Sun Belt Conference commissioner Karl Benson says the league’s football programs need to shed addictions to big-money, non-conference matchups with heavily favored, Power Five programs.

The commissioner, who spoke at the conference’s media day Monday, says more non-league games with “peer conferences” would improve the chances of a Sun Belt team going unbeaten and getting a bid to one of six New Year’s Day bowl games.

Benson also says the Sun Belt remains open to adding a 12th member to create balanced, regional divisions to help with travel for all sports.

However, the commissioner says the league is taking a careful, deliberate approach to expansion, and would not identify any candidates.

The Sun Belt’s 11 schools are based in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, New Mexico, North Carolina and Texas.