r/sunbelt • u/Odd-Record-1041 • 5d ago
Non-Sunbelt Fan Thoughts on Replacement Member(s)
I wanted to share my thoughts on potential replacement members for the Sun Belt (from someone who appreciates the conference, though I'm not a fan). In no particular order:
Liberty: They would rank #1 in athletic revenue in the Sun Belt after JMU leaves, reside in the same state, have had recent on field success, and carry high name recognition. The obvious con is the "diploma mill" reputation and institutional baggage that most fanbases wouldn't want in the conference. Purely on paper, though, they make a lot of sense.
Miami (OH): After missing out on the AAC, they might look around if they think the MAC is unstable. Ohio sits outside the traditional Sun Belt footprint, but otherwise they would be a solid addition. Their athletic revenue is strong, they have rich football history, and their basketball team just made the NCAA tournament as an at-large. Adding them would also weaken a peer G5 conference.
Toledo: Most of the points for Miami (OH) apply here as well, proven athletic success and solid resources, with geography being the main hurdle for a middle revenue team.
Kennesaw State: Generated stronger revenue than both MAC schools last year and fits the Sun Belt’s geographic and cultural footprint naturally. Honestly, this might be the option that makes the most sense while actually being acceptable to current fans.
Multi-Team Scenario (WKU + MTSU + Kennesaw State): WKU and MTSU likely move as a package deal. Grouping them with Kennesaw State gives the Sun Belt three programs generating over $40M in athletic revenue that fit the regional identity seamlessly.
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u/Archaic_1 5d ago
If we bring Liberty into the conference I will never watch or attend a Marshall game again. The fact that Liberty is allowed to exist is an affront to everything I stand for. Hard no.
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u/MasterRKitty 5d ago
Amen. They're a criminal enterprise masquerading as a school. It should be shut down.
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u/redparallax 5d ago
I wrote emails to university leadership when we initially signed that home-and-home with them. As much as NIL and the transfer portal situation has really hit my overall morale for the sport and Marshall's place in it, Liberty joining the Sun Belt would put me as apathetic about it all as I've ever been. Wouldn't be able to bring myself to continue to spend money on it all - not even as protest as much as it would be from just immense apathy.
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u/MasterRKitty 5d ago
Fuck Liberty-it's a diploma mill that had to buy its way into the CUSA. Ohio isn't that far from Marshall. It's less than 2 hours.
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u/diab_soule137 5d ago
I’d love Miami (OH) because of the influx of money that’s been dedicated to their programs
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u/MiamiOHRedhawwwks 5d ago
People underestimate our alumni base. Starbucks CEO, Farmer family (Cintas), Sean McVay and Harbaugh all expressed interest in dumping some money into football.
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u/Journeyman22364 5d ago
No to Liberty. The league has had many opportunities to add this school and passed. They will pass again.
Miami (Ohio) is just 185 miles from Marshall, so it’s fine. But the school is thinking bigger, and the SBC/MAC are generally comparable.
Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee are obvious, but many of the current SBC schools are still salty about the way they left for C-USA.
When Texas State left, the league quickly added La Tech. Had they held off, they could’ve just ridden with two fewer members (no TxSt and no JMU). It might be best to let it ride for now. Either that, or deal a killer blow to C-USA and take three schools from them.
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u/SaltyTurdLicker 5d ago
Personally think no matter who is added football is going to take a step down and it ll need a collective group effort to raise back up. Thinking that The two MAC schools could help but it’ll take a bit to recover. However I think the benefit of the Sunbelt is they’ll be grabbing for one of the other two C-USA or MAC and 5-10 years ago that would not be the case. Just an example of how well the sunbelt rebuilt with all the FCS call ups in the past.
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u/rocketcuse 4d ago
Liberty: They would rank #1 in athletic revenue in the Sun Belt after JMU leaves, reside in the same state, have had recent on field success, and carry high name recognition. The obvious con is the "diploma mill" reputation and institutional baggage that most fanbases wouldn't want in the conference. Purely on paper, though, they make a lot of sense.
No! There is too much baggage with Liberty. Google..How many lawsuits has there been against Liberty University. Most recently, although not a lawsuit, but, the university faced a $14 million federal fine in 2024 for violations of the Clery Act regarding crime data disclosure, which stemmed from an investigation rather than a civil lawsuit.
Miami (OH): After missing out on the AAC, they might look around if they think the MAC is unstable. Ohio sits outside the traditional Sun Belt footprint, but otherwise they would be a solid addition. Their athletic revenue is strong, they have rich football history, and their basketball team just made the NCAA tournament as an at-large. Adding them would also weaken a peer G5 conference.
No as well. Miami would not be a stable member. They are always looking for greener pastures! They think they are better than they are, which is probably why the American picked JMU $23m offer over Miami up to $40m.
Toledo: Most of the points for Miami (OH) apply here as well, proven athletic success and solid resources, with geography being the main hurdle for a middle revenue team.
Consistent success in football, made a bowl the past 5 years. But agree, Geo is an issue
Kennesaw State: Generated stronger revenue than both MAC schools last year and fits the Sun Belt’s geographic and cultural footprint naturally. Honestly, this might be the option that makes the most sense while actually being acceptable to current fans.
Still not sold Kennesaw St. Also don't want another technically Atlanta, Ga school.
Multi-Team Scenario (WKU + MTSU + Kennesaw State): WKU and MTSU likely move as a package deal. Grouping them with Kennesaw State gives the Sun Belt three programs generating over $40M in athletic revenue that fit the regional identity seamlessly.
Nah 1 - 1 is just fine. Plus, your scenario is adding 3 teams to the east. MTSU would be my vote for that group.
If we are raiding the MAC, I think the best candidate is Ohio U.
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u/Odd-Record-1041 4d ago
A lot of fair points here.
In business, leadership overlooks legal baggage all the time. If the Sun Belt treats revenue as priority number one, Liberty is still the clear move. It really comes down to dollars and cents, even though your cultural concerns are completely valid.
As for Miami (OH), I think they likely stay put if they move until the big ACC shakeup in 2036 triggers massive realignment across the entire NCAA.
On geography, if the Sun Belt is comfortable having three programs in Louisiana, having three in Georgia should not be an issue. Especially when it adds a second school right in the Atlanta metro area. Bringing in WKU and MTSU as a pair alongside Kennesaw State gives the conference three solid additions that fit regionally and financially.
As for Ohio University, they have the second lowest athletic revenue in the MAC and wouldn't bring much value to the Sun Belt. Even a school like Bowling Green brings in about 17% more revenue.
Honestly, the three team expansion route is the most fun scenario to think about. But purely for the conference's bottom line, Liberty makes the most sense. For better or worse, they have national name recognition, deep pockets, and a massive alumni base (It is not a strong one though). On the field, they have proven they can compete in football, and their basketball team has consistently looked capable of winning games in March Madness.
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u/Laszlo_Panaflex_80 5d ago
As an outsider, Liberty makes the most sense and I realize how unpopular/unpalatable that is to most. But, they are your cash cow and have had more recent success than the others on the list. Not going to be popular but from an economic stance, they are the pick.
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u/Odd-Record-1041 5d ago
I do not disagree with that logic. It makes cents........
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u/Laszlo_Panaflex_80 5d ago
I am only talking stone cold logic here. Emotions enter the fray and it changes instantly I realize.
Glad you could see what I was saying 🙂
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u/Various_Job_6400 5d ago
Ohio is a bit far for regional footprint. With TxSt departure, Sun Belt has some kickass regional pull, would want teams already in the footprint of us. Jax St, ECU, and WKU are includes I would really want. If I could pick, gimmie ECU to keep us a powerhouse in baseball. Sunbelt arguably is Power 5 in baseball/softball, lean into it.
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u/MasterRKitty 5d ago
Ohio is less than 2 hours from Marshall. It gives both schools an instant rival.
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u/StudioGangster1 5d ago
If you’re talking about the state, it’s literally across the river. If you’re talking about OU, I don’t think it’s even an hour.
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u/No_Communication1010 5d ago
Baseball needs to be a bigger consideration than in past realignment. The conference has put a team in Omaha for two straight seasons and consistently has a national seed in the tournament. The sunbelt is a top conference in baseball but could really solidify that with the proper addition here especially considering JMU was a negative to the conference for baseball.
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u/Odd-Record-1041 5d ago
Baseball is a net negative for athletic programs, even in the Sunbelt. It’s a great baseball conference, but that doesn’t matter. JMU brought more to the conference than any other team did, and is moving up because of that.
Not trying to dis the Sunbelt. It’s the fun belt for a reason. However, CREAM when it comes to conference realignment.
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u/No_Communication1010 5d ago
Football certainly provides the most money but in reality how different are any of the options when it comes to football. A sun belt team isn’t making the CFP anymore and frankly neither is JMU after they changed the rules this year.
Sun Belt Basketball isn’t changing no matter who we add. It’s a one bid league.
Baseball putting teams in Omaha brings the conference exposure which can bring revenue in ways that don’t show up in the athletic budget.
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u/Bobcat2013 4d ago
Im hoping that the AAC takes another SBC school and that the SBC stays at 12 instead of poaching one from CUSA making CUSA call up ANOTHER FCS school......
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u/macdawg2 2d ago
My question is do anyone these programs want to make a move now?
2030 acc buy out drops big an teams are leaving could be 2 or 3 could be more. They'll likely raid the American, which will then raid an probably take all these teams.
So do these teams join the sunbelt to face a even higher buyout when the American come calling in 2029,2030.
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u/SnooPeripherals4513 3d ago
The obvious choice is liberty i know everyone hates them but it's best option by far
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u/StudioGangster1 5d ago
I don’t see why any MAC schools would leave for the Sun Belt. It doesn’t make much sense to do that
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u/Odd-Record-1041 5d ago
The MAC could be a house of cards. You have top programs in talks or really pushing for leaving. You don’t want to be in a conference that is back filling with FCS programs if you can leave.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Link416 5d ago
The problem is that the top MAC schools want to go to the American. And the bottom schools are better off going to FCS.
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u/rocketcuse 4d ago
I'd think Ohio would leave if asked. It's the only school out of the MAC I would go all in for.
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u/The_Final-Heir 1d ago
You guys do know that Liberty makes 5 million in CUSA, right? Reports say they have no interest at this point.
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u/boomwikity 5d ago
WKU, MTSU, and Kennesaw State together is the exact scenario I've been thinking about all day. It'd make a ton of sense for the Sun Belt to pursue them together. IF Kennesaw State was unavailable for any reason, Jax State would be my next pick, simply because the location fits and they have a pre-existing rivalry with Troy.