The landscape of college football is constantly changing, with conferences realigning and teams moving up or down divisions. However, one conference is facing a unique challenge that could potentially threaten its existence. The conference in question is the Sun Belt Conference, which has recently been dealt a major blow with the loss of two of its members. This has left the conference with zero media rights value and nowhere to turn for replacement schools at the FBS level.

The Sun Belt Conference, which was founded in 1976, has always been considered a mid-major conference in the world of college football. However, in recent years, the conference has made significant strides in improving its reputation and competitiveness. With the addition of strong football programs such as Appalachian State and Georgia Southern, the Sun Belt has become a force to be reckoned with in the FBS level.

However, the conference was dealt a major blow when two of its members, Appalachian State and Georgia Southern, announced their departure to join the more prestigious and lucrative Conference USA. This move has left the Sun Belt Conference with only 8 members, which is the minimum required for FBS status. This has also resulted in the conference losing its media rights value, as the departure of these two programs has significantly weakened the conference’s football product.

The loss of media rights value is a major concern for the Sun Belt Conference, as it means a significant decrease in revenue for the conference and its member schools. This could potentially have a ripple effect on the entire athletic programs of these schools, as they heavily rely on the revenue generated from football to fund other sports. The conference also faces the challenge of finding replacement schools at the FBS level, which is no easy task.

The Sun Belt Conference has limited options when it comes to finding replacement schools. The conference could look to add FCS programs and help them make the transition to the FBS level. However, this process is not only time-consuming but also expensive. It requires a significant investment in facilities, coaching staff, and scholarships, which many FCS programs may not be able to afford. Moreover, the conference would have to find schools that are willing to make the jump, which is not an easy task.

Another option for the Sun Belt Conference is to look at schools from other FBS conferences that may be looking to make a move. However, this is also a challenging task as most FBS conferences are stable and have no reason to lose members. Moreover, the Sun Belt Conference may not be an attractive option for schools from other conferences, as it does not have the same level of prestige and media exposure as other conferences.

Despite these challenges, the Sun Belt Conference is not giving up. The conference has announced that it will be actively looking for replacement schools and exploring all possible options. The conference is also working on improving its football product by investing in facilities and coaching staff to make it a more attractive option for potential schools.

The Sun Belt Conference also has a strong track record of success in helping schools make the transition from FCS to FBS. Schools like Appalachian State and Georgia Southern have thrived in the conference and have seen significant success on the field. This could be a selling point for the conference when trying to attract potential replacement schools.

Moreover, the Sun Belt Conference has a loyal fan base and a strong sense of community among its member schools. This could be a major advantage when trying to convince potential schools to join the conference. The conference also has a strong geographic footprint, with schools located in the Southeastern region of the United States. This could be attractive to schools looking to expand their reach and fan base.

In conclusion, the Sun Belt Conference may be facing a challenging situation with the loss of two of its members and the decrease in media rights value. However, the conference is not giving up and is actively looking for solutions to keep the conference alive and thriving. With its strong track record of success and loyal fan base, the Sun Belt Conference has the potential to overcome this challenge and continue to make a mark in the world of college football.