Sun Belt Conference: Looking Ahead To 2009

The Sun Belt Conference has a big change coming in 2009 and some things to build on from 2008.

The big story is Western Kentucky. For the last two years, Western Kentucky has been a probationary FBS school, making the transition from FCS to FBS. As a probationary school, they were considered an independent.

Starting in the 2009 season, Western Kentucky joins the Sun Belt Conference. Technically they are already a member, but the Sun Belt has football members and non-football members. Since 1982, Western Kentucky has been a non-football member.

I see this addition as nothing but good for the conference.

In my opinion, they aren’t just adding an in-the-bank win for the conference members. Western Kentucky has been playing Sun Belt teams regularly for a while now. Over the last seven seasons or so, they have gone 3-8 against current Sun Belt teams.

Now I know that isn’t a great record but also consider some of the losses were close. In 2005, Western Kentucky lost to Florida International, 38-35.

The 2007 season produced a couple of close losses. Troy managed to hold on for a four-point win while North Texas edged out a one-point victory.

Just last season, WKU had a four-point loss to Florida Atlantic and a couple of losses by about 10 points.

My gut tells me that Western Kentucky will be a mid- to low-tier Sun Belt team next season.

While I don’t believe they will make a mark in the conference, such as winning the conference title or making a bowl, I still see the Hilltoppers having an impact in a more indirect way.

Instead of playing five nonconference games, each conference member will play four. The Sun Belt teams can therefore keep an FCS team on the schedule but eliminate one of the usual big-money games that they lose 90-plus percent of the time anyway.

Here is an example. Louisiana-Monroe played a nonconference schedule of Auburn, Arkansas, Alabama A&M, Tulane, and Mississippi in 2008. They went 1-4 in those.

The 2009 schedule consists of Texas, Texas Southern, Arizona State, and Kentucky. I think this will result in a 1-3 record.

They still have an FCS school on the schedule and some games where no one will really expect them to win, but they will get experience for the players and money for the school.

But instead of going a likely 1-4 through the nonconference slate again, a 1-3 record leaves more room for the opportunity to gain bowl eligibility. By going 1-4, a team then has to win five of seven remaining games just to be eligible. With a 1-3 record, winning five of the remaining eight seems more within reach.

Last season the Sun Belt sent two teams to bowls for only the third time in conference history. Also a historic mark was FAU's invitation to a bowl game as a 6-6 at-large team. That is the first time that has happened for a Sun Belt team.

The Sun Belt had four teams reach bowl eligibility in 2008. Only one other time have that many teams been eligible for the postseason in Sun Belt history.

After I finished this article, ESPN and the Sun Belt Conference reached a new television deal.  I thought it would be best to add it in. 

Details of the deal from the Sun Belt official page. 

The Sun Belt Conference maintains national exposure on the most prominent all sports network.

As an emerging football league there is now a greater chance for inclusion in national telecasts on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU through the 12 day rolling window.

60% increase in the number of games/appearances over the current ESPN agreement.

There is the potential for the SBC to have over 40 appearances on the ESPN through ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN Regional Television each academic year.

As it applies to football.

The Sun Belt Conference receives guaranteed national exposure on ESPN or ESPN2 with a minimum of 2 Sun Belt controlled games a year.

Upon request the Sun Belt Conference will make available two midweek games to ESPN/ESPN2.

Through a 12 day rolling window (i.e., by the second Monday preceding each Saturday telecast date) ESPN may select additional games to air after the first three weeks of the season for inclusion on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU.  Previously this option did not exist.

With the addition of another team, the 2008 success of the conference as a whole and a new television deal, the Sun Belt conference should keep moving in the right direction.