What happened in the closing seconds of the Louisiana–Texas State game wasn’t football. It was a disgrace. And now, the Sun Belt Conference has managed to make it worse.

To recap: Louisiana was in victory formation. The game was over. The Cajuns had done their job, earned their win, and were taking a knee. That’s when chaos erupted. And it started with Texas State. A Bobcat player charged in, threw punches, and ignited a sideline-clearing brawl as teams were going to shake hands that made national headlines.

And yet, somehow, the Sun Belt’s punishment flipped the script. Louisiana, the team that got hit first, the team that was literally trying to end the game, took the brunt of the suspensions. Meanwhile, the instigator, the one who threw multiple punches while the Cajuns were kneeling, was handed a light two-game suspension. Two games for throwing fists after the whistle. Two games for sparking the entire mess. The Cajuns lost a total of 7 players while Texas State only lost 6.

That’s not justice. That’s a joke.

The Victim Got Punished More Than the Aggressor

When a player on the losing team charges into victory formation, that’s not just poor sportsmanship. It’s a direct attack on player safety. Anyone who’s played the game knows how sacred that formation is. It’s a handshake before the handshake. It’s the symbol of respect at the end of battle. And Texas State disrespected it in every possible way.

But instead of drawing a hard line and saying, “This will not stand,” the Sun Belt treated the incident like a playground scuffle. Louisiana players who defended themselves (players who were hit first) are serving longer suspensions than the player who started it.

What message does that send? That you can throw punches at the end of a game, and the guys who stand their ground will be punished worse? That “protecting yourself” is a bigger offense than “starting the fight”?

That’s not leadership. That’s cowardice from the conference office.

The Double Standard

Let’s call it what it is… a double standard. If the roles were reversed, and it was Louisiana throwing punches at Texas State’s victory formation, there’s no doubt the national reaction would’ve been nuclear. We’d be hearing about “class,” “discipline,” and “sportsmanship.” The Cajuns would’ve been vilified.

Instead, the team that started it walks away with lighter penalties. It’s as if the Sun Belt wanted to look “balanced” instead of right.

There’s a difference between fairness and fear. And right now, it looks like the Sun Belt is afraid of being accused of bias, so they punished both sides equally, even when one side was clearly the aggressor.

This Isn’t Just About One Game

This is about precedent. If you let this slide, you’ve told every player in the Sun Belt that the end of a game is fair game for violence. You’ve told them that even when they’re doing things the right way (playing to the whistle, respecting the kneel-down) they can be hit, punched, and then punished for it.

Louisiana got hit first. Louisiana got suspended more. And the conference let the aggressor off easy.

Final Word: The Sun Belt Failed Its Own Standard

The Sun Belt loves to brand itself as “the rising league,” a conference built on grit, toughness, and respect. But what respect is there in suspending the team that showed restraint while giving a slap on the wrist to the one that threw the first punch?

If the Sun Belt really wants to protect its image and its players, it needs to take a long look in the mirror. Because right now, the only thing the conference protected last weekend was Texas State’s reputation. Not the integrity of the game.

The Cajuns played to win. The Bobcats lost control. And the Sun Belt? The Sun Belt lost credibility.