Opinion: Louisiana Tech is the Best Option for Sun Belt Conference

As Sun Belt Conference CEOs prepare to vote on Monday, July 12, 2025, on whether to extend an invitation to Louisiana Tech, the stakes couldn’t be higher—for the conference’s identity, balance of power, and long-term trajectory.

With Texas State set to depart in 2026, the league faces a critical decision: remain at 13 football-playing members, or bring in a 14th that not only fits competitively, but reinforces the very DNA that has made the Sun Belt a premier Group of Five league.

Louisiana Tech is that school. While Western Kentucky and Ohio University have their supporters, neither offers the blend of regional fit, rivalry potential, postseason pedigree, and political balance that the Bulldogs do. While East Carolina would have been an outstanding addition, the move from the American Athletic Conference to the Sun Belt Conference does not make sense financially as AAC members collect millions of dollars more annually than those in the Sun Belt.

If the Sun Belt wants to strengthen both its product and its positioning, it should say yes to Louisiana Tech.

The Regional Fit That’s Long Overdue

The Sun Belt has become the top Group of Five football league by sticking to a simple formula: regional proximity, passionate fanbases, and natural rivalries. Louisiana Tech checks every box.

Based in Ruston, the Bulldogs are squarely within Sun Belt country. Their addition ties together the western half of the conference, providing strong links to Arkansas State, Southern Miss, UL-Monroe, and ULL. Fans can drive to most road games, creating the kind of organic energy that other leagues struggle to manufacture.

Compare that to Western Kentucky or Ohio—schools that sit well outside the cultural and geographic center of the conference. Those options may have offered name recognition, but they lacked connective tissue. Tech fits like a glove.

Rivalries That Matter—Right Away

The biggest winners in realignment are the fans, and Louisiana Tech’s arrival brings with it some of the most anticipated rivalry revivals in the Group of Five:

• Tech vs. ULL: A bitter in-state clash with deep history and no love lost.
• Tech vs. UL-Monroe: Just 36 miles separate these two programs. Expect intensity, every time.
• Tech vs. Southern Miss: A regional rivalry reborn from their Conference USA days.

These aren’t matchups the league needs to “build” over time—they already exist. And now, they’ll carry conference stakes. That’s good for television, ticket sales, and national attention.

A Proven Postseason Performer

While some Group of Five schools rise and fall, Louisiana Tech has been one of the most consistently competitive programs in the country over the past two decades. Since 2008, Tech has appeared in 10 bowl games, including a six-game bowl win streak from 2014 to 2019.

That track record of postseason play adds competitive weight to the Sun Belt’s western division and shows that Tech isn’t just a nostalgic pick—they’re a proven football brand with results.

All-Sports Impact: Baseball and Basketball Get a Boost

The Bulldogs bring more than gridiron credibility. Their baseball program has become a national presence, with NCAA Tournament appearances and a raucous home environment at the “Love Shack.” Adding Tech to a conference that already includes Southern Miss, Coastal Carolina (2025 National Runner-up), and ULL only strengthens what’s already the best baseball conference in the Group of Five.

In men’s basketball, Tech has been a regular 20-game winner with multiple postseason appearances in the NIT. Their inclusion makes the Sun Belt deeper and more balanced year-round, not just during football season.

Strategic Depth in an Era of Instability

Here’s where the decision becomes even more significant: realignment isn’t over. The American Athletic Conference could soon come calling for schools like Appalachian State, Georgia State, or Coastal Carolina, all from the Sun Belt’s East Division.

Had the Sun Belt stayed at 13, political and scheduling power would have shifted even more heavily to the East, creating an imbalance in long-term planning and influence. That would have left the West vulnerable—especially after Texas State’s exit.

By bringing in Louisiana Tech, the conference reinforces the West, giving it more political strength, divisional balance, and protection if the AAC (or another FBS league) poaches from the East.

This move isn’t just about 2026. It was about 2030 and beyond.

Why Not Western Kentucky or Ohio?

• Western Kentucky has a strong basketball tradition and a competitive football history, but it’s geographically disconnected from the rest of the league. It wouldn’t enhance existing rivalries or fan engagement in the South.
• Ohio University is a consistent MAC program but offers no natural rivalries and sits on the outer edge of the Sun Belt’s geographic identity. It’s a solid brand in the wrong region.

Both schools offer some appeal—but neither provides what Louisiana Tech does: cohesion, competition, and connection.

The Verdict

Adding Louisiana Tech wasn’t just the logical move—it was the right one. The Bulldogs restore regional rivalries, bring consistent postseason pedigree, strengthen multiple sports, and most importantly, bring balance to a conference that needs it amid college football’s ever-shifting landscape.

The Sun Belt didn’t just fill a gap. It positioned itself for long-term strength—and Louisiana Tech made that possible.

Come 2026, this won’t just feel like a reunion. It’ll feel like home.

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