The Best Conference You're Not Paying Attention To: Sun Belt Preview

 With the American out of the picture, the Sun Belt can now claim to be the best Group of 5 conference in the FBS. The second-longest winning streak in college football belongs to the men of Troy (no not USC). The Trojans stunned everyone on their way to a Sun Belt Conference Championship, seizing it back from the new blood that had dominated the conference. App State and Coastal Carolina are now seasoned conference veterans after adding four new teams in 2022. The most impressive of the new batch was James Madison who was not bowl eligible but probably would've come out on top against whatever mid-level conference opponent they faced.

In three of the last four seasons, the Fun Belt has produced at least six draft picks for the NFL, including a record nine selected in 2023. The Sun Belt used to be the bottom of the barrel when they introduced football in 2001, but now things are looking up. Here's a list of the 14 schools and who to look out for.

East

Coastal Carolina

Head Coach: Tim Beck (1st Season)

Last Year Record (Rank): 9-4 (31)

Preseason Rank: 27

Prediction: 9-3

What's Ahead: Grayson McCall is the only player in Sun Belt history to win Player of the Year three times and is poised to go for a four-peat after removing himself from the transfer portal. The Chanticleers QB has led them to 31 wins in the last three seasons, but this will be the first time he'll be under center without Jamey Chadwell as the head coach. Chadwell took over for Hugh Freeze at Liberty. They miss out on seeing Troy during the regular season but have trips to UCLA and App State, which could prove to be their toughest tasks. Revenge will be on their mind on Nov. 25 when they face James Madison. The Dukes dropped 47 on Coastal to start their three-game losing streak.

James Madison

Head Coach: Curt Cignetti (5th Season, 41-8)

LYR: 8-3 (19)

PR: 59

Prediction: 4-8

What's Ahead: The Dukes came on to the FBS scene with a bang, dropping App State in Boone and then drubbing Coastal to end the season. That was in part to a fully-stocked offense that is losing every starter at the skill position but is returning an entire offensive line. JMU won't be sneaking up on anyone this year, but Cignetti should have his group ready for 2024.

Marshall

Head Coach: Charles Huff (3rd Season, 16-10)

LYR: 9-4 (32)

PR: 71

Prediction: 7-5

What's Ahead: The Thundering Herd stunned the Fighting Irish and won their final five games in 2022, but they still left doubters coming into 2023. Cam Fancher wasn't the greatest QB in college football last season, but he'll get some help with the return of Rasheen Ali full-time. Ali ran for 1,400 yards in 2021 but was limited to just the final three games because of an injury and still managed nearly 100 yards per game. They'll get a chance for more upsets when Virginia Tech comes to Huntington and they visit NCST two weeks later.

Appalachian State

Head Coach: Shawn Clark (5th Season, 26-13)

LYR: 6-6 (72)

PR: 80

Prediction: 7-5

What's Ahead: The Mountaineers were served some humble pie in 2022 as they were caught by the rest of the pack and brought down to the middle. It might be hard to get back on top as they search for a quarterback to throw Christian Horn the football.

Georgia Southern

Head Coach: Clay Helton (2nd Season, 6-7)

LYR: 6-7 (78)

PR: 90

Prediction: 8-4

What's Ahead: I think the Eagles take a step closer to the top of the conference under Clay Helton in year two, but will Davis Brin be the answer at quarterback. Khaleb Hood looks to obtain all the receiving records in school history by the end of the year. 

Georgia State

Head Coach: Shawn Elliott (7th Season, 34-38)

LYR: 4-8 (103)

PR: 103

Prediction: 5-7

What's Ahead: Darren Grainger is a nightmare for defensive coordinators to plan for as he ran for over 700 yards and threw for another 2,5000 yards. The Panthers had four games decided by seven points or less last season and need those bounces to go their way if they want to make a bowl game.

Old Dominion

Head Coach: Rickey Rahne (4th Season, 9-16)

LYR: 3-9 (114)

PR: 122

Prediction: 2-10

What's Ahead: The Monarchs need a lot of help on the offensive side of the ball, but linebacker Jason Henderson (pictured) will be bringing the boom on defense.

West

Troy

Head Coach: Jon Sumrall (2nd Season, 12-2)

LYR: 12-2 (5)

PR: 27

Prediction: 10-2

What's Ahead: Jon Sumrall made a splash in his coaching debut and returns a plethora of talent to make it happen again in 2023. Quarterback Gunnar Watson was efficient and effective while Kimani Vidal diced up defenders on his way to 1,100 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. The Trojans have a very favorable schedule as they travel to Kansas State, but miss Coastal and App State unless one of them makes the conference championship where it looks like the Trojans are headed.

South Alabama

Head Coach: Kane Wommack (3rd Season, 15-10)

LYR: 10-3 (18)

PR: 49

Prediction: 9-3

What's Ahead: Perhaps the only team in the West that looks to challenge Troy for the crown is in Mobile. The Jaguars posted an impressive 10-win season thanks in part to quarterback Carter Bradley and running back La'Damian Webb, both back in 2023. The defense is also experienced and like Troy, the Jags miss the big boys in the East this season.

Southern Mississippi

Head Coach: Will Hall (3rd Season, 10-15)

LYR: 7-6 (63)

PR: 88

Prediction:  6-6

What's Ahead: Frank Gore Jr. is cut from the same cloth as his father who is likely headed to the Hall of Fame in 2026. The younger Gore does things a little differently as injuries have often forced him to fill roles left vacant. Gore has nearly 3,000 yards in three seasons at Southern Miss, but perhaps more impressive is the fact that he's thrown eight touchdowns as a wildcat QB. He enters his junior season surrounded by some returning talent, but still no real solution at quarterback yet. If needed, the Eagles can just lean on Gore like they did in their bowl game when he ran for 329 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns.

Louisiana

Head Coach: Mike Desormeaux (2nd Season, 7-7)

LYR: 6-7 (81)

PR: 97

Prediction: 6-6

What's Ahead: The Ragin' Cajuns took a step backward in 2022 under first-year coach Mike Desormeaux and without better QB play, they look to be stuck in neutral.

Louisiana Monroe

Head Coach: Terry Bowden (3rd Season, 8-16)

LYR: 4-8 (106)

PR: 118

Prediction: 3-9

What's Ahead: A bunch of players left in the transfer portal and I never trust a team with an unproven QB, so good luck in Monroe, it's going to be a long season.

Texas State

Head Coach: G.J. Kinne (1st Season)

LYR: 4-8 (109)

PR: 124

Prediction: 3-9

What's Ahead: G.J. Kinne comes over from Incarnate Word (FCS) to bring lots of points to San Marcos, but it might take a while for him to get the right pieces. The good news is that Primetime left Jackson State (FCS) so that game looks more winnable.

Arkansas State

Head Coach: Butch Jones (3rd Season, 5-19)

LYR: 3-9 (121)

PR: 125

Prediction: 3-9

What's Ahead: Is this the year Butch Jones gets the Red Wolves turned around?  Probably not. (Side note: All I think about when I see Jones is how mad he was when I interviewed him after EMU beat CMU and then broke the Michigan-MAC trophy.)