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In a unique twist, Louisiana Tech’s football team is currently featured on the schedules of both the Sun Belt and Conference USA, as the school’s contentious exit from Conference USA remains unresolved.
Back in July, the Sun Belt extended an invitation to Louisiana Tech, an offer the school eagerly accepted. The decision was largely driven by the appeal of joining a conference that includes potential in-state rivals like Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe. Additionally, the prospect of competing with other programs in the Gulf South, such as Southern Miss and South Alabama, added to the allure.
The anticipated shift became more concrete on Friday when Louisiana Tech unveiled its 2026 football schedule, prominently featuring matchups with these regional schools.
However, Conference USA recently released its own full conference schedule, which still lists Louisiana Tech as a participant. According to this schedule, the Bulldogs are set to face off against Middle Tennessee, Florida International, Missouri State, Liberty, Kennesaw State, and Jacksonville State.
While Louisiana Tech initially indicated that its transition to the Sun Belt would be finalized by July 1, 2027, the school clearly expressed its preference to complete the move by the 2026-27 academic year.
Since then, Tech and Conference USA have failed to agree on a financial settlement aimed at compensating the league for the Bulldogs’ departure.
Last week, the University of Louisiana System, which includes Louisiana Tech, filed a lawsuit asking a judge to force Conference USA to allow Louisiana Tech to leave the league when the current academic year ends on June 30.
Despite Louisiana Tech’s “good faith efforts to resolve this matter amicably over a period of eight months … CUSA has declined to engage in meaningful resolution and has instead placed Louisiana Tech on its 2026-27 athletic schedule in disregard of Tech’s explicit and repeated written notice that it would not participate in Conference USA competition beginning July 1, 2026,” the lawsuit states.
Louisiana Tech has been a Conference USA member since 2014.