Sunbelt Conference Sports

I may be biased but I think the South Alabama Jaguars are the best school and group of teams in the Sunbelt conference. With me being the Jags #1 player, fan, and sports enthusiast and considering the University of South Alabama is in the Sunbelt on conference, this week’s blog will be all about the Sunbelt. Giving you an inside scoop on what the conference is about, what they stand for and some other fun facts about the Sunbelt Conference. According to Sunbelt.org, the Sunbelt Conference (SBC) is a collegiate athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA’s Division 1 since August 4^th, 1976. It has Division 1 programs located all throughout the region of the southern United States. The headquarters for the Sunbelt Conference is located in New Orleans Louisiana.  Commissioner for the Sunbelt is Keith Gill, working for the Sunbelt since 2019. The Sunbelt is within the subdivision FBS. There are 12 members of the Sunbelt that is broken down into 18 sporting events, 9 men and 9 women teams. The 12 members include the University of South Alabama Jaguars (Mobile Alabama), Texas State University Bobcats (San Marcos Texas), University of Texas Arlington Mavericks (Arlington Texas), Troy University Trojans (Troy Alabama),  Appalachian State University Mountaineers (Boone North Carolina), Arkansas State University Red Wolves (Jonesboro Arkansas), Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers (Conway South Carolina), Georgia Southern University Eagles (Statesboro Georgia), University of Arkansas at Little Rock Trojans (Little Rock Arkansas), Georgia State University Panthers (Atlanta Georgia), University of Louisiana at Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns (Lafayette Louisiana), and University of Louisiana at Monroe Warhawks (Monroe Louisiana). The 9 men’s sporting events includes baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field. The 9 women’s sporting events includes basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, and volleyball. These totaled 18 sporting events make up the wide range of teams the sunbelt has to offer. App State joined the Sunbelt in 2014, have 19,280 students, and rep the colors black and yellow. Arkansas State joined in 1991, have 13,891 students enrolled to the university, and colors are red and black. Coastal Carolina joined the Sunbelt in 2016, have 10,894 students attending the university, and have the colors teal, bronze, and black. Georgia Southern joined the program in 2014, hold 26,054 students, and have rep the colors navy blue and white. Georgia State joined the Sunbelt in 1976 and again in 2013, housing 53,619 students, and hold the colors royal blue and white. UA at Little Rock joined in 1991, with 9,579 students enrolled, and have the colors maroon, silver, and white. UL at Lafayette joined in 1991, with 19,403 students, and have the colors red and white. UL at Monroe joined the Sunbelt in 2006, having 8,489 students attend the university, and rep the colors maroon and gold. USA joined in 1976 which is the only school currently in the Sunbelt who has been a part of the conference since the beginning, enrolling 14,667 students, wearing the colors red, white, and navy blue. Texas State joined in 2013, with 38,231 students and they rep the colors maroon and gold. UT Arlington joined in 2013, having 42,863 students go to school at this university, and have the colors blue, orange, white, and black. Lastly, Troy joined the Sunbelt Conference in 2005, the university has 17,494 students enrolled, and wear the colors cardinal red, silver, and black. Unfortunately, no current Sunbelt member has won an NCAA Division 1 team championship while a member of the conference. Four current members have won NCAA Division 1 team championships prior to joining the conference (Georgia Southern Football, Appalachian State Football, UL at Monroe Football, and Coastal Carolina Baseball). Overall, the Sunbelt is a well respected and very competitive conference in all of the  sports they offer.