The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are set to pay a Conference USA record exit fee to join the Sun Belt Conference, a move that would resolve a dispute that briefly left the Bulldogs scheduled for 20 games this fall, Front Office Sports reported.
Sources told FOS the fee will exceed the $8 million UTEP is paying to leave for the Mountain West, though the exact figure has not been disclosed.
When Louisiana Tech first announced plans to join the Sun Belt no later than July 1, 2027, its initial CUSA exit fee was estimated at roughly $5 million. If the payment tops UTEP’s $8 million, it would push Louisiana Tech’s departure into eight-figure territory — a sharp contrast with the six schools that left CUSA in 2022-23, none of which paid more than $3 million.
On3-owned Bleed Tech Blue reported Monday that Louisiana Tech and CUSA had reached an agreement “clearing the way for the Bulldogs to officially join the Sun Belt on July 1, 2026.” A CUSA spokesperson told FOS that “both parties remain in settlement negotiations, but an agreement has not been finalized—contrary to the Bleed Tech Blue report.”
BREAKING: BleedTechBlue has learned that Louisiana Tech and Conference USA have reached an agreement clearing the way for the Bulldogs to officially join the Sun Belt on July 1, 2026. A formal announcement is expected later this week.
— BleedTechBlue (@BleedTechBlue) April 13, 2026
The dispute dates to July, when Louisiana Tech announced its Sun Belt intentions and CUSA cited a 14‑month notice requirement. Louisiana Tech sued CUSA in March seeking an early exit; both conferences subsequently released 2026 schedules that included the Bulldogs.
With the dispute headed for a resolution, Louisiana Tech’s Sun Belt schedule should remain as announced. Conference USA will have to release a revised schedule following the departure of the Bulldogs.
Presented for entertainment purposes only. 👀🤣 pic.twitter.com/sztYLO58ED
— FBSchedules.com (@FBSchedules) March 13, 2026
I am having a hard time seeing how it’s worth over $10,000,000 to leave a conference just one year early.
Louisiana Tech should just play both Sun Belt & C-USA schedules and save money on the exit fee. Think of all the additional exposure they will get on ESPN Plus!