock | Non-football school | Jack Stephens Center[a] | 5,600[49] | Gary Hogan Field | 2,550 | |
Louisiana | Cajun Field | 41,426 | Cajundome[b] | 12,068 | M.L. Tigue Moore Field | 6,000 |
Louisiana–Monroe | Malone Stadium | 30,427 | Fant–Ewing Coliseum | 7,085 | Warhawk Field | 1,800 |
South Alabama | Hancock Whitney Stadium | 25,000 | Mitchell Center | 10,041 | Eddie Stanky Field | 4,500 |
Texas State | Jim Wacker Field at Bobcat Stadium | 30,000 | Strahan Coliseum | 10,000 | Bobcat Ballpark | 2,000 |
UT Arlington | Non-football school | College Park Center | 7,000 | Clay Gould Ballpark | 1,600 | |
Troy | Veterans Memorial Stadium | 30,420 | Trojan Arena | 6,000[50] | Riddle–Pace Field | 2,000 |
- Notes
- ^ Little Rock normally plays home basketball games on campus but occasionally plays at Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock.
- ^ Louisiana's women's basketball team primarily plays at the Cajundome but occasionally plays at Earl K. Long Gymnasium on the main campus.
Academics[edit]
Two of the Sun Belt's member schools, Georgia State and UT Arlington are doctorate-granting universities with "very high research activity," the highest classification given by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.[51]
Appalachian State is also currently ranked as one of the Top 10 regional schools in the South by the U.S. News & World Report.
University | Affiliation | Carnegie[51] | Endowment[52] | US News[53] | Forbes[54] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appalachian State University | Public (UNC) | Master's (Larger) | $99,593,000[55] | 9 (Regional: South) | 315 |
Arkansas State University | Public (ASU System) | R2 Doctoral/Research (Higher) | $66,217,000[55] | 68 (Regional: South) | N/A[d 1] |
Coastal Carolina University | Public | Master's (Larger) | $39,432,000[55] | 52 (Regional: South) | N/A[d 2] |
Georgia Southern University | Public (USG System) | R2 Doctoral/Research (Higher) | $50,999,000[55] | RNP (National) | 560 |
Georgia State University | Public (USG System) | R1 Doctoral/Research (Highest) | $155,303,000[55] | 187 (National) | 530 |
University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Public (UA System) | R3 Doctoral/Research (Moderate) | $70,080,000[55] | RNP (National) | 608 |
University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Public (UL System) | R2 Doctoral/Research (Higher) | $178,300,000[56] | RNP (National) | 529 |
University of Louisiana at Monroe | Public (UL System) | R3 Doctoral/Research (Moderate) | $23,158,000[57] | RNP (National) | N/A[d 3] |
University of South Alabama | Public | R2 Doctoral/Research (Higher) | $555,735,000[55] | RNP (National) | 616 |
Texas State University | Public (TSU System) | R2 Doctoral/Research (Higher) | $186,676,000[55] | RNP (National) | 506 |
University of Texas at Arlington | Public (UT System) | R1 Doctoral/Research (Highest) | $155,277,000[58] | 221 (National) | 558 |
Troy University | Public (TU System) | Master's (Larger) | $104,409,000[55] | 69 (Regional: South) | 640 |
Notes[edit]
- ^ Arkansas State is not ranked in the 2017 Forbes America's Best 650 Colleges rankings.
- ^ Coastal Carolina is not ranked in the 2017 Forbes America's Best 650 Colleges rankings.
- ^ Louisiana-Monroe is not ranked in the 2017 Forbes America's Best 650 Colleges rankings.
References[edit]
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- ^ Meadows, Dave (May 20, 1992). "UCF ends marriage with Sun Belt Conference".
- ^ "The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida on May 20, 1992 · Page 70". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
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- ^ "University of New Orleans gets approval from NCAA to move to Division II". The Times-Picayune. April 20, 2011. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
- ^ a b McMurphy, Brett (April 7, 2012). "Sun Belt adding Georgia State". College Football Insider. CBS Sports. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
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- ^ "University of Texas-Arlington Mavericks to join Sun Belt Conference in 2013". ESPN. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
- ^ "Conference USA Adds Five New Members". Conferenceusa.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
- ^ McMurphy, Brett (November 29, 2012). "C-USA adds FAU, Middle Tennessee State". ESPN. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
- ^ [1] Archived April 6, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [2] Archived December 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [3] Archived December 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [4] Archived July 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
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- ^ "Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell news by Idaho Statesman". Idaho Statesman.
- ^ "Statement from Big South Commissioner Kyle B. Kallander on Coastal Carolina" (Press release). Big South Conference. September 1, 2015. Archived from the original on September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ "Sun Belt Football to Be 10 Teams in 2018" (Press release). Sun Belt Conference. March 1, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
- ^ "Sun Belt announces football divisions for 2018, new collaborative replay system". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2017-05-23.
- ^ "About Appalachian State University". Appalachian State University. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
- ^ "ARKANSAS STATE REPORTS FALL 2019 ENROLLMENT". Arkansas State University. September 10, 2019. Archived from the original on September 18, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
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- ^ "Graduate school boosts UL Lafayette overall enrollment". University of Louisiana at Lafayette. October 3, 2019. Archived from the original on January 28, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
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- ^ "University of Texas at Arlington UTA sets new enrollment records" (PDF). University of Texas at Arlington. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 7, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
- ^ "Troy University Headcount Enrollment By Classification and Enrollment Status Fall 2018" (PDF). Troy University. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 28, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
- ^ "UCA BREAKS RECORDS FOR ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS AND RETENTION". University of Central Arkansas. September 11, 2019. Archived from the original on January 29, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
- ^ "ASUN Conference Announces Three New Institutions; Adds Football as 20th Sport" (Press release). ASUN Conference. January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
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- ^ "Sun Belt Conference". Sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
- ^ "Coastal Carolina Added as Men's Soccer Member" (Press release). Conference USA. February 25, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^ "Sun Belt Football to Be 10 Teams in 2018" (Press release). Sun Belt Conference. March 1, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
- ^ "Sun Belt announces football divisions for 2018, new collaborative replay system". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2017-05-23.
- ^ All time Division I-A football records Archived 2004-04-06 at the Wayback Machine, College Football Data Warehouse
- ^ http://sunbeltsports.org/news/2016/6/8/FB_0608165919.aspx
- ^ "Big NCAA penalties for UL-Lafayette: Cajuns vacate 20-plus wins, two bowls, 2013 Sun Belt title". The Advocate. March 6, 2016.
- ^ http://sunbeltsports.org/news/2016/6/15/MBB_0615163718.aspx
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PERMANENT SEATING FOR 1,000 plus grass seating for thousands more
- ^ "A-State Baseball 2014 Baseball Reference Guide" (PDF). Arkansas State University Athletics. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 7, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
- ^ "Springs Brooks Stadium (Vrooman Field)". Coastal Carolina University Athletics. Archived from the original on July 9, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
- ^ "2015-16 Georgia Southern Men's Basketball" (PDF). GSEagles.com. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
- ^ "2014-15 Panther Men's Basketball" (PDF). Georgia State University Athletics. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
Arena: GSU Sports Arena (3,854)
- ^ "Jack Stephens Center". Little Rock Athletics. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
- ^ "Trojan Arena". Troy University. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
Trojan Arena, a 6,000-seat multi-purpose facility, opened in the fall of 2012.
- ^ a b "Carnegie Classifications Institution Lookup". Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-05-11. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
- ^ "National Association of College and University Business Officers" (PDF). National Association of College and University Business. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-05-21. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
- ^ "Best College Rankings and Lists". U.S. News & World Report. 2015. Archived from the original on May 21, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ^ "Forbes America's Top Colleges 2015". Forbes. 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i http://www.nacubo.org/Documents/research/2017-Endowment-Market-Values-2.pdf[permanent dead link]
- ^ http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/education/article_4ffea844-e96b-11e6-844d-07fc2cf1a615.html
- ^ http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/louisiana-monroe-2020
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-10-03. Retrieved 2018-02-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
External links[edit]
- Official website