Sun Belt Conference--What's Next.

First of all, I know that the Sun Belt Conference includes some non-football members.  But for this blog, let's forget about that.  Nothing that will be discussed will effect UT-Arlington and Arkansas Little Rock.

In 2015, the Sun Belt Conference will have 11 members.  And one of those members is way out in Moscow, Idaho.  This is about 1400 miles from their nearest fellow conference member.  They need to get to at least 12 and play a conference championship game.  Plus, breaking into divisions will help cut down on travel costs.  Breaking into divisions will mean that Georgia Southern travels to Idaho only once every 4 years.  That will be even better if the Conference expands to 14 members and reduce that necessity to once every 6 years.



But who should be added.  If you look at the big picture, you see how far out of the way Idaho is.  Should the Sun Belt add members to ease travel costs and distances.

Option 1.  Add Idaho's friends.



West Division
Eastern Washington (Football Only)
Idaho (Football Only)
Montana (Football Only)
Montana State (Football Only)
New Mexico State (Football Only)
Texas State
Arkansas State

East Division
Appalachian State
Georgia State
Georgia Southern
Louisiana Lafayette
Louisiana Monroe
Troy
South Alabama

Option 2 is to not worry about the outlier, and go with new conference members that are close to the footprint of the rest of the conference.




West Division

Idaho (Football Only)
Lamar
New Mexico State (Football Only)
Sam Houston State
Stephen F. Austin
Texas State
Arkansas State

East Division
Appalachian State
Georgia State
Georgia Southern
Louisiana Lafayette
Louisiana Monroe
Troy
South Alabama

In the second option, Idaho is to the Sun Belt as Hawaii is to the MWC.  You only have to worry about travel to Moscow for 4 games, and travel from Moscow for 4 games.  The second option is clear a better option for the Sun Belt and they should not give into the temptation to bring in Idaho's friends.  If you add schools near Idaho, then teams in that division would have more travel to the Northwest to take on teams near Idaho.  The better option is to continue to add programs in the footprint of the conference and only have the one team in the Northwest.