Sun Belt, Southland Decide Conference Champions

Georgia Southern and Furman look to punch NCAA Tournament tickets

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The March to March Madness continues as the Sun Belt and Southern Conference (SoCon) tournaments wrap up, with automatic bids to the 2026 NCAA Tournament on the line. In the Sun Belt, No. 10 seed Georgia Southern has won five games in five days to reach the title game against No. 1 seed Troy. In the SoCon, Furman faces East Tennessee State for the conference championship.

Why it matters

The Sun Belt and SoCon tournaments represent the final opportunities for smaller conference teams to earn automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament, joining the six automatic bids that have already been awarded. These games are the last chance for Cinderella stories to emerge before the big dance begins.

The details

In the Sun Belt, Georgia Southern is seeking its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1992, while Troy could go dancing for the second consecutive year with a win. In the SoCon, Furman made the NCAA Tournament in 2023 and is looking to return, while East Tennessee State last reached the Big Dance in 2017.

  • The Sun Belt championship game will be played on Monday, March 9, 2026.
  • The SoCon championship game will also be played on Monday, March 9, 2026.

The players

Georgia Southern

The No. 10 seed in the Sun Belt tournament, Georgia Southern has won five games in five days to reach the conference championship game.

Troy

The No. 1 seed in the Sun Belt tournament, Troy is looking to earn its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance with a win over Georgia Southern.

Furman

The Paladins made the NCAA Tournament in 2023 and are looking to return to the Big Dance by winning the SoCon championship.

East Tennessee State

The Buccaneers last reached the NCAA Tournament in 2017 and are seeking their first tournament appearance in nine years.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The Sun Belt and SoCon tournaments represent the final opportunities for smaller conference teams to earn automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament, providing one last chance for Cinderella stories to emerge before the big dance begins.