Louisiana Tech, CUSA reach resolution; Bulldogs will join Sun Belt in 2026

The custody battle over the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs is finally over.

Conference USA announced on Monday, Apr. 27 that it reached a resolution with Louisiana Tech , allowing the Bulldogs to exit the conference for the Sun Belt for the 2026-27 academic year. The move will transpire in July.

“Conference USA is pleased to have reached a positive resolution with Louisiana Tech that fully acknowledges our governing documents,” the league issued in a statement. “We look forward to continued success and impact in the national landscape, driven by the collective strength and shared vision of our 10 member institutions.”

As displayed toward the end of the statement, the CUSA will move forward with 10 member institutions in 2026, as it will officially lose UTEP to the Mountain West and Louisiana Tech to the Sun Belt this summer. Meanwhile, the Sun Belt reverts back to 14 members, replenishing the departed Texas State with Louisiana Tech.

Both the CUSA and Sun Belt included Louisiana Tech on their 2026 football schedules . The CUSA released its schedule at 9:40 p.m. on Thursday, Mar. 12 and the Sun Belt followed suit with its schedule release Friday, Mar. 13. However, the CUSA will have to revise and re-release its schedule — an instance which also occurred in 2022 when Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss fled the league in favor of the Sun Belt.

Louisiana Tech’s official 2026 football schedule, which includes eight Sun Belt conference matchups, is as follows:

* denotes non-conference game