BATON ROUGE, La. (Oct. 2, 2026) — A discussion during a recent Louisiana Board of Regents budget meeting has sparked conversation about the future of college athletics in the state.

Board of Regents member Wilbert Pryor suggested that schools such as Louisiana Tech University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the University of Louisiana Monroe consider moving from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

The suggestion comes as athletic department deficits continue to grow at several universities.

Supporters of the idea argue that rising costs associated with top-level college football have placed increasing financial pressure on institutions. Other board members acknowledged concerns about ongoing deficits but did not indicate any immediate plans for schools to change classifications.

Any move from FBS to FCS would require university and NCAA approval and would significantly impact athletic budgets, scholarships and scheduling.