Another day, another conference realignment move.
On Monday morning, the Sun Belt CEOs voted Louisiana Tech to become the conference’s 14th member, as first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Louisiana Tech fills the vacancy created by the recent departure of Texas State which paid the $5 million Sun Belt buyout to join the Pac-12 in 2026.
Louisiana Tech’s move from Conference USA to the Sun Belt is also expected to occur in 2026. The athletic department is expected to owe a buyout of approximately $5
million to the CUSA.
The Bulldogs will be the fourth CUSA school to move to the Sun Belt in the 2020s, following in the footsteps of Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss which all relocated in 2022. This represents a contrasting realignment trend from the 2010s when FIU, Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, and Western Kentucky all migrated from the Sun Belt to the CUSA.
Louisiana Tech joined the CUSA in 2013 after a 12-year stint in the now-defunct WAC. The Bulldogs won six consecutive bowl games as a member of the league from 2014-19 and qualified for the CUSA Championship Game twice, producing a stellar run of success under former head coach Skip Holtz. Holtz’s 10-3 campaign in 2019 marks the Bulldogs’ last winning season, but the team attained bowl eligibility last year in unique fashion. Due to Marshall’s unprecedented, non-COVID related opt-out of the Independence Bowl, Louisiana Tech filled in with a 5-7 record but fell 27-6 to AAC champion Army.
Louisiana Tech enters what could be its final season in the CUSA under head coach Sonny Cumbie, who prepares for year four at the helm.
With Louisiana Tech on board, the Sun Belt now is back to an even number at 14 members. The league can also now promote new regional rivalries. The Bulldogs are the third Louisiana team stationed in the conference, joining peers Louisiana and ULM. Louisiana Tech and Louisiana have met 87 times since 1910 with their most recent battles transpiring in 2014 and 2015. Meanwhile, Louisiana Tech and ULM have squared off 42 times, last clashing in four consecutive years from 1997 to 2000.
The Sun Belt is the only FBS conference as of 2025 that still adheres to divisions, so the Bulldogs are expected to replace Texas State in the West division and compete against Arkansas State, Louisiana, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Troy, and ULM for a spot in the Sun Belt Championship Game.
On the other hand, the CUSA — which has 12 members for the upcoming season — is expected to be reduced to 10 for 2026 after the departures of UTEP (Mountain West) and Louisiana Tech (Sun Belt).
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