EKU's bid to move to Sun Belt stalls as league adds Coastal Carolina instead

Eastern Kentucky University's bid to move to the Football Bowl Subdivision is on hold.

Sun Belt Conference officials said Tuesday that Coastal Carolina accepted an invitation to join the league and in doing so will move its football program up to the FBS by 2018. The school, which is located in Conway, S.C., will join the Sun Belt in all sports except football beginning with the 2016-17 academic year.

Reports had the Sun Belt also considering Eastern Kentucky and New Mexico State for its 12th spot.

For now, the Colonels will continue to play in the Ohio Valley Conference and the Football Championship Subdivision.

EKU Athletics Director Steve Lochmueller was asked last week whether the school missing out on the Sun Belt would burst its bubble a bit.

"Only if you let it," he told the Herald-Leader's Mark Story. "My understanding over the years with this whole conference realignment situation is that not everybody gets in when they want in. We chose to be vocal about it, we chose to be open and transparent about it, that we have this desire.

"A lot of people don't do that. If we are not successful, again, we will continue to work hard and try to elevate every program here to the next level as best we can because who knows about the future. I don't think realignment is over yet."

This story was originally published September 1, 2015 at 6:06 PM with the headline "EKU's bid to move to Sun Belt stalls as league adds Coastal Carolina instead."