The Sun Belt, after losing Texas State to the Pac-12, is considering plenty of teams from the Group of Five to extend invites to.
Louisiana Tech and Western Kentucky seemed to be the most likely contenders to jump to the SBC. But the Daily News-Record out of Harrisonburg, Virginia, reported on Wednesday that Ohio has expressed interest in the Sun Belt.
This would make an impact on the Group of Five in multiple ways if the Bobcats were to become members of the Sun Belt.
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Ohio-Sun Belt Conference Realignment
Let’s take a look at why Ohio might be a good fit for the Sun Belt and what that move would mean for the G5.
Why Ohio Could Go To The Sun Belt
Conference realignment is often about money and getting to a league that earns more cash, which means it’s mostly about media deals. But the Sun Belt and MAC media deals aren’t too far off from each other – currently, anyway.
Ohio is reportedly unhappy with midweek MACtion games and how they’ve led to fewer tickets being sold at games.
The Sun Belt is also a solid league at the moment, with several competitive members in football. There’s also a good amount of energy around the conference. Most Sun Belt teams are in the top half of G5 programs when it comes to attendance.
The MAC would be tough to leave for Ohio. The Bobcats have a long history with the conference and don’t have to travel as much as many teams in the FBS. But they’re also not too far away from a few Sun Belt schools as well, including Marshall and James Madison.
Other Options For The Sun Belt
Louisiana Tech emerged as a primary candidate for the Sun Belt when Texas State became the main expansion target for the Pac-12. That would fit from a geographical perspective. The Sun Belt has teams like Louisiana and ULM nearby.
But many fans of Sun Belt teams haven’t been happy with that idea. Louisiana Tech has been competitive in some sports, but not football recently.
Western Kentucky, which has been one of the top programs in Conference USA the past few years, has also been discussed. The Sun Belt has also reportedly reached out to East Carolina, though it’s unclear just how interested ECU would be in leaving the AAC for another G5 league.
The Sun Belt also could just remain at 13 teams for the time being. The conference could wait as other options will inevitably come up in the near future.
The MAC’s Future If Ohio Left
Ohio leaving would be a massive hit to the MAC. The Bobcats just won the MAC Championship and have obviously been a staple for the league.
But a program like Ohio leaving could make other MAC teams explore other options as well. Northern Illinois is going to the Mountain West for football in 2026. So two top programs exiting so close to each other might make some of the other top MAC teams – especially if they’re not happy with what the league does after that point – call up other conferences.
The MAC would have some options if it wanted to replace those teams, in particular for football. UConn has been successful recently and, with it being an FBS independent, wouldn’t have to worry about exit fees. If Western Kentucky doesn’t go to the Sun Belt and wants to leave Conference USA, maybe that would be another discussion worth having. Some of the top-tier FCS schools, like North Dakota State, would also be looking for FBS opportunities as well.
When Would Ohio Join The Sun Belt?
All talks between Ohio and the Sun Belt are preliminary at this point. Considering the Sun Belt is thinking about remaining at 13 teams for 2026, the league likely isn’t in a rush to make a decision.
Teams In The Sun Belt
There are 14 teams in the Sun Belt this year:
- Marshall
- Georgia Southern
- James Madison
- Old Dominion
- Coastal Carolina
- App State
- Georgia State
- Louisiana
- Texas State
- Arkansas State
- South Alabama
- ULM
- Troy
- Southern Miss
Teams In The MAC
There are 13 teams in the MAC in 2025:
- Akron
- Ball State
- Bowling Green
- Buffalo
- Central Michigan
- Eastern Michigan
- Kent State
- UMass
- Miami (Ohio)
- Northern Illinois
- Ohio
- Toledo
- Western Michigan
Sun Belt Media Deal
Teams in the Sun Belt receive about $2 million per year thanks to its media deal with ESPN, which ends in 2031.
MAC Media Deal
Teams in the MAC reportedly earn between $2 million and $2.5 million per year thanks to its media deal with ESPN. That was a 13-year deal agreed to in 2014, meaning it will end after the 2027 football season.
How Long Has Ohio Been In The MAC?
Ohio has been in the MAC since its inception in 1946. It is the only original member still in the league.
