Sun Belt to Invite Louisiana Tech Following Texas State's Move to Pac-12, Sources Say
Louisiana Tech is poised to join the Sun Belt Conference as the 14th member after Conference USA's Texas State heads to the Pac-12.
The Sun Belt Conference’s CEOs voted to extend an invitation to Conference USA’s Louisiana Tech on Monday, according to ESPN. Louisiana Tech is set to replace Texas State, which is departing for the Pac-12 in 2026, as the Sun Belt’s 14th member.
Moreover, Louisiana Tech will accept a buyout of at least $5 million to exit Conference USA. The earliest they can leave is in 2026, coinciding with the ongoing shift in conference alignments.
This return marks a sort of homecoming for Louisiana Tech, which was part of the Sun Belt from 1991 to 2001, although their football program maintained independence during much of the 1990s following its shift from the NCAA Division I-AA level. For a period, they were aligned with the Big West Conference from 1993 to 1995.
