Louisiana Tech sues Conference USA, asks for injunction to join Sun Belt

Louisiana Tech is seeking an injunction against Conference USA to allow the school to join the Sun Belt, the Lincoln Parish Journal reported. The University of Louisiana System filed a lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of Louisiana Tech.

In July 2025, Louisiana Tech announced its plans to join the Sun Belt no later than July 1, 2027, after Texas State left for the Pac-12 in the latest round of realignment. The school also notified Conference USA of its plans to make the move. However, CUSA countered by trying to change the effective date of the Bulldogs’ departure and cited certain provisions of conference bylaws, according to a copy of the lawsuit.

Negotiations then began in August, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger, and the lawsuit detailed the level of communication between the two sides. Conference USA also included Louisiana Tech in its 2026 conference schedules after delaying the release due to the ongoing discussions.

In the suit, Tech noted CUSA’s attempts to put the program on the schedule. The school argued that “will further cause irreparable harm to Tech’s student athletes causing confusion in informing parents and friends about upcoming game, dates and locations.”

Louisiana Tech also released a statement to the Parish Journal about the lawsuit. The school said it attempted to find a “financial resolution” before opting to file suit.

“Today, Louisiana Tech took a necessary step in the best interest of its student athletes,” Louisiana Tech said in a statement. “When we joined Conference USA in 2013, its membership was different, its scheduling was different, and the landscape of college athletics was very different. Seven months ago, we notified CUSA of our intent to exit in July 2026. We have worked in good faith toward an amicable separation within conference bylaws. The proposed 2026 football schedule drafted by CUSA left us no choice but to pursue this remedy.

“Our move to the Sun Belt enhances the experience of our student athletes, renews regional rivalries, and significantly benefits the Louisiana economy. Additionally CUSA has previously acknowledged the difficulty of crafting an 11-team schedule if we were to remain next year. We have tried to offer a fair financial resolution to this dispute and are hopeful that we can resolve it without resorting to prolonged litigation.”

Louisiana Tech has been a member of Conference USA since 2013 after previously competing in the WAC from 2001-12. In football, the Bulldogs won three CUSA West titles, most recently doing so in 2019.