So, it’s official now for those who care about such things.
Following up on multiple reports from the past couple of days, the Sun Belt Conference has announced the addition of four members on Wednesday: Appalachian State and Georgia Southern as all-sport members, and Idaho and New Mexico State as football-only members. The conference will grow by four beginning in 2014. That will give the SBC 12 members in football, enough to warrant a conference championship game.
Idaho and New Mexico State were previously members of the SBC from 2001-04.
As previously mentioned, ASU and GSU will begin making the transition from 1-AA to 1-A status this year, and will be eligible for postseason play starting in 2015.
The four teams replace FAU, FIU, Middle Tennessee and North Texas, who have left the Sun Belt to head to Conference USA.