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Conference realignment: Georgia Southern, Appalachian State draw Sun Belt interest

The Sun Belt will have just eight members with football programs in 2013, so they’re looking to add some new schools to the fold. Georgia Southern and Appalachian State could be primary targets.

Scott Cunningham

The Sun Belt Conference is exploring the addition of two schools, and both Georgia Southern and Appalachian State may be primary candidates. Middle Tennessee and Florida Atlantic are leaving the conference this year, which means the league will have 10 members, only eight of which play football.

For more coverage, check out SB Nation's college football hub.

SB Nation has been told by a source that James Madison, Jacksonville State, UT-Chattanooga and former WAC schools are also being considered.

Georgia Southern and Appalachian State are currently playing in the Football Championship Subdivision, so a move to the Sun Belt would also mean a move to the Football Bowl Subdivision. Both schools have enjoyed a lot of recent success at the FCS level. They have won multiple national championships -- the Eagles last won a title in 2000, while the Mountaineers won three consecutive titles from 2005-2007.

The current members of the Sun Belt that play football are South Alabama, Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana-Lafayette, Arkansas State, Troy, Texas State, Western Kentucky and Georgia State. No formal offers have been extended to other schools by the Sun Belt, but that appears to be just a matter of time.

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