Sun Belt Conference

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Sun Belt Conference

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
Distribution of full members among the US states since July 1, 2016

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 TAACC-USAAAC state
University of Denver Denver ( CO ) Pioneers 1864 1999 Division II 2012 WACThe 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 MetroA-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.

Web links

Commons : Sun Belt Conference  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files