G5 QUICK COMMENTARY: SUNBELT MAKES WISE DECISION NOT TO EXPAND

The Sunbelt Conference announced last week ,at its annual Spring meeting,  that it had no immediate plans to add any additional schools  to the Conference. Instead, the Sun Belt will seek further stability and brand strength by staying the course with its present 11 member line up.

In deciding this, The Sun Belt, lead by commissioner Karl Benson, made a wise and savvy decision to stay the course.  After a whirlwind of conference realignment and conference school shifting, there appears, at least for the moment to be a calm in the air. The Sun Belt, in spite of losing some very competitive programs, including MTSU and WKU, has done a good job replacing those schools with the likes of Appalachian State and Georgia Southern among others. In saying no to any further additions, the Sun Belt has given itself a chance to catch its collective breath and to be more strategic in its conference planning. It also allows the current 11 schools to keep more television  money from its current contract with ESPN and to keep more of any  future playoff payout money as well.

The FBS landscape remains one of volatility and uncertainty. The Sun Belt, in staying the course with its present line up of 11 schools,  remains nimble enough to move quickly if it needs to, but also allows for its present  members to develop much needed rivalries and connections with each other. The new name of the game in college football, especially among the G5, is one of creativity, flexibility and brand strength. The Sun Belt, in staying the course, gives itself the opportunity to work within the parameters of all three of these platforms. Something every conference in the G5 is going to need.