List of Sun Belt Conference champions

Last updated

The Sun Belt Conference sponsors nine men's sports and 10 women's sports. This is a list of conference champions for each sport.

Contents

Members

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

Affiliate members

Former full members

Former affiliate members

    Vic Bubas Cup

    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 2023–24 season is South Alabama. South Alabama has also won the most Bubas Cups with 16. [2]

    Scoring

    History

    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

    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

    YearWinner
    1976–77Jacksonville*
    1977–78South Florida*
    1978–79South Florida*
    1979–80South Florida*
    1980–81South Florida*
    1981–82South Florida*
    1982–83Old Dominion
    1983–84South Florida*
    1984–85South Florida*
    1985–86South Florida*
    1986–87Western Kentucky*
    1987–88South Alabama
    1988–89South Alabama
    1989–90South Florida*
    1990–91South Alabama
    1991–92South Alabama
    1992–93South Alabama
    1993–94South Alabama
    1994–95Arkansas State
    1995–96South Alabama
    1996–97South Alabama
    1997–98Arkansas State
    1998–99South Alabama
    1999–2000South Alabama
    2000–01Middle Tennessee*
    2001–02Western Kentucky*
    2002–03Western Kentucky*
    2003–04Middle Tennessee*
    2004–05Middle Tennessee*
    2005–06Western Kentucky*
    2006–07Middle Tennessee*
    2007–08Western Kentucky*
    2008–09Middle Tennessee*
    2009–10Middle Tennessee*
    2010–11Middle Tennessee*
    2011–12Middle Tennessee*
    2012–13Middle Tennessee*
    2013–14Western Kentucky*
    2014–15South Alabama
    2015–16South Alabama
    2016–17South Alabama
    2017–18South Alabama
    2018–19Texas State
    2019–20Arkansas State
    2020–21South Alabama
    2021–22Texas State
    2022–23South Alabama

    [3] [4]

    TeamNumber of Bubas Cups
    South Alabama16
    South Florida*9
    Middle Tennessee*
    Western Kentucky*6
    Arkansas State3
    Texas State2
    Jacksonville*1
    Old Dominion

    [3] [4]

    *– No longer members of the Sun Belt Conference. Old Dominion left the SBC in 1991 and returned in 2022.

    Current champions

    Sport Regular Season Champion Postseason Champion
    BaseballTexas State (2022)Louisiana (2022)
    FootballTroy (2022)
    Men's BasketballSouthern Miss (2022–23)Louisiana (2022–23)
    Men's Cross CountryArkansas State (2022)
    Men's GolfLittle Rock (2022)
    Men's SoccerKentucky (2022)Kentucky (2022)
    Men's Indoor Track and FieldArkansas State (2023)
    Men's Outdoor Track and FieldSouth Alabama (2022)
    Men's TennisGeorgia State (2022)Georgia State (2022)
    Women's BasketballJames Madison, Kennesaw State, Texas State (2022–23)James Madison (2022–23)
    Beach VolleyballFirst championships in 2023
    Women's Cross CountryKennesaw State (2022)
    Women's GolfGeorgia Southern (2022)
    Women's SoccerGeorgia Southern (2022)Old Dominion (2022)
    SoftballLouisiana (2022)Louisiana (2022)
    Women's TennisGeorgia Southern, South Alabama, UT Arlington (2022)South Alabama (2022)
    Women's Indoor Track and FieldArkansas State (2023)
    Women's Outdoor Track and FieldArkansas State (2022)
    VolleyballJames Madison (2022)James Madison (2022)

      Baseball

      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).

      SeasonTournament ChampionRegular Season Champion
      1978 New Orleans South Alabama
      1979 New Orleans
      1980 South Alabama
      1981 South Alabama (T & South Division) Alabama–Birmingham (North Division)
      1982 South Florida (T & South Division)
      1983 South Alabama (T & West Division) Old Dominion (East Division
      1984 UNC Charlotte (East Division)
      1985 Old Dominion (T & East Division) Western Kentucky (West Division)
      1986 South Florida (T & West Division) Jacksonville (East Division)
      1987 South Alabama (T & West Division) Old Dominion (East Division)
      1988 Virginia Commonwealth (T & East Division) Western Kentucky (West Division)
      1989 Jacksonville (T & East Division) South Florida (West Division)
      1990 South Florida Jacksonville (East Division)
      South Alabama (West Division)
      1991 Alabama–Birmingham Jacksonville (East Division)
      South Alabama (West Division)
      1992 South Alabama (T & East Division) Louisiana Tech (West Division)
      1993 Lamar (T & West Division) South Alabama (East Division)
      1994 Arkansas State South Alabama (East Division)
      Lamar (West Division)
      1995 Lamar Jacksonville
      1996 South Alabama
      1997 South Alabama Southwestern Louisiana
      1998 Southwestern Louisiana South Alabama
      1999 Florida International
      2000 South Alabama New Orleans
      2001 South Alabama (T & Co-RS) Middle Tennessee (Co-RS)
      2002 New Mexico State South Alabama
      2003 Middle Tennessee
      2004 Western Kentucky Middle Tennessee
      2005 South Alabama Louisiana–Lafayette
      2006 Troy
      2007 New Orleans Louisiana–Lafayette
      2008 Western Kentucky Louisiana–Monroe
      2009 Middle Tennessee State
      2010 Florida International Louisiana–Lafayette
      Florida Atlantic
      2011 Arkansas–Little Rock Troy
      2012 Louisiana–Monroe Florida Atlantic
      2013 Florida Atlantic Troy
      South Alabama
      2014 Louisiana–Lafayette
      2015 Louisiana–Lafayette South Alabama
      2016 Louisiana–Lafayette (T & Co-RS) South Alabama (Co-RS)
      2017 South Alabama Coastal Carolina (East Division)
      UT Arlington (West Division)
      2018 Coastal Carolina (T & East Division) Louisiana (West Division)
      2019 Coastal Carolina Georgia Southern (East Division)
      Texas State (West Division)
      2020 None
      2021 South Alabama (T & East Division) Louisiana (West Division)
      2022 Louisiana Texas State

      Softball

      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.

      SeasonTournament ChampionRegular 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

      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.

      SeasonMen's
      Regular Season
      Champion
      Men's
      Tournament
      Champion
      Women's
      Regular Season
      Champion
      Women's
      Tournament
      Champion
      1977 North Carolina–Charlotte No Regular SeasonNo Tournament
      1978 North Carolina–Charlotte New Orleans No Regular SeasonNo Tournament
      1979 South Alabama Jacksonville No Regular SeasonNo Tournament
      1980 South Alabama Virginia Commonwealth No Regular SeasonNo Tournament
      1981 Virginia Commonwealth No Regular SeasonNo Tournament
      1982 Alabama–Birmingham No Regular SeasonNo Tournament
      1983 Virginia Commonwealth Alabama–Birmingham Old Dominion
      1984 Virginia Commonwealth Alabama–Birmingham Old Dominion
      1985 Virginia Commonwealth Old Dominion
      1986 Old Dominion Jacksonville Western Kentucky
      1987 Western Kentucky Alabama–Birmingham Old Dominion
      1988 North Carolina–Charlotte Old Dominion Western Kentucky
      1989 South Alabama Old Dominion Western Kentucky
      1990 Alabama–Birmingham South Florida Alabama–Birmingham Old Dominion
      1991 South Alabama Alabama–Birmingham Western Kentucky
      1992 Southwestern Louisiana Western Kentucky
      1993 New Orleans Western Kentucky Western Kentucky
      1994 Western Kentucky Southwestern Louisiana Louisiana Tech
      1995 Western Kentucky Louisiana Tech Western Kentucky
      1996 Arkansas–Little Rock New Orleans Louisiana Tech
      1997 South Alabama Louisiana Tech
      1998 South Alabama Louisiana Tech
      1999 Louisiana Tech Arkansas State Louisiana Tech
      2000 Louisiana–Lafayette Louisiana Tech
      2001 Western Kentucky Louisiana Tech
      2002 Western Kentucky Florida International
      2003 Western Kentucky Western Kentucky
      2004 Louisiana–Lafayette (vacated) South Alabama Middle Tennessee State
      2005 Denver Louisiana–Lafayette (vacated) Western Kentucky Middle Tennessee State
      2006 Western Kentucky South Alabama Western Kentucky Middle Tennessee
      2007 South Alabama North Texas Middle Tennessee
      2008 South Alabama Western Kentucky Western Kentucky
      2009 Western Kentucky Middle Tennessee
      2010 Troy North Texas Arkansas–Little Rock Middle Tennessee
      2011 Florida Atlantic Arkansas–Little Rock Middle Tennessee
      Arkansas–Little Rock
      Arkansas–Little Rock
      2012 Middle Tennessee Western Kentucky Middle Tennessee Arkansas–Little Rock
      2013 Middle Tennessee Western Kentucky Middle Tennessee Arkansas–Little Rock
      2014 Georgia State Louisiana–Lafayette Arkansas State Western Kentucky
      2015 Georgia State Arkansas–Little Rock
      2016 Little Rock Arkansas State Troy
      2017 UT Arlington Troy Little Rock Troy
      2018 Louisiana Georgia State Little Rock
      2019 Georgia State Little Rock
      UT Arlington
      Little Rock
      2020 Little Rock Tournament canceled Troy Tournament canceled
      2021 Texas State Appalachian State Louisiana Troy

      Football

      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

      Football Summary
      Current Members
      SchoolLast Sun Belt TitleNumber of Sun Belt Titles
      Troy 20238
      Arkansas State 20166
      Appalachian State 20194
      Louisiana 20213 [lower-alpha 1]
      Coastal Carolina 20201
      Georgia Southern 20141
      UL-Monroe 20051
      Georgia State Never0
      South Alabama Never0
      Texas State Never0
      Former Members
      North Texas 20044
      Middle Tennessee 20062
      Florida Atlantic 20071
      FIU 20101
      Idaho Never0
      New Mexico State Never0
      Utah State Never0
      Western Kentucky Never0
      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 [lower-alpha 2]
      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 [lower-alpha 3]
      2021 Louisiana
      2022 Troy
      2023 Troy
      1. Does not include one title in 2013 vacated due to NCAA sanctions.
      2. Louisiana's title was vacated due to NCAA sanctions.
      3. Divisional champions Coastal Carolina and Louisiana were declared conference co-champions after the scheduled Sun Belt championship game was canceled due to COVID-19.

      Golf

      Champions

      Year Men's Champion Women's Champion
      1977Jacksonville
      1978Jacksonville
      1979South Florida
      1980South Florida
      1981South Florida
      1982South Florida
      1983South Florida
      1984South Florida
      1985South Florida
      1986South Florida
      1987South Florida
      1988South Florida
      1989South Florida
      1990Virginia CommonwealthSouth Florida
      1991South Alabama
      1992South AlabamaUCF
      1993Louisiana-LafayetteLamar
      1994South AlabamaLamar
      1995South AlabamaLamar
      1996South AlabamaLamar
      1997Louisiana-LafayetteSouth Alabama
      1998South AlabamaUALR
      1999South AlabamaUALR
      2000UALRArkansas State
      2001UALRNew Mexico State
      2002South AlabamaNew Mexico State
      2003North TexasNew Mexico State
      2004New Mexico StateDenver
      2005South AlabamaDenver
      2006Western KentuckyDenver
      2007Louisiana-LafayetteDenver
      2008DenverDenver
      2009Middle TennesseeDenver
      2010South AlabamaDenver
      2011DenverDenver
      2012North TexasDenver

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      References

      1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2020-21 Vic Bubas Cup Standings". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
      2. "South Alabama Earns Sun Belt Conference's 2022-23 Vic Bubas Cup". sunbeltsports.org. 2023-06-06. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
      3. 1 2 "South Alabama Earns 15th Vic Bubas Cup". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
      4. 1 2 "Sun Belt Conference record book" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 November 2020.
      5. "Pensacola Selected to Host 2021-25 Basketball Championships" (Press release). Sun Belt Conference. March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.