Louisiana Tech Officially Joins Sun Belt, Leaving Conference USA in 2026

Louisiana Tech has officially been approved to join the Sun Belt Conference as its 14th member, replacing Texas State, which is moving to the Pac-12. The move marks a return to the Sun Belt for Louisiana Tech, which was part of the conference from 1991 to 2001 before joining the Western Athletic Conference and later Conference USA in 2013. The transition is expected to take effect no earlier than the 2026-27 athletic year, coinciding with other conference realignment moves. Despite some opposition from certain Sun Belt schools, the vote passed to maintain the league's 14-team structure, with Louisiana Tech's geographic proximity to other Sun Belt teams like Louisiana, ULM, and Southern Miss cited as a key factor. Louisiana Tech's football program has struggled recently, not finishing above .500 since 2019, but the school’s baseball and softball successes were seen as additional benefits. The move will likely cost Louisiana Tech at least $5 million to exit Conference USA.