NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference will continue its relationship with the College Football Playoff (CFP) in recognizing teachers via the Extra Yard for Teachers initiative during the 2025 football season.
 
Each of the Sun Belt’s 14 institutions will receive a $7,500 grant from the CFP Foundation to elevate the teaching profession by inspiring and empowering teachers through the implementation of the program’s four focus areas: recognition, resources, professional development and recruitment. 

Additionally, each of the 14 Sun Belt football programs will honor teachers at a designated Extra Yard for Teachers game on their respective campuses—primarily during Extra Yard for Teachers Week (Sept. 13-20, 2025).
 
Initiated in 2015, Extra Yard for Teachers Week is a nationwide celebration of teachers, led by the CFP Foundation. It uses the platform of college football to show appreciation for educators in communities across the country. 
 
Extra Yard for Teachers Week provides an opportunity for conferences, universities, coaches and student-athletes to celebrate and recognize teachers, while elevating the teaching profession. The Extra Yard for Teachers initiative has collectively invested over $92 million in support of education, impacting 81,000 schools, 650,00 teachers and more than 13 million students nationwide. 

The Sun Belt Conference will also promote the Extra Yard for Teachers initiative during the 2025 Sun Belt Football Championship Game, which is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT on ESPN. 
 
App State | November 6 vs. Georgia Southern
Facilitating the Reich College of Education and App State Public School Partnership “Future Educators Day” in Boone, N.C., and sponsoring attendees of the North Carolina Teacher Cadet Conference in Raleigh, N.C.

Arkansas State | October 4 vs. Texas State
Providing six different teachers with $1,000 grants for classroom resources and one additional grant of $1,500.

Coastal Carolina | September 13 vs. East Carolina
Honoring the seventh annual Horry County Schools Rookie Teacher of the Year.

Georgia Southern | September 20 vs. Maine
Providing 12 different teachers with $500 scholarships in Bulloch, Liberty and Chatham counties along with two game tickets.

Georgia State | September 13 vs. Murray State
Assisting classroom support and professional development opportunities for kindergarten through eighth grade teachers at Ansley School in the areas of on-site instructional coaching, thought leadership and specialized literacy support for students.

James Madison | September 27 vs. Georgia Southern
Partnering with Mountain View Elementary School with a $7,000 grant to enhance science education by providing instruments for students and education resources for teachers.

Louisiana | September 27 vs. Marshall
Providing three different Lafayette Parish teachers with grants for classroom resources.
 
ULM | October 18 vs. Troy
Partnering with Good Hope Middle School to provide new computers for journalism and publication classrooms which will enable students to create high-quality digital and print publications – including the annual yearbook – that promote their achievements throughout the academic year.

Marshall | September 6 vs. Missouri State
Providing grants for classroom resources to teachers who serve as mentors to undergraduates within the College of Education and Professional Development. 

Old Dominion | September 6 vs. North Carolina Central
Providing discounted game tickets and sponsoring women’s basketball education day game buses for teachers and schools within the Hampton Roads area.

South Alabama | September 20 vs. Coastal Carolina
Providing discounted game tickets and recognizing Mobile and Baldwin County teachers while giving away backpacks to fans in attendance.

Southern Miss | September 13 vs. App State
Providing four different teachers in the Pine Belt community with grants for classroom resources. 

Texas State | September 20 vs. Nicholls
Supporting the nutrition goals of the San Marcos School to provide meals on the road for school sanctioned events including athletics, fine arts and academic events.

Troy | September 13 vs. Memphis
Providing 1,100 game tickets to students and teachers in Pike County, along with a $2,000 grant for school supplies.