Sun Belt announces division alignment, State to host softball in 2019

Sun Belt Conference

The lines have been drawn for the Sun Belt title game.

Starting in 2018, Texas State football will join the Sun Belt West division heading into the inaugural season of the conference championship game, the conference announced Tuesday after the conclusion of its spring meeting in Point Clear, Alabama.

The rest of the Sun Belt West will include Arkansas State, Louisiana, UL Monroe and South Alabama. The East will be comprised of Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State and Troy. The winners of each division will meet in the conference championship game and the team with the higher ranking in the College Football Playoff poll will host.

“This year’s meeting had on display a level of solidarity that was uplifting,” Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson said.  “The coaches and administrators in attendance have developed bonds that unite the conference throughout its 12 member institutions and I firmly believe that the bonds that have united the Sun Belt are a product of the hard work and foresight of our universities. Our membership has come together to form something special at the Sun Belt Conference.” 

In addition to announcing the conference's football alignment, the Sun Belt also revealed that Texas State will host the 2019 softball conference tournament. Texas State hosted the event back in 2015.

The league approved collaborative instant replay for football meaning that there will be a centralized location of officials to assist with replay officials during games. They'll use a model similar to that of the SEC.

Texas State President Denise Trauth's two-year term as Sun Belt President will conclude this year and Georgia State President Dr. Mark Becker will take over. Trauth will remain on the Sun Belt's Executive Committee.

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