List of Sun Belt Conference champions
The Sun Belt Conference sponsors nine men's sports and 10 women's sports. This is a list of conference champions for each sport.
Members
[edit]All dates of membership reflect the calendar years of entry and departure. Since all past Sun Belt associate members participated only in fall sports, the year of departure is the calendar year after the final (planned) season of competition.
Full members
[edit]- Appalachian State
- Arkansas State
- Coastal Carolina
- Georgia Southern
- Georgia State
- James Madison
- Louisiana
- Louisiana–Monroe
- Marshall
- Old Dominion
- South Alabama
- Southern Miss
- Texas State
- Troy
Affiliate members
[edit]- Charleston – beach volleyball
- Kentucky – men's soccer
- Mercer – beach volleyball
- South Carolina – men's soccer
- Stephen F. Austin – beach volleyball
- UCF – men's soccer
- UNCW – beach volleyball
- West Virginia – men's soccer
Former full members
[edit]- UAB, 1976–1991
- Central Florida, 1991–1992
- Denver, 1999–2012
- FIU, 1998–2013
- Florida Atlantic, 2005–2013
- Jacksonville, 1978–1998
- Lamar, 1991–1998
- Little Rock, 1991–2022
- Louisiana Tech, 1991–2001
- Middle Tennessee, 2000–2013
- New Mexico State, 2000–2005
- UNO, 1976–1980; 1991–2010
- UNC-Charlotte, 1976–1991
- North Texas, 2000–2013
- South Florida, 1976–1991
- UT Arlington, 2013–2022
- UT Pan American, 1991–1998
- VCU, 1979–1991
- Western Kentucky, 1982–2014
Former affiliate members
[edit]- Central Arkansas – men's soccer, 2019–2021
- Hartwick – men's soccer, 2014–2018
- Howard – men's soccer, 2014–2020
- Idaho – football, 2001–2005, 2014–2018
- New Mexico State – football, 2014–2018
- NJIT – men's soccer, 2014–2016
- Utah State – football, 2003–2005
Vic Bubas Cup
[edit]The Vic Bubas Cup (formerly the Sun Belt Cup) is the Sun Belt's all-sports championship trophy, named after the Sun Belt's first commissioner Vic Bubas.[1] The reigning champion as of the 2024–25 season is Texas State, who won their third Bubas Cup in the 2023–24 season. South Alabama has won the most Bubas Cups with 16.[2]
Scoring
[edit]As of 2023–24, the scoring system is as follows:[1]
- For sports with regular season conference competition (baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, and volleyball), cup points are awarded based on each teams' regular season finish (determined by winning percentage in conference games for all sports besides soccer. In soccer, standings are determined by points, with three points given for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss).
- For sports without regular season competition (cross country, golf, track and field, and tennis), points are awarded based on Sun Belt Tournament finish.
- The number of points for each sport is based on the number of schools in the conference which sponsor that sport. For example, the men's basketball regular season champion receives 12 points but the men's cross country champion only receives 9.
- For sports with both a regular season conference competition and a conference tournament, the conference tournament winner receives one additional point.
- For sports with divisions (baseball, basketball, football, and volleyball), points are awarded based on overall conference record regardless of divisional finish.
- If necessary, the tiebreaker is the number of conference titles each school won that season. If this is also tied then the teams involved are declared co-champions.
History
[edit]The early years of the competition were largely dominated by the South Florida Bulls, who won 8 of the first 10 Vic Bubas Cups. After USF left the conference following their 9th Cup win after the 1990 season, South Alabama took over as the dominant force in the conference, winning 8 of the next 10 competitions. Between 2001 and 2014, the only teams to win the Cup were Middle Tennessee (with 9) and Western Kentucky (with 5). Middle Tennessee left the conference after 2013 and Western Kentucky did the same the following year, which paved the way for South Alabama to retake control of the Cup for each of the next 4 seasons.
Trophy
[edit]The trophy itself has gone through four different designs. The first was a blue and white porcelain vase and all others have been a Waterford Crystal vase (each version becoming more elaborate than the version prior).[citation needed] The current design was introduced during the 2022–23 season.
Winners
[edit]| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1976–77 | Jacksonville* |
| 1977–78 | South Florida* |
| 1978–79 | South Florida* |
| 1979–80 | South Florida* |
| 1980–81 | South Florida* |
| 1981–82 | South Florida* |
| 1982–83 | Old Dominion |
| 1983–84 | South Florida* |
| 1984–85 | South Florida* |
| 1985–86 | South Florida* |
| 1986–87 | Western Kentucky* |
| 1987–88 | South Alabama |
| 1988–89 | South Alabama |
| 1989–90 | South Florida* |
| 1990–91 | South Alabama |
| 1991–92 | South Alabama |
| 1992–93 | South Alabama |
| 1993–94 | South Alabama |
| 1994–95 | Arkansas State |
| 1995–96 | South Alabama |
| 1996–97 | South Alabama |
| 1997–98 | Arkansas State |
| 1998–99 | South Alabama |
| 1999–2000 | South Alabama |
| 2000–01 | Middle Tennessee* |
| 2001–02 | Western Kentucky* |
| 2002–03 | Western Kentucky* |
| 2003–04 | Middle Tennessee* |
| 2004–05 | Middle Tennessee* |
| 2005–06 | Western Kentucky* |
| 2006–07 | Middle Tennessee* |
| 2007–08 | Western Kentucky* |
| 2008–09 | Middle Tennessee* |
| 2009–10 | Middle Tennessee* |
| 2010–11 | Middle Tennessee* |
| 2011–12 | Middle Tennessee* |
| 2012–13 | Middle Tennessee* |
| 2013–14 | Western Kentucky* |
| 2014–15 | South Alabama |
| 2015–16 | South Alabama |
| 2016–17 | South Alabama |
| 2017–18 | South Alabama |
| 2018–19 | Texas State |
| 2019–20 | Arkansas State |
| 2020–21 | South Alabama |
| 2021–22 | Texas State |
| 2022–23 | South Alabama |
| 2023–24 | Texas State |
| Team | Number of Bubas Cups |
|---|---|
| South Alabama | 16 |
| South Florida* | 9 |
| Middle Tennessee* | |
| Western Kentucky* | 6 |
| Arkansas State | 3 |
| Texas State | |
| Jacksonville* | 1 |
| Old Dominion |
*– No longer members of the Sun Belt Conference. Old Dominion left the SBC in 1991 and returned in 2022.
Current champions
[edit]| Sport | Regular Season Champion | Postseason Champion |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | Texas State (2022) | Louisiana (2022) |
| Football | Troy (2022) | – |
| Men's Basketball | Southern Miss (2022–23) | Louisiana (2022–23) |
| Men's Cross Country | – | Arkansas State (2022) |
| Men's Golf | – | Little Rock (2022) |
| Men's Soccer | Kentucky (2022) | Kentucky (2022) |
| Men's Indoor Track and Field | – | Arkansas State (2023) |
| Men's Outdoor Track and Field | – | South Alabama (2022) |
| Men's Tennis | Georgia State (2022) | Georgia State (2022) |
| Women's Basketball | James Madison, Kennesaw State, Texas State (2022–23) | James Madison (2022–23) |
| Beach Volleyball | First championships in 2023 | |
| Women's Cross Country | – | Kennesaw State (2022) |
| Women's Golf | – | Georgia Southern (2022) |
| Women's Soccer | Georgia Southern (2022) | Old Dominion (2022) |
| Softball | Louisiana (2022) | Louisiana (2022) |
| Women's Tennis | Georgia Southern, South Alabama, UT Arlington (2022) | South Alabama (2022) |
| Women's Indoor Track and Field | – | Arkansas State (2023) |
| Women's Outdoor Track and Field | – | Arkansas State (2022) |
| Volleyball | James Madison (2022) | James Madison (2022) |
Baseball
[edit]The Sun Belt Conference has sponsored an annual baseball tournament to determine the conference winner and automatic NCAA Division I Tournament host since 1978. South Alabama has won the most championships, at 13. The Sun Belt also has imposed several seasons under divisional structure (1981-1994; 2016-2021). In 2022, the structure reverted back to standard structure (1978-1980; 1995-2015; 2022-present).
Softball
[edit]The Sun Belt Conference has sponsored an annual softball tournament to determine the conference winner and automatic bid to the NCAA Division I softball tournament since 2000. Louisiana has won the most championships, at 17.
| Season | Tournament Champion | Regular Season Champion |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Louisiana–Lafayette | |
| 2001 | ||
| 2002 | ||
| 2003 | ||
| 2004 | ||
| 2005 | ||
| 2006 | ||
| 2007 | Florida Atlantic | |
| 2008 | Louisiana–Lafayette | |
| 2009 | Louisiana–Lafayette | |
| 2010 | Louisiana–Lafayette | |
| 2011 | Louisiana–Lafayette | |
| 2012 | South Alabama | Louisiana–Lafayette |
| 2013 | South Alabama | Western Kentucky |
| 2014 | Louisiana–Lafayette | |
| 2015 | South Alabama | Louisiana–Lafayette |
| 2016 | Louisiana–Lafayette | |
| 2017 | Louisiana–Lafayette | |
| 2018 | Texas State | |
| 2019 | Louisiana | |
| 2020 | None | |
| 2021 | Louisiana | |
| 2022 | Louisiana | |
Basketball
[edit]Since 2020–21, the Sun Belt Conference men's and women's basketball tournaments, held in early March, has involved all conference members and is played entirely in Pensacola, Florida. First- and second-round games are played at Hartsell Arena on the campus of Pensacola State College and the Pensacola Bay Center, with semifinals and finals at the Bay Center.[5] Winners of the tournaments earn automatic bids to their respective NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament.
Football
[edit]All 14 full Sun Belt members play football in the conference. Idaho and New Mexico State competed as single-sport members before being dropped from Sun Belt football after the 2017 season.
Champions
[edit]| Current Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| School | Last Sun Belt Title | Number of Sun Belt Titles | |
| Troy | 2023 | 8 | |
| Arkansas State | 2016 | 6 | |
| Appalachian State | 2019 | 4 | |
| Louisiana | 2021 | 3[a] | |
| Coastal Carolina | 2020 | 1 | |
| Georgia Southern | 2014 | 1 | |
| UL-Monroe | 2005 | 1 | |
| Georgia State | Never | 0 | |
| South Alabama | Never | 0 | |
| Texas State | Never | 0 | |
| Former Members | |||
| North Texas | 2004 | 4 | |
| Middle Tennessee | 2006 | 2 | |
| Florida Atlantic | 2007 | 1 | |
| FIU | 2010 | 1 | |
| Idaho | Never | 0 | |
| New Mexico State | Never | 0 | |
| Utah State | Never | 0 | |
| Western Kentucky | Never | 0 | |
| Year | Champion(s) |
|---|---|
| 2001 | North Texas, Middle Tennessee |
| 2002 | North Texas |
| 2003 | North Texas |
| 2004 | North Texas |
| 2005 | Arkansas State, UL Monroe, UL Lafayette |
| 2006 | Troy, Middle Tennessee |
| 2007 | FAU, Troy |
| 2008 | Troy |
| 2009 | Troy |
| 2010 | Troy, FIU |
| 2011 | Arkansas State |
| 2012 | Arkansas State |
| 2013 | Arkansas State, UL Lafayette[b] |
| 2014 | Georgia Southern |
| 2015 | Arkansas State |
| 2016 | Appalachian State, Arkansas State |
| 2017 | Appalachian State, Troy |
| 2018 | Appalachian State |
| 2019 | Appalachian State |
| 2020 | Coastal Carolina & Louisiana[c] |
| 2021 | Louisiana |
| 2022 | Troy |
| 2023 | Troy |
Golf
[edit]Champions
[edit]| Year | Men's Champion | Women's Champion |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Jacksonville | |
| 1978 | Jacksonville | |
| 1979 | South Florida | |
| 1980 | South Florida | |
| 1981 | South Florida | |
| 1982 | South Florida | |
| 1983 | South Florida | |
| 1984 | South Florida | |
| 1985 | South Florida | |
| 1986 | South Florida | |
| 1987 | South Florida | |
| 1988 | South Florida | |
| 1989 | South Florida | |
| 1990 | Virginia Commonwealth | South Florida |
| 1991 | South Alabama | |
| 1992 | South Alabama | UCF |
| 1993 | Louisiana-Lafayette | Lamar |
| 1994 | South Alabama | Lamar |
| 1995 | South Alabama | Lamar |
| 1996 | South Alabama | Lamar |
| 1997 | Louisiana-Lafayette | South Alabama |
| 1998 | South Alabama | UALR |
| 1999 | South Alabama | UALR |
| 2000 | UALR | Arkansas State |
| 2001 | UALR | New Mexico State |
| 2002 | South Alabama | New Mexico State |
| 2003 | North Texas | New Mexico State |
| 2004 | New Mexico State | Denver |
| 2005 | South Alabama | Denver |
| 2006 | Western Kentucky | Denver |
| 2007 | Louisiana-Lafayette | Denver |
| 2008 | Denver | Denver |
| 2009 | Middle Tennessee | Denver |
| 2010 | South Alabama | Denver |
| 2011 | Denver | Denver |
| 2012 | North Texas | Denver |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "2020-21 Vic Bubas Cup Standings". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
- ^ "South Alabama Earns Sun Belt Conference's 2022-23 Vic Bubas Cup". sunbeltsports.org. 2023-06-06. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
- ^ a b "South Alabama Earns 15th Vic Bubas Cup". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
- ^ a b "Sun Belt Conference record book" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 November 2020.
- ^ "Pensacola Selected to Host 2021-25 Basketball Championships" (Press release). Sun Belt Conference. March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
| Full members |
|  |
|---|---|---|
| Beach volleyball-only members | ||
| Men's soccer-only members | ||
| Championships and awards | ||