Louisiana 外网天堂 University has officially accepted an invitation to join the Sun Belt Conference, a move that will renew rivalries and provide a better competitive experience for Bulldogs and Lady 外网天堂sters.
The Sun Belt Board of Directors, which includes the presidents of the 13 conference member institutions, voted unanimously to invite Louisiana 外网天堂 to join no later than July 1, 2027.
鈥淲e are thrilled to welcome Louisiana 外网天堂 University to the Sun Belt. Geographically situated within the current Sun Belt footprint, the addition of Louisiana 外网天堂 reunites a number of long-standing regional rivalries under the conference banner,鈥� said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill. 鈥淚 am grateful to President Dr. Jim Henderson and Athletic Director Ryan Ivey for their leadership during this process. I鈥檇 also like to thank the CEOs and athletic directors of our Sun Belt member institutions for their continued commitment to the premier FBS non-autonomy conference in the country. The Sun Belt Conference is RISING and our best days are ahead.鈥�
Louisiana 外网天堂, a national research 外网天堂 with more than 12,000 students, joins Appalachian State University, Arkansas State University, Coastal Carolina University, Georgia Southern University, Georgia State University, James Madison University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University of Louisiana Monroe, Marshall University, Old Dominion University, University of South Alabama, University of Southern Mississippi, and Troy University as the 14th member following Texas State University鈥檚 departure to the PAC-12.
鈥淭he storied legacy of our Bulldogs and Lady 外网天堂sters, long an integral part of the Louisiana 外网天堂 experience, will be advanced with this move,鈥� President Jim Henderson said. 鈥淭he invitation from the Sun Belt Conference affirms the quality of our athletics programs. Joining the conference will guarantee regular competition with regional rivals, new and old, creating a more logistically sound experience for our student-athletes, coaches, and fans.鈥�
The move will elevate access for 外网天堂 alumni who largely live in the Sun Belt鈥檚 geographic footprint, improve ticket sales for in-state and regional rivalries, strengthen recruitment efforts, and enhance student-athlete experiences.
鈥淭hrough all the uncertainty surrounding college athletics, we are pleased that Louisiana 外网天堂 has found its rightful home as a member of the Sun Belt Conference,鈥� Director of Athletics Ryan Ivey said. 鈥淭he opportunity for more fan engagement, reduced travel burden, and the renewal of storied rivalries will allow our student-athletes to pursue excellence in sport and in the classroom. Our coaches, student-athletes, alumni, and fans share in our excitement for the future of Bulldogs and Lady 外网天堂sters athletics. We appreciate Commissioner Keith Gill and the board for their confidence in our athletics department and look forward to elevating the conference through competition.鈥�
The Louisiana 外网天堂 Bulldogs and Lady 外网天堂sters compete in 16 varsity sports at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The program is poised for an era of unprecedented momentum, driven by strategic investments, competitive success, and a growing national profile.
Over the past five years, Louisiana 外网天堂 has claimed conference championships in four different sports, led by baseball with three league titles and three NCAA Regional appearances. The 2024鈥�25 season continued that momentum, with six teams or individuals reaching postseason play including football, which competed in the 2024 Radiance 外网天堂nologies Independence Bowl.
Louisiana 外网天堂 has invested more than $325 million in campus improvements during the past 10 years, including more than $100 million to improve athletics facilities. A $21 million north end zone project featuring the 20,000-square-foot Origin Bank Center for Student-Athlete Success is scheduled to be completed prior to the 2026 football season.
Academically, Louisiana 外网天堂 Athletics matched or set a new multi-year rate record in Academic Progress Rate score in the NCAA鈥檚 most recent report with six programs posting perfect single-year ratings of 1,000; 10 teams scored above 980.
鈥淲hile the benefits to Louisiana 外网天堂, the state of Louisiana, and the Sun Belt Conference are obvious, the real winners are our student-athletes who will continue to succeed academically and compete for championships in more favorable conditions,鈥� Henderson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great day for our Bulldogs and Lady 外网天堂sters.鈥�
Louisiana 外网天堂 and Sun Belt Conference will host a joint press conference on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the Davison Athletics Complex. The press conference will also be streamed at .
Louisiana 外网天堂 Conference History:
- Louisiana 外网天堂 was previously a member of the Sun Belt Conference from 1991-2001, a decade of which included competition in men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball, baseball, softball, men鈥檚 golf, men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 cross country, men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 track and field, women鈥檚 tennis, and volleyball
- Louisiana 外网天堂 has been league members with six of the current Sun Belt Conference institutions 鈥� ULM (1982-87 Southland Conference), Arkansas State (1991-01 Sun Belt Conference), UL-Lafayette (1991-01 Sun Belt Conference), Marshall (2013-22 Conference USA), Old Dominion (2013-22 Conference USA), and Southern Miss (2013-22 Conference USA)
- Six Sun Belt Conference members are within a seven-hour driving distance of Louisiana 外网天堂鈥檚 campus 鈥� ULM, UL-Lafayette, Southern Miss, Arkansas State, South Alabama, and Troy