Sun Belt's invite to La Tech
As soon as speculation began about Texas State leaving for the new PAC-12, there was a replacement already being pushed toward the front of the line. Enter: the Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech.
LA Tech is expected to receive an invitation to join the Sun Belt, as per Andrew Riddell. Locked On Sun Belt host David Schultz reported that LA Tech would not have the votes, stating that it seemed the Sun Belt East was “blocking” the Bulldogs from receiving the bid. This appears to have changed after about two weeks of deliberation.
Breaking: I have been told that @LATechSports is believed to have the votes to join the Sun Belt conference.
A vote could be scheduled for the beginning of next week I’ve been told.
— Andrew Riedell (@RiedellAndrew) July 11, 2025
Were the Bulldogs the Sun Belt’s first call? We are unlikely to know that answer until the dust has settled mid-Monday afternoon. Until then, let’s look at what adding LA Tech to the Sun Belt does for the conference.
Quick History
LA Tech first played football back in 1901, hosting a program with a rich history on the gridiron.
Their stadium is named after the winningest coach in school history, Joe Aillet. Aillet was followed by a former Southern Miss assistant coach in Maxie Lambright, who took the school to new heights by winning three-straight Division II national championships. The school moved up to Division I shortly after and had two very notable alumni play Quarterback for them: Phil Robertson (of Duck Dynasty fame) and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback, Terry Bradshaw.
The Bulldogs are now on their 11th head coach since Lambright. Sonny Cumbie signed a 5-year contract back in 2021, a deal worth $4.85 million. LA Tech has compiled an 8-5-1 bowl record since 1977, but hasn’t claimed a conference title since 2011 when they played in the WAC.
Why the Move Makes Sense
At this time, LA Tech isn’t bringing a dominant football presence or a championship-caliber team to the table. Why move to the Sun Belt?
Rivalries.
It’s no surprise that in-state foes Louisiana and ULM would make the most sense. All three of them spent time in the same conferences and the close regional rivalries had some real heat behind them. The Bulldogs lead the overall series against both schools (48-33-6 over Louisiana and 29-13 over ULM).
The Southern Miss Golden Eagles also have a long history going up against LA Tech. They played each other in three separate conferences through the years. They even kept the rivalry alive but signing a recent home and home. Southern Miss will travel to Ruston, LA to play LA Tech on September 20th this season, with a return game in 2026, barring the Sun Belt Conference making changes. The Golden Eagles lead the all-time series 36-17.
Separate from the rivalry aspect, Marshall and ODU also spent time competing against LA Tech while in Conference USA. Both Marshall and ODU made the jump from CUSA to the Sun Belt back in 2022.
There is familiarity and history with at least five Sun Belt teams as soon as LA Tech becomes a full member (expected July 1st 2026).
Problems with the Move
It’s no shock that LSU commands the most state money for higher education in the state of Louisiana. Where does that put the Sun Belt’s Louisiana schools in the pecking order?
Based on the 2024 operating budget distribution, the hierarchy in the UL system would be Lafayette, Southeastern, LA Tech, and then Monroe. LA Tech will receive $17 million to renovate a major academic building while Monroe will use $15 million for renovations to the Health Science Complex on their campus. This information isn’t of the upmost importance for athletics, but it does lend itself to campus upkeep and the addition of added resources to entice new students.
LA Tech averages roughly 11,000 students a year between undergraduate and graduate students. This places them toward the bottom of the conference with those figures, but notably larger than ULM, at about 9,000 total. The average endowment size for a Sun Belt institution is around $195 million dollars. LA Tech would once again come in near the bottom in that respect, with an average of about $95 million, but also above ULM at around $38 million.
What Does it all Mean?
Looking at past athletic success, student body size, and funds allocated to LA Tech, it does make one wonder what the long-term appeal of this choice is.
The new era of college football is here however, and past success is of little importance.
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