Louisiana Tech Replaces Texas State in Sun Belt, Likely to Play Similar 2026 Slate
Louisiana Tech is officially joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2026, filling the void left by Texas State’s departure to the Pac‑12. The Bulldogs are expected to take on a 2026 football conference schedule similar to the one Texas State was set to play, allowing for a seamless transition and minimal disruption to the league’s divisional structure.
Sun Belt Schedule Projection: Inheriting Texas State’s Slate
Tech is likely to assume the full West Division schedule Texas State was originally assigned. That slate includes:
- Home vs. Arkansas State
- Away vs. Troy
- Home vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (ULL)
- Away vs. Southern Miss
- Home vs. South Alabama
- Away vs. ULM
- Home vs. East Division crossover opponent to be determined by rotation
- Away vs. East Division crossover opponent to be determined by rotation
With this projected lineup, Louisiana Tech immediately enters a schedule rich with historical and in-state rivalries, many of which date back decades across multiple conferences.
Non-Conference Shake-Up: ULL and Southern Miss No Longer Available
Originally, Louisiana Tech’s 2026 non-conference schedule included home and road games against Louisiana-Lafayette (ULL) and Southern Miss on September 26 and September 19, respectively. However, with both teams now expected to appear on Tech’s conference slate, those games can no longer be played as non-conference matchups.
That leaves two open non-conference dates on Louisiana Tech’s 2026 schedule.
Athletic Director Ryan Ivey will now lead efforts to replace the two vacated dates. That task comes with complications: most FBS football schedules are set years in advance, and September matchups in 2026 are already mostly accounted for. However, late-summer schedule shuffling is not uncommon, particularly with programs seeking to offload matchups or add guarantee games—road contests where Tech could earn a significant payout to play at a Power Five opponent.
The Bulldogs’ remaining confirmed non-conference game for 2026 is:
September 12 – vs. Northwestern State (FCS)
The open dates are expected to fall on September 19 and September 26.
Strategic Balance and Competitive Continuity
By stepping into Texas State’s divisional and scheduling footprint, Louisiana Tech preserves:
Divisional integrity: Six West games plus two East crossover games
Historic rivalries: ULL, ULM, and Southern Miss become annual matchups
Travel efficiency: All divisional opponents are within a manageable geographic radius
In an era of realignment chaos, the Sun Belt’s smooth transition with Tech sets a rare example of forward-looking but stable scheduling.
Timeline
- June 2025 – Texas State announces it will leave the Sun Belt for the Pac‑12 beginning in 2026
- July 2025 – Sun Belt presidents vote to add Louisiana Tech, effective July 1, 2026
- Fall 2026 – Louisiana Tech begins Sun Belt play, likely using the 2026 schedule template designed for Texas State
Looking Ahead
Louisiana Tech’s entrance into the Sun Belt brings long-lost regional rivalries back to the forefront and provides a more natural geographic home after years of isolation in Conference USA. And while two non-conference slots must now be filled, Ryan Ivey and the athletic department are expected to act quickly to secure opponents that maintain the Bulldogs’ competitive and financial goals.
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