By Dionte Daniel, Assistant Sports Editor 

After 46 years in the Gulf South Conference, VSU will be making the move to the Peach Belt Conference and kick off a new chapter of Blazer Athletics. 

 It was announced on Friday that VSU will make the transition to the PBC in the 2027-28 school year. This will not include football as the PBC does not sponsor the sport. VSU is expected to play as a Division 2 Independent in football. 

 According to Athletic Director Troy Katen, there were many reasons why they decided to move conferences, including location, travel and giving the student athlete a better experience. 

 “We felt like this was something that we could build rivalries within a conference,” Katen said. “We have many fans and supporters and alumni throughout the state that can now watch many of our games.” 

 Not only can moving to the PBC allow for more rivalries, but it can also benefit the school’s wallet. Since teams will not have to travel as far, it can help lower costs on hotel and meals, which can be put back into the program for more scholarships or anything to benefit the university. 

 Another reason why VSU decided to move was because of some recent events that have happened in the GSC. 

 “It definitely played a factor,” said Katen. “With some of the schools leaving for football in the past couple of years it has been tough.” 

 When asked if they knew that VSU was going to be joining their conference, PBC Commissioner Diana Kling said that they started talking with VSU early in the year and things took off from there. 

 “I think regionally it just makes a ton of sense,” said Kling. “They have done great athletically, academically and want to give their student athletes the best experience possible.” 

 The PBC started in 1990 and has grown to be one of the more prominent conferences in Division II. 

 There are currently 11 full members that make up the PBC. They include Augusta, Clayton State, Columbus State, Flagler, Georgia College & State, Georgia Southwestern, Lander, Middle Georgia State, North Georgia, University of South Carolina Aiken and University of South Carolina Beaufort. VSU will be joining them as the 12th full member. 

 Programs from the PBC have been successful at the national level as well. Many sports have had national championship titles from PBC teams. Tennis being one of those.  

 Teams have risen to prominence in certain sports instead of one team ruling the conference. Softball at UNG has been very good and both Columbus State and Lander have had success in tennis. Most recently Flagler took home the 2026 NCAA Division II National Championship in Men’s Tennis. 

 Katen believes that staying in DII will be the best move for VSU and hopes that the PBC can do the same. 

 “We felt like this was the right conference for us at this point in time,” Katen said.