Sun Belt Conference
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Full name | Sun Belt Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division One |
sport | Juniors: 9; Juniors: 9 |
abbreviation | Sun Belt |
Association | NCAA |
League foundation | 1976 |
Teams | in basketball : 12 |
Country countries | United States |
Website | sunbeltsports.org |
The Sun Belt Conference is a league consisting of twelve universities since 2016 for various sports that play in NCAA Division I. In college football , the teams play in the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division IA ).
history
The league was founded in 1976. Its headquarters are in New Orleans , Louisiana . The Sun Belt Conference is one of the less significant conferences within NCAA Division I and was indirectly affected by the realignments in 2005 and 2013 , when the change of universities from the old Big East Conference to the Atlantic Coast Conference in particular triggered various other changes. At this point in time, various universities left the Sun Belt Conference for Conference USA . There was already a major upheaval within the Sun Belt Conference in 1991 when all but three universities left the conference. The Sun Belt Conference was then merged with the then American South Conference (A-South).
In college football, the vandals from the University of Idaho and the aggies from New Mexico State University are currently taking part in the competitions of the Sun Belt Conference, which otherwise belong to other NCAA conferences with their sports teams. In men's football, there are three other “foreign” college teams that play in the Sun Belt Conference.
Members
university | place | Team name | founded | since | from | Sponsorship | students |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appalachian State University | Boone ( NC ) | Mountaineers | 1899 | 2014 | Southern | state | 18,000 |
Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock ( AR ) | Trojans * | 1927 | 1991 | TAAC | state | 13,176 |
Arkansas State University | Jonesboro (AR) | Red Wolves | 1909 | 1991 | A-South | state | 13,415 |
Coastal Carolina University | Conway ( SC ) | Chanticleers † | 1954 | 2016 | Big South | state | 10,263 |
Georgia Southern University | Statesboro ( GA ) | Eagles | 1906 | 2014 | Southern | state | 20,584 |
Georgia State University | Atlanta (GA) | Panthers | 1913 | 2013 1 | CAA | state | 32,087 |
Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette ( LA ) | Ragin 'Cajuns | 1900 | 1991 | A-South | state | 16,885 |
Louisiana at Monroe | Monroe (LA) | Warhawks | 1931 | 2006 | Southland | state | 8,632 |
University of South Alabama | Mobile ( AL ) | Jaguars | 1963 | 1976 | state | 15.007 | |
Texas at Arlington | Arlington ( TX ) | Mavericks * | 1895 | 2013 | WAC | state | 33,788 |
Texas State at San Marcos | San Marcos (TX) | Bobcats | 1899 | 2013 | Southland | state | 34,229 |
Troy University | Troy (AL) | Trojans | 1887 | 2005 | Atlantic Sun | state | 29,689 |
* Teams do not participate in Sun Belt Conference competitions in college football.
† The college football team joined the Sun Belt Conference in July 2017.
1 The Georgia State Panthers were a founding member of the Sun Belt Conference in 1976 and remained a member until 1983. They finally returned to the Sun Belt Conference in 2013 through the TAAC and CAA .
Associate members
university | place | Team name | founded | sport | in Sun Belt since | Main Conference | Sponsorship | students |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of Central Arkansas | Conway ( AR ) | Bears | 1907 | Soccer (men) | 2019 | Southland | state | 13,863 |
Howard University | Washington (DC) | bison | 1867 | Soccer (men) | 2014 | MEAC | Private | 10,573 |
Former members
For members of the former American South Conference (A-South), which merged with the Sun Belt in 1991, the year of admission to the A-South is indicated in italics .
university | place | Team name | founded | from | out | to | to | Sponsorship |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham (AL) | Blazers | 1936 | 1979 | 1991 | GMWC | state | |
University of Central Florida | Orlando ( FL ) | Knights | 1963 | 1984 | A-South | 1992 | TAAC → C-USA → AAC | state |
University of Denver | Denver ( CO ) | Pioneers | 1864 | 1999 | Division II | 2012 | WAC → The Summit | Private |
Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton (FL) | Owls | 1961 | 2006 | A-Sun | 2013 | C-USA | state |
Florida International University | Miami (FL) | Panthers | 1965 | 1998 | TAAC | 2013 | C-USA | state |
Jacksonville University | Jacksonville (FL) | Dolphins | 1934 | 1976 | 1998 | TAAC | Private | |
Lamar University | Beaumont (TX) | Cardinals | 1923 | 1986 | A-South | 1998 | Southland | state |
Louisiana Tech University | Ruston (LA) | Bulldogs | 1894 | 1987 | A-South | 2001 | WAC → C-USA | state |
Middle Tennessee State | Murfreesboro (TN) | Blue Raiders | 1911 | 2000 | OVC | 2013 | C-USA | state |
New Mexico State University | Las Cruces ( NM ) | Aggies * | 1888 | 2000 | Big West | 2005 | WAC | state |
University of New Orleans | New Orleans (LA) | Privateers | 1873 | 1976 | Division II | 2010 | Division II → Southland | state |
UNC at Charlotte | Charlotte (NC) | 49ers | 1834 | 1976 | 1991 | Metro → A-10 → C-USA | state | |
University of North Texas | Denton (TX) | Mean Green | 1890 | 2000 | Southland | 2013 | C-USA | state |
Old Dominion University | Norfolk ( VA ) | Monarchs | 1930 | 1982 | Division II; ECAC |
1991 | CAA → C-USA | state |
University of South Florida | Tampa (FL) | Bulls | 1956 | 1976 | 1991 | Metro → AAC | state | |
Texas Pan American | Edinburgh (TX) | Broncs | 1927 | 1991 | 1998 | WAC | state | |
Virginia Commonwealth | Richmond (VA) | Rams | 1838 | 1979 | 1991 | Metro → CAA → A-10 | state | |
Western Kentucky | Bowling Green (KY) | Hilltoppers | 1906 | 1982 | OVC | 2014 | C-USA | state |
* The NMSU Aggies are currently still participating in the Sun Belt game operations with their football team.