The relationship between the Sun Belt and football-only members Idaho and New Mexico State was always going to be tenuous one.
Back in April 2013, the league struck a four-year agreement with both schools. There was a provision, however, that after two years, the conference’s presidents and chancellors would review whether or not to renew those football-only contracts.
When that moment arrived after the 2015 season, the general consensus among the administrators at the other member institutions was that a 10-team football league was the best model for the Sun Belt moving forward.
Thus, on Tuesday, Sun Belt commissioner Karl Benson made it official that the conference had decided to drop the Aggies and Vandals from the SBC, beginning with the 2018 season.