Tech to the Belt, 2026

[Swamp]

Imagine Tech vs. ULM or UL with a trip to the Sun Belt title game on the line. Packed stadium. Local media buzzing. Regional pride hanging in the balance. That’s the kind of atmosphere that builds traditions, moves merchandise, and pulls casual fans off the couch and into the stands.

It’s not just about history—it's about relevance. Conference stakes give old rivalries new fire. And in this era, where schools like ours don't have the luxury of massive TV contracts or national spotlight, we need to create excitement that resonates locally and regionally.

So yes, if that’s the scenario—Tech in the Sun Belt, fighting for a championship berth against UL, ULM, or Southern Miss Ark St. it absolutely creates more excitement, more passion, and more revenue. That’s the answer, loud and clear. Let’s lean into it.

It's all good. You see it your way.

Mine, F TECH

F EVERYBODY

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[VObserver]

Look, I am willing to play Tech every year in every sport; but inviting them into the conference is a hard NO. It would be like inviting a fox into your chicken coop. Tech is poison; they have been poison in every conference they have ever joined. They won't change.

[Cajun90]

Dude, if you think we need, much less want, Tech then just say you've given up. Its not about a grudge. You can still schedule games against them without them being in your conference. Should we add McNeese too while we're at it? Some of yalls love for Tech is fkn weird, man. The part about, "its not about the past, its about building a better future." LoL!!! Really, we need Tech for a better future? $#!+ is hilarious.

I don't think some understand the depth too which this went. People have talked about LSU keeping UL down. Our relationship with them today is actually pretty decent, at least on the academic side. Tech constantly did things to tear us down across the board in academics and athletics. It wasn't normal. I had a friend who was a UL grad and became a professor at Tech. He couldn't wait to get out the place. You are judged by who you associate with and we don't want any part of this.

[ULGrad@HOU]

Look, I am willing to play Tech every year in every sport; but inviting them into the conference is a hard NO. It would be like inviting a fox into your chicken coop. Tech is poison; they have been poison in every conference they have ever joined. They won't change.

Agree with you VObserver. They are trash.

[Ragin9221]

I don't think some understand the depth too which this went. People have talked about LSU keeping UL down. Our relationship with them today is actually pretty decent, at least on the academic side. Tech constantly did things to tear us down across the board in academics and athletics. It wasn't normal. I had a friend who was a UL grad and became a professor at Tech. He couldn't wait to get out the place. You are judged by who you associate with and we don't want any part of this.

Totally understand where you're coming from—and I won’t pretend the history between UL and Tech hasn’t left deep scars. It wasn't just athletic rivalry—it was institutional, and often felt personal. Your experience, and the stories like your friend’s, carry real weight.

That said, I don’t see this as forgetting or forgiving. This is about evaluating whether adding Tech now could benefit us—not because of who they were, but because of what the landscape demands. The stakes have changed. It’s not about pride; it’s about positioning.

If we truly believe we’ve grown beyond the pettiness of the past, then maybe the boldest move is to show it—not by embracing Tech as equals, but by showing how much stronger we’ve become despite them.

Associating with Tech now wouldn’t define us. But what we do with that rivalry moving forward.

[Turbine]

I ain’t young—I’ve been around long enough to see how this all plays out.

You can disagree with me, sure. But refusing to let Tech in now is doing the exact same thing to them that they once did with to everyone else. So what are we really saying? That we’re just gonna play the same petty games? Hold on to every slight, every grudge, and call it strategy?

That’s not leadership. That’s just immature and petty.

We can talk all day about who wronged who—but at the end of the day, it’s not about the past. It’s about building a better future. One rooted in strength, not spite.

I respect Tech and want to play them all the time.

The fact that they don't play each other as much as they could is just another sign of lazy admins who think they need a conference to hold their hand.

[SlickRick]

This isn’t the 1970s anymore. College football has changed—and everyone is feeling it. Attendance is down across the board, NIL deals have reshaped the game, and traditional advantages are fading fast.

The only way non-BCS schools can compete now is by putting butts in seats. It’s about energy, passion, and rivalries that fans care about. That means regional matchups. That means minimizing travel costs. And that means embracing schools with shared history and geography.

Louisiana Tech has long-standing ties with Sun Belt programs and sits right at the heart of the region. It makes sense—economically, competitively, and culturally. We don’t have million-dollar media contracts to lean on. We have to build through community, tradition, and real, local rivalries.

We can’t pay athletes like the powerhouses do—but we can build something just as strong: fan loyalty, purpose, and pride.

LaTurd is a big no for me.

[Ragin9221]

LaTurd is a big no for me.

That’s exactly the point—and it's a good one. Diehards will show up no matter what, win or lose, rain or shine. But casual fans? They need a reason.

That’s where Tech comes in. Like it or not, there’s history, tension, and name recognition. It’s not just another game on the schedule—it’s a storyline, a grudge match, a circle-the-date kind of rivalry. Casual fans aren’t coming for Sun Belt standings—they’re coming because it means something to beat Tech.

You want to energize the base, fill the seats, and keep students and local fans invested? You need moments that feel bigger. Tech gives you that. Hate can sell seats just as well as love—sometimes even better.

So no, it's not about forgiving or forgetting. It's about building a schedule people care about—and Tech delivers that drama, that tradition, and that edge that grabs casual fans and pulls them in.

That just isnt just a UL thing, its a ULM, Southern Miss, USA, Ark St. , Troy thing also.

[Turbine]

Out of conference scheduling is 1/3 the battle.

When you have an Ace in the hole OOC, why would anyone want to remove an OOC opponent and make it harder than it needs to be to fill the schedule with no overall benefit

Now you have to hunt down another opponent.

[SlickRick]

Look, I am willing to play Tech every year in every sport; but inviting them into the conference is a hard NO. It would be like inviting a fox into your chicken coop. Tech is poison; they have been poison in every conference they have ever joined. They won't change.

They have been humbled over the past few years, but getting in the SBC will just rev them up to be the same ole pricks from the past. Hard NO for me and I'm with Charlie on where my support goes if they let them in.