Tech to the Belt, 2026

[CajunT]

This doesnt say but it presents a Sunbelt timeline.

https://www.underdogdynasty.com/sun-...elt-conference

Turbine, do yourself a favor and look it up. ULM was added the SBC was about to be history. We had no choice.

"The conference did not sponsor football until 2001, when the league added former Big West Conference members New Mexico State University and the University of North Texas and former Ohio Valley Conference member (an FBS Independent on football) Middle Tennessee State University as full members (all three of them joined a year earlier for all sports in the 2000-01 school year) and added FBS Independent University of Louisiana at Monroe and Big West member University of Idaho as football-only members. These new members gave the Sun Belt seven football playing members in their first season, as Arkansas State and Louisiana were already full members which sponsored football. Another Big West school, Utah State University, was added as a football-only member in 2003, then departed in 2005 with Idaho and New Mexico State for the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).

In 2004, Troy University became a football-only member before joining for all sports in the 2005–06 academic year. In 2005, Florida Atlantic became a football-only member before joining for all sports in the 2006-07 academic year. In 2006, Louisiana–Monroe joined the conference as an all-sports full member when the Warhawks left their former home, the Southland Conference."

[MarlinMan3]

So ark state and cajuns are only true, football, founding members???

[CajunNation]

ECU isn't leaving the AAC till after 2030. $10M exit fee is a mofo.

Yep. And we'll gladly take them then.

[Turbine]

Turbine, do yourself a favor and look it up. ULM was added the SBC was about to be history. We had no choice."

Thanks.

Fully aware the Sunbelt was having trouble finding new members when it wasn't sponsoring football.

Adding football kept the conference alive.

Right now, I'm just trying to help and find out why UTPA left in 1998.

[Big Buds]

Whatever conference ECU joins after the American media $$$ dissolves, will include Marshall/App/JMU…don’t kid yourselves.

[Turbine]

Whatever conference ECU joins after the American media $$$ dissolves, will include Marshall/App/JMU…don’t kid yourselves.

True.

The grass is always greener, and sometimes it is.

[BabbForHeisman]

Thanks.

Fully aware the Sunbelt was having trouble finding new members when it wasn't sponsoring football.

Adding football kept the conference alive.

Right now, I'm just trying to help and find out why UTPA left in 1998.

I bet that the first time AI was asked a question like “why did UTPA leave the Sunbelt in 1998?” 😂

[CrazyCajun]

Thanks.

Fully aware the Sunbelt was having trouble finding new members when it wasn't sponsoring football.

Adding football kept the conference alive.

Right now, I'm just trying to help and find out why UTPA left in 1998.

To go independent.

[CAJUNSby90]

I bet that the first time AI was asked a question like “why did UTPA leave the Sunbelt in 1998?” 😂

AI wanted to "who the ______ cares"

[Big Buds]

True.

The grass is always greener, and sometimes it is.

It’s the history they share with those schools. ECU does not identify with the SBC West, respectfully speaking. Ever since the Marshall tragedy they have been joined at the hip in a sense. Their history with App is also strong.