The History of the Sun Belt: College Sports' Most Resilient G5 Conference

It wasn't that long ago that the Sun Belt Conference was seen as one of the weakest in division 1 FBS college sports. It was the team you put your created team in before you moved them up to the ACC or SEC in NCAA 14. But after some significant changes to the mid-major world following, of course, Power 5 realignment, the Sun Belt managed to make a case for itself as one of the strongest in the G5 world.
The Sun Belt's story is a long one, involving many southeastern teams from its inception as a basketball league in 1976 to the present day, with its current programs of Texas State, UL Monroe, Louisiana, Arkansas State, Southern Miss, South Alabama, Troy, Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Coastal Carolina, Appalachian State, Marshall, James Madison, and Old Dominion. Some of its more prime memories recently are the football runs of Jamey Chadwell's Coastal teams in 2020 and 2021, App State's knockoff of Texas A&M, Old Dominion and James Madison beating the ACC Virginia teams, and the still-improbable 1977 run of the Charlotte 49ers to the Final 4.
Join me as I take a short, quick look back in time at the creation, life, and modern days of the Sun Belt.

[@2ashamed2change]

The SunBelt is honestly what a conference is supposed to be

[@shackdaddy7106]

And what exactly is that?

[@2ashamed2change]

@@shackdaddy7106 college students competing with regional rivalries

[@shackdaddy7106]

@@2ashamed2change the last time I checked. The 10 members that were in the Big Ten in the 60s are still in the Big Ten today. What they have done is expand beyond the regional. Unlike the Sunbelt, nobody has dropped out of the big 10. So it depends on the conference. And the same is true of the SEC. It’s all about the money, of course. College football is a business. It is not an amateur sport. What I believe will happen by the end of the decade. Is that major college football will be broken away from the rest of the NCAA in terms of sports and will be playing in the big mega conferences. And the Olympic sports, which by definition are all but American football. Will remain regional as they have been for years. For instance, I believe that the Pac 12 can still exist as a Olympic sport conference. It will take time for all of this to sort out.

[@troyowens6561]

Big ten just added UCLA and USC they messed it up when they said that

[@MirasomeRailfan]

I feel like these Megaconfrences will only last a while before collapsing, years of being regional, time zones, school completion-ness, and ect will do it, I just want a max of 12 teams for conferences

[@andrewsever98]

I love these. If you ever run out of conferences, you could always start covering individual rivalries, too

[@sadmarinersfan8935]

Indeed so well made too tbh

[@cherrycolareal]

There are 32 individual all-sports conferences in Division I alone.

[@ericthomas917]

Classic long time rivalries that no longer exist, like Oklahoma and Nebraska

[@christopherwebb3517]

It's crazy to think that at the beginning of the 2000s C-USA was arguably the best non power conference in the country, and definitely the best in the eastern half of the country, and the Sun Belt was seen as the bottom tier conference for schools transitioning between the FCS and the FBS. And now, 20+ years later, it's the Sun Belt that's poaching C-USA. And it's not like the Sun Belt has had this meteoric rise. They just maintained, and has gotten a little stronger in recent years. It's more of a testament to how far C-USA has fallen.

[@ohwaitchristian]

early 2000s conference USA was insanity. pitino, huggins, and calipari all coaching in the same league, even my depaul blue demons had their last tournament appearance as members of C-USA

[@Lefaid]

It doesn't hurt that the FCS schools they added have continued to have relatively strong programs that consistently make P5 schools regret paying them. (App State and GA Southern both have had strong seasons recently.)

[@mikebonds7874]

CUSA did the SunBelt a massive favor when they took 4 generally underperforming SBC schools during expansion believing that those school's proximities to major media markets meant anything.

[@alexboxstadium98]

It's the G5 version of the Pac-12

[@ReisterJP]

What sunbelt team is in a NY6 bowl game?

[@yorkqueer]

JMU was an FCS team I always rooted, glad to see them in a very stable FBS conference like the sunbelt

[@TheMainMiek]

Im so happy that the SBC has been the “transitional” conference for FCS schools, it fits so well and I hope that continues

[@sadmarinersfan8935]

It really does fit perfectly and mentioning Delaware I do wonder what conference they could join because no matter where they go. It’s going to be a difficult location because the big 10 would probably be the best location geographically wise but obviously even though they are normally really good in FCS that’s not good enough obviously for the big 10

[@TheWarriorBeaver]

@@sadmarinersfan8935 The American, although it’s expanded out, is still more or less an Atlantic conference

[@theEWDSDS]

​@@TheWarriorBeaverAmerican would probably not want them... they are barely below the big 12 and ACC sometimes (before the pac 12 collapse)

[@extragoogleaccount6061]

Delaware is still a pretty big school and name brand state school. But as far as football programs are concerned, they are behind App St and JMU….I think they would be a nice “buffer addition” where losing them at some point in the future wouldn’t be the end of the world. But the Sun Belt would need to add another team at the same time….so it seems doubtful. Is Delaware is going to cause chaos if/when they leave the CAA

[@Bumble50123]

Living near ODU the city was so excited about the move to the SBC as the AD put it “We won’t have to play every game in Texas and our fans can actually travel to our games”

[@puffthedragon9542]

The sun belt is an absolute anomaly! I love the conference!

[@kaleb.soneal8011]

One team that could one day join is the UWF argonaughts. Stunning seasons over its first few years as a football school. It's only a matter of time and being the sunbelt holds tournaments in pensacola FL it would make sense to one day take UWF in as. A good rival to USA

[@LuemD]

Would love a one on the Missouri Valley, one of the first ever conferences

[@johnjohnson3830]

His big 12 video covers a lot of the MVC history

[@SkylerMillerTheBronxProject]

A pipe dream would be the basketball side of the Valley. Throw a stone and you will find your team away from home.

[@wookie_wookie]

Could've included footage of the Marshall vs Notre Dame game but this video is great. The Sun Belt has been one of the most entertaining conferences to watch over the past three years and it's become my go to conference. Regional rivalries trump markets any day in my book.

[@rodneywaugh8535]

Don't forget Old Dominion beating VT Georgia Southern beating Nebraska App beating Texas A M .... Party time in the fun belt

[@NKBlazer]

Not mentioned: SBC baseball. Legit NCAA baseball powerhouse of a conference and continuing to get stronger!

[@donjackson5522]

College World Series champion Coastal Carolina.

[@surbadger]

As a fan of Marshall, we've only been in thr SBC a short time, but in that time its a breath of fresh air. Im all in on the Fun Belt

[@fwpjr1983]

It’s good, but nothing compares to the MAC days of Marshall football

[@Redscfbreview]

Marshall was a great addition to the SBC!

[@extragoogleaccount6061]

JMU App St and Marshall….Sun Belt mountain school committee

[@Wooeugene]

I have degrees from a Sun Belt school and a Big XII school. I love watching my Big XII school play with the other bug dogs but the Sun Belt is the greatest iteration of college sports. It’s personal, intense, and competitive.

[@ohwaitchristian]

if a sun belt team gets this years NY6 bid, ill be 100% convinced that theyve surpassed the MW and AAC as the premier G5 football conference

[@gracielynn9623]

My UAB is in the American. The American is on a rapid fall to the very bottom of the group of five. If we aren’t there this year, we will be next year.

[@ohwaitchristian]

@@gracielynn9623 its a real shame because i think UAB wouldve been a perfect fit for the AAC back when it could still go toe to toe with the P5. solid football and basketball teams over the past few years, as well as solid facilities. imagine protective stadium hosting 2021 cincinnati or 2017 UCF, or a packed bartow arena against 2013-14 UConn. im sure the memphis games will be electric though for sure.

[@brandonmckissic9665]

@@gracielynn9623 As an FAU fan, the AAC will be just fine. Schools like us who just made the final 4 will be good once again. When it comes to football, sure this year is rough, but these additions will be really good after a few years in the AAC. it doesn’t happen overnight. UCF, Memphis, Tulane, SMU, and Cincinnati all struggled for a bit in the American before they became what they are now for example. This current situation is no different.

[@gracielynn9623]

@@brandonmckissic9665 still would’ve much rather seen UAB in the sunbelt. Better geographically and that conference is already good. It’s gonna be hard to have a huge bump up for the AAC. Half the CUSA is now in the AAC. It’s the CUSA2.0. Allthat’ll happen is that remaining AAC schools will just be dragged down to the former CUSA level which was below the sunbelt. Everyone who’s good has left. Doesn’t help that the new UAB coach is more a publicity stunt than an actual coach. We gave up more points to Georgia Southern this year than we did to LSU last year.

[@brandonmckissic9665]

@@gracielynn9623 The biggest difference is money and exposure. The schools underperforming is because they were only making around $250k in cusa playing on facebook and espn+ only. We all had FCS exposure. In the AAC, the new schools will make up to $5 million, and be exposed on linear TV on the top 12/50 markets in America. The coke schools also keep their old TV, money, while also collecting exit fees. These are all significant differences, and you’ll see the performance of the new schools start to elevate.

[@gracielynn9623]

I can’t wait to see all 10 FBS conferences. When you run out of conferences, I really hope that you’ll start covering rivalries… Especially ones that have been ripped apart do the conference realignment as sentimental memorials for their fans. Your channel is one of the best thing that’s ever happened to college football. I can’t wait for the next one!

[@TroySchoonover]

West Florida represent! We played for the DII national championship in our second year as a program, and then won the DII national championship two years later in 2019 (yeah, we’re that new). We were in the semifinals in 2022, losing to the eventual repeat champion in a snow game in Michigan. Let’s just say it’s EXTREMELY flattering to be mentioned here, but hey, you can’t argue with the product on the field and the trajectory of the program! It still floors me that we won a national championship before our school even had a marching band….

[@JasonHodgson]

Now THIS is a certified Getty Images classic

[@jonaskoturenka6681]

I just transfered to a SBC school (Troy) and I love it here. It’s a great level of competition and great atmosphere at games

[@TylerAven10]

The Sun Belt perfected the art of FCS powerhouse poaching. And it’s what led to them overtaking the C-USA and the MAC. Great video, I didn’t really know much about the Sun Belt before 2010, so this was very cool to see.

[@marklambert7515]

My jmu dukes just joined and I'm loving the sun belt

[@Redscfbreview]

JMU has done very well in a short time frame.... it's a shame they can't go to a bowl game or win play in the conference championship game.

[@zachdavis7004]

SUN BELT FUN BELT! This is probably the most excited I’ve been for one of your videos! Keep up the great work and roll neers!

[@rngfootball759]

Kind of recalled playing one of the older EA ncaa football games when i played as Idaho in the Kibbie Dome and they were in the Sun Belt. NCAA football 14 i put Idaho in the sun belt. At the time they were independent.

[@troyowens6561]

CAA next please I know it’s FCS but it’s some good history there too! I love your videos man!

[@MetalGod999]

You know, what I love about these Conference History videos is that you learn so much about conferences you don't pay as much attention to as you probably should. So many important nuggets of information and factoids are plentiful in all these videos. You can say the same thing about this video of the Sun Belt...or should I say, "the Fun Belt!" 👍😀🏈🏀

[@Bamaggie]

South Alabama native here. I’m so glad you covered this conference because even though I’m a Alabama fan, the Sun (Fun) Belt conference is finally getting the recognition it deserves and south fb is becoming more relevant they just gotta be consistent lol. Keep doing what you’re doing with your videos, they’re awesome!

[@TroySchoonover]

How ‘bout that UWF shoutout at the end?!! From a proud alumnus I love to see the love!

[@tsealeoTheGoat]

dude you deserve more subscribers. you make the exact type of videos that i love watch and i always watch them as soon as i see a new one is out

[@smhshane8265]

Favorite KZbinr rn keep these coming big 10 next plesse

[@timehusk]

finding your channel was a godsend to a lifelong college sports fan. your simple editing and the use of time-appropriate logos are nice little touches i hope you always do.

[@TheUndergradCFP]

You deserve so many more subs and visibility than what you've got. Keep up the great work!

[@johnard611]

I saw FAMU play Georgia Southern in Savannah and then Statesboro in the 80s and they became one of my favorite opposing teams. I would love to see their exciting play style and out of this world marching band in the SBC!

[@gracielynn9623]

I am a UAB fan. I really wish we were back in the sun belt. For all sports. I really hope that the chaos in the American continues. Adding UAB, Memphis, middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky, Tulane, and UTSA to the roster of football schools will not only be a geographical fit, but it would firmly solidify it as a legitimate contender to make a bid for a power conference. The Sun Belt is my favorite conference to watch in college football. Whenever I’m flipping through the TV or ESPN plus I always find myself settling on a Sun Belt conference football game when there’s not much else on. Sometimes, even when there is a lot of other stuff on. it perfectly resembles and symbolizes what college football is about and what a good conference should be.

[@fosmatt]

now this is a certified Getty Images classic

[@lukeontheplains]

Had to cut the first bit with App State beating A&M because it got copystruck by the SEC. I'm sure there's a joke to be made there but I won't make it.

[@donjackson5522]

That's just A&M still looking to recover the $1.4M they had to pay to lose a home game.

[@nikesneeze]

UCF seems to make an appearance in all of these videos, like a fun cameo.

[@kodiakbrogan1691]

Man you make good interesting videos, I can’t wait to see this channel blow up, think I’ve been here since you had like 800 subs lol

[@jakelance62]

Your videos are incredibly well put together. Thanks for the video during lunch break

[@ethandixon0812]

These videos are very well done, I especially love seeing historic logos for the schools as you move through the years.

[@Collegefootballproductions]

Whenever u run out of conferences, you should do individual iconic games or cfb independents

[@adrianvanniere507]

I know it’s mostly football focused but would love to see more of looking at success in other sports, as we see in SBC soccer they’re 1 and 2 in the country right now so you can see dominance there

[@bosserman444]

Great video, if you run out of fbs conferences you should start covering defunct conferences or non-football conferences like the A-10. Please cover the Big West as well.

[@Seoke_]

The sunbelt has such a hard logo and the fact that the colors change on teams unis is fucking awesome.

[@SamuelRusso-c8d]

Great video! I’m a Louisiana Ragin Cajun season ticket holder and it’s a great league.

[@scottlees267]

I know baseball isn’t as big, but the Sun Belt is an absolute competitor in NCAA baseball.

[@jterveenfilm]

I audibly said “that was a great video” after this finished.

[@JohnZoni]

Sun Belt has done a great job in growing as a G5 football conference.... 🔆🏈

[@jonathanserota949]

Definitely enjoy this series

[@sadmarinersfan8935]

One of the most fun conferences in fbs some great underrated teams

[@joshuafisher6966]

Love these videos man! Any chance you could do one on the CAA? I went to a CAA school and it would be really cool to learn about the history!

[@joshuafannin1623]

First off Great Video! I played ball at MTSU 15-20, could you please do one of these for CUSA and where you think it may be heading

[@Dynamic_Fajita]

Great video, the SBC may very well be the best group of 5 now

[@aaronanderson9047]

Sun Belt is now the Best Group of 5 confrence in Football and Baseball and basketball is right their too! Amazing how things change

[@mikestanshillporter4425]

I love the Sunbelt, it’s a fun brand of football, with great quality teams, and seems to be run real well.

[@BuckeyeFan04]

Loves these videos man!🔥

[@Mix-if1vm]

Hey man these videos are sick! Do you have an acc one planned by any chance?

[@Drake44444]

awesome vidoe as usual

[@NWLAEDITS]

Great video, I love these

[@BestGuy2103]

Heres to the school I love, Troy

[@voiceofreason2674]

Idk why Louisiana Tech and Tulane don't just come back to the Sun Belt. As an Lsu fan I would love to see more of that Louisiana mid major rivalries

[@NKBlazer]

SBC would very likely not take LaTech after their big shade they threw at the Louisiana SBC teams and the conference itself a while back. Even if so, majority of programs and fans unanimously agree that no one wants them back. They can stay in their “move up to a level like CUSA” conference. Now Tulane would be a great fit. I’d like to see Tulane and ECU join.

[@voiceofreason2674]

@@NKBlazer lmfao idk what you're referencing but I find it hilarious that Louisiana Tech was getting uppity at ULM and ULL / UL. They got NO BUSINESS doing that

[@supersasukemaniac]

Sun Belt has possibly the best name teamed in history, the Ragin Cajuns.

[@Nohandleentered]

I didn’t realize SunBelt football was so young. It’s barely old enough to drive 😮

[@almightysosa3007]

My high school league had a big revamp after I graduated and added 4 schools to the league making it a 10 team league. They solved this issue by dividing the league into two divisions, the A division and the B division. The A was better and if you won would guarantee a spot in the playoffs, where as last place would drop out into B, and first place for B would move up to A the following year. I think something like this would be perfect for a conference like the big 10 or Sec where not every team is as good as the next.

[@tyroneharris4435]

Love the Videos❤

[@Natrannel7034]

Arkansas-Little Rock, my alma mater, was never a member of the American South, but we left the TAAC in 1991, what is now known as the ASUN.

[@alaskanbullworm8685]

Weirdest part of sunbelt history is the fact that Hartwick (A D3 school from NY) was an affiliate member of the sunbelt for soccer and won conference championships in 2014 and 2015

[@gijakob]

Great video!

[@Redscfbreview]

The SBC had certainly cone a long way from the early 00's! It is a solid conference now! It should be the best G5 conference in a few years.

[@toddknaperek8225]

It's a good conference which aligned itself wisely with regional teams with history among each other and a nice geographic footprint which sees the majority of schools in the division being only 4 hours apart from each other. If they were ever to expand again, the three teams that are probably on the short list is ECU, WKU and UTSA.

[@Jamessmith-xk3fh]

The only school that shouldn't be in the SBC and I'm saying this as I'm from Louisiana and live in Louisiana is UL Monroe. They have no business in the FBS because they never win the conference ever and usually are the weakest

[@toddknaperek8225]

@@Jamessmith-xk3fhThey were co-conference champs in 2005 and they have the distinction of being the only team in the conference to beat a Nick Saban-led Alabama team. Are you an LT grad?

[@deester7914]

I think the Sun Belt’s success can be attributed to just wanting to be a good conference. They picked up on trending teams and gave them the stability to ride that wave longer. WKU and MTSU I think are foregone conclusions and will eventually join, but I can also see Liberty joining at some point in the near future as well

[@robertblain6271]

You seriously have a dissertation on college sports management in these videos. I definitely see moves like: - WKU and MTSU joining - Lamar trying to pair with SFA as full members to side-fill and increase the conference's footprint in Texas (also gives the conference a UT System school with SFA being part of that system)... likely inspiring UTSA to leave CUSA to join their biggest rival (Texas State) That would be 19 schools- making Delaware a target to get to a full 20... allowing them to play 9 weekend series in baseball and 8 in softball and the conference basketball season would be 18 games. LU, SFA, and UTSA join the West, MTSU, WKU, and UD in the East, which would save the whole conference a LOT of money on travel (no more San Marcos, TX to Huntington, WV trips). Make it happen, Commish!

[@ReisterJP]

Texas State should join CUSA it's a better footprint for them NM State, UTEP, SHS, Texas State, and LA Tech would be a sexy Western division.

[@v10mclaren]

The STUNBelt with all the P5 wins

[@javischoppa]

now this is a certified getty images classic

[@justinress2782]

Having an HBCU in the FBS would have been wild.

[@bradleyalexanderwrestling6164]

I thought SBC added University of Queens at Charlotte a few years ago that might be in some sports I’m not sure I just saw it when my friend who wrestles got Queens posted it

[@collinkuecker4970]

FCS missouri St was once rumored to join the Sun Belt for Football. Though it looks like its not going to happen.

[@Andoverx]

Still think they should have added Liberty. Liberty and Coastal were former FCS rivals and with the Cure Bowl matchup I think the rivalry is still there.

[@JeffBaynham]

Bringing back MTSU and WKU makes a lot of sense. Hope it happens.

[@Spitfirethedragon]

Imagine if Lamar did not moved to Southland, and stayed in SBC until they restarted their football team since dropping it in the late 80s? They would have brought their football team up at the same time as South Alabama. Lamar wanted to move up at the same time to join the WAC with UTSA and Texas State at the time. SBC is also in talks with Missouri State to join the conference as well. Missouri State, Chattanooga, North Alabama, Central Arkansas, Tennessee State, Austin Peay State, North Carolina A&T, Jackson State, Lamar, Abilene Christian, UTRGV, Tarleton State and McNeese State all mentioned to want to move to FBS.

[@CreightonRabs]

12:00 Delaware to FBS makes very little sense, though their only real options would be the American (won't be as far flung with SMU leaving for the ACC, and UD is right in that northern footprint with Temple and Navy football) or the Sun Belt, but I don't see that happening unless their stadium gets some major upgrades. Also, West Florida would have to land in an FCS league before they could even be considered for the Sun Belt, and I don't see that happening in the future either.

[@mattstice5903]

I miss the early 00s-10s sunbelt. Just small southern schools, minus Denver(anomaly) playing each. The culture was great. Plus I made 2000$ one march when WKU went on a run in the 2012(I think) to win the sunbelt BB tourney as a sub .500 team. Maybe I jus miss the 2000$

[@RiskninjaYT]

Was not expecting NDSU to be mentioned in a Sunbelt video lol

[@alecchristy8642]

Sunbelt soccer is insane

[@josephj.moffitt5556]

Hartwick College in New York was a soccer only member for a few years and won the conference twice. They have to be one of their more northern outliers

[@dianedemore880]

Texas State was FBS when it joined the Sun Belt.

[@godawgs1344]

I’d love a mountain west version as well as American or c-usa

[@newyorknole2225]

The Sun Belt is a better football conference than the current AAC. Change my mind

[@jordandupuis1249]

My brother went to South Alabama and even coached there as a student coach now he’s at uab coaching quarterbacks he been there since he was a student coach there too in 2018 he even graduated there now he’s engaged and getting married in may

[@Redscfbreview]

USA is a young, but growing football program.

[@jordandupuis1249]

@@Redscfbreview I agree with you 100 percent

[@phaw-0]

fun belt, fun belt, fun belt !!! ☀️

[@lenzzzzzzz]

What about Valdosta State chances of moving up?

[@ruston10]

Somehow Tech needs to get back into the Sun Belt. If that ever happens, they need to add an East school as well. WKU would be the perfect fit.

[@hellbillyjr]

As a Marshall fan, i live this conference

[@willl604]

I'm just glad NCAA has eased up on trying to screw FCS teams moving to FBS. Florida A&M got a bad deal on that. I also think you're speaking too soon on whether or not 16 team conferences are viable, bc Big 10 and SEC have yet to play with 16 teams

[@rodneywaugh8535]

For future expansion...... East Carolina UNC Charlotte bringing in the Charlotte media market.... Talk about regional rivalries.....!

[@jesussaldana4558]

When life is hard be like the SBC, buy your time take it slow and steady and then strike first, strike hard, no mercy

[@chqnnel2651]

These videos are fire keep up the good work.

[@Augustin54]

Coach Kinne the GOAT

[@troybaxter]

Depending on how things go for the ACC in the near future, I wouldn't be surprised if App State and Coastal leave. App State, in particular, could compete on the level of the ACC, given that they have been playing close and/or beating UNC in recent years.

[@MJDAMAN27]

App doesn't complete in any other sport other than football. That wouldn't be smart for the ACC.

[@Collegefootballproductions]

Also history of the big 10

[@RacerGuy450]

Mountain West plz

[@thestapler]

Can't help but think East Carolina would be an ideal expansion for the SBC

[@MagicUser12345]

now we need 2001 Miami vs upset App state