NO NEWS?: Why Louisiana Tech and Conference USA NEGOTIATE Hard Over Sun Belt Move

Locked On Sun Belt - Daily Podcast On Sun Belt Conference Football & Basketball31mApril 9, 2026

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AI-Generated Summary

This episode of Locked On Sun Belt dives into the ongoing negotiations between Louisiana Tech and Conference USA regarding La Tech's potential move to the Sun Belt Conference. Host Dave Schultz emphasizes that the lack of public news about the talks is a positive sign, suggesting both parties are making progress behind the scenes without media leaks. He clarifies earlier confusion about arbitration, noting the process is likely mediation, which allows for more flexible negotiation. Schultz speculates that Louisiana Tech will likely pay a significant financial settlement—up from an initial $500,000 to $3 million—and that the move is expected to finalize by July 1st. He also highlights the retirement of South Alabama’s Dr. Joel Erdman, praising his transformative leadership in building football infrastructure and elevating the program. The episode wraps with a detailed midweek baseball recap, covering key games, standings, RPI implications, and upcoming series, including a dramatic ninth-inning comeback attempt by the Cajuns that ultimately fell short.

Key Takeaways
1

No news about the Louisiana Tech-Conference USA negotiations is a positive sign, indicating behind-the-scenes progress and mutual agreement.

2

Louisiana Tech is expected to pay a substantial financial settlement—likely around $3 million—to join the Sun Belt Conference by July 1st.

3

Dr. Joel Erdman’s retirement marks the end of a transformative era at South Alabama, where he built facilities, secured key hires, and elevated the football program.

4

The Sun Belt baseball race remains tight, with multiple teams tied for fifth place, making every game critical for NCAA tournament seeding and RPI improvement.

5

Road wins carry more weight in RPI calculations, making series like Southern Miss vs. the Cajuns and James Madison vs. Georgia State especially pivotal.

…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus

Chapters
0:00
10 min

No News Is Good News: The La Tech-Conf USA Negotiation

I think that we didn't hear anything, at least as of now, is a good thing because we're not going to the media. Because it's not difficult to figure out who sources are when stuff like this comes out.

Highlight
10:00
10 min

Dr. Joel Erdman’s Legacy at South Alabama

He did a fantastic job at South Alabama and leaving it much better than when he found it, when there was no football on the campus of South Alabama.

Highlight
20:00
10 min

Midweek Baseball Recap & RPI Implications

A detailed breakdown of recent Sun Belt baseball games, including Texas State’s dominant win over Stephen F. Austin, Alabama State’s upset of South Alabama, and Troy’s momentum. The episode emphasizes how RPI and road performance impact NCAA tournament seeding.

30:00
5 min

Upcoming Series & Tournament Implications

Schultz previews key matchups, including Southern Miss vs. the Cajuns, James Madison vs. Georgia State, and ULM vs. App State, stressing the importance of winning series to improve RPI and secure NCAA tournament positioning.

35:00
5 min

Sun Belt Tournament Format & Seeding Pressure

The episode examines the condensed Sun Belt tournament schedule, where top seeds play on Wednesday, increasing pressure on teams to perform early. The host expresses concern about the tight timeline and lack of rest between games.

High-Impact Quotes
He did a fantastic job at South Alabama and leaving it much better than when he found it, when there was no football on the campus of South Alabama.
Dave Schultz17:45
Viral: 90.0
I think that we didn't hear anything, at least as of now, is a good thing because we're not going to the media.
Dave Schultz3:22
Viral: 85.0
Road wins carry more weight in RPI calculations, making series like Southern Miss vs. the Cajuns especially pivotal.
Dave Schultz45:14
Viral: 75.0
Speakers

Host

Dave Schultz
Topics Discussed
Conference USA Negotiations95%Louisiana Tech Sun Belt Move90%RPI and NCAA Tournament Implications88%South Alabama Athletic Director Retirement85%Sun Belt Baseball Standings80%Sun Belt Tournament Format75%Athletic Facility Development70%College Sports Media Strategy60%
People & Brands

Sun Belt Conference

other

18xPositive

Dave Schultz

person

15xNeutral

South Alabama

other

14xPositive

Louisiana Tech

other

12xNeutral

Conference USA

other

11xNeutral

Dr. Joel Erdman

person

10xPositive

Cajuns

other

10xNeutral

Texas State

other

8xPositive

Southern Miss

other

7xPositive

Troy

other

6xPositive

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