Sun Belt 2025 Conference Preview

2025 Sun Belt Championship Prediction: JMU over Texas St.

Regular Season Predicted Order of Finish

East Division

Head Coach: Bob Chesney- At School: (9-4) 1 Year; Overall: (120-50) 15 Years

Impact Players: QB Matthew Sluka, QB Alonza Barnett, QB Camden Coleman, RB George Pettaway, RB Ayo Adeyi, WR Nick DeGennaro, WR Landon Ellis, DE Immanuel Bush, LB Trent Hendrick, S Jacob Thomas, DB DJ Barksdale

Preview: 

The Dukes’ move to the FBS has been one of the most successful transitions in recent college football history. JMU has won 28 games in just 3 seasons. Last season, the first under Bob Chesney, the team fell just short of competing for the Sun Belt championship following a loss to App St. and a double overtime loss to Marshall to end the year, but they did pick up the program’s first bowl win. In 2025, expectations are high for the Dukes. Questions still remain as to who will be the starting QB for JMU with transfers Matt Sluka and Camden Coleman competing in the spring and 2024 starter Alonza Barnett working back from injury. Whoever is under center will be throwing to a rebuilt wide receiver room that includes 3 FCS transfers. In the backfield, the duo of George Pettaway and Ayo Adeyi will be one of the best in the league. Defensively, JMU led the nation in turnover margin, but will be tasked with replacing key production up front and in the secondary. DT Immanuel Bush and LB Trent Hendrick return to lead a front seven that includes former Maine DE Xavier Holmes. In the secondary, S Jacob Thomas headlines a group that has been rebuilt through the portal. JMU has been one of the league’s best since they joined the conference. This season will be no different and the expectations are for the Dukes to finally raise the Sun Belt trophy in December.

Final Record Prediction: 9-3 (6-2)

Head Coach: Clay Helton- At School: (20-19) 3 Years; Overall: (66-43) 8 years

Impact Players: QB J.C. French IV, RB OJ Arnold, RB David Mbadinga, WR Josh Dallas, TE River Helms, LG Pinchon Wimbley, RG Caleb Cook, DT Latrell Bullard, LB Brendan Harrington, CB Tracey Hill, S Justin Meyers, CB Chance Gamble

Preview: 

The Eagles have gone to 3 straight bowl games under Clay Helton (0-3) but last season looked to be the first time the Eagles were true contenders in the Sun Belt. This season, the expectations are for the Eagles to not just compete but to win the Sun Belt East. A large part of that is due to the return of starting QB J.C. French, who threw for over 2,800 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2024. Two of French’s top targets, WR Josh Dallas and WR Dalen Cobb, are also returning to Statesboro. RBs OJ Arnold and David Mbadinga will split time in the backfield and get the luxury of running behind one of the more talented and experienced lines in the Sun Belt. On defense, the Eagles dipped into the portal to become more talented on that side of the ball. The addition of LB Brendan Harrington and S Jayden Davis will help address some gaps in the defense. Also returning to Statesboro are DT Latrell Bullard, CB Tracey Hill, and S Chance Gamble, which will provide solid experience on the defensive side. Georgia Southern was one win away from competing for the Sun Belt Championship last season. This season, the Eagles have the talent and experience to do it. A Week 5 showdown at JMU may just decide who will win the East.

Final Record Prediction: 8-4 (6-2)

Head Coach: Ricky Rahne- At School and Overall: (20-30) 4 years

Impact Players: QB Colton Joseph, RB Devin Roche, LT Zach Barlev, DE Kris Trinidad, LB Mario Thompson, LB Jason Henderson, LB Jahleel Culbreath, S Mario Easterly

Preview: 

So. QB Colton Joseph returns to Norfolk after starting last season as a freshman. This year, the QB looks to make strides to becoming one of the league’s best signal callers. He will have the benefit of playing behind a line that is comprised of 5 players with starting experience. In the backfield, RB Devin Roche, RB Bryce Duke, and RB Maurki James will be featured in a committee on the ground. On the outside, Joseph will be throwing to a set of junior college transfers. The Monarchs defense gets a huge boost this season with former All-American LB Jason Henderson returning from an injury that kept him sidelined in 2024. He’ll rejoin a linebacker group that returned Mario Thompson and Jahleel Culbreathe, both of whom have all-league potential. S Mario Easterly is the only returning starter in the secondary, but there figures to be a rotation of experienced players at corner. Up front, DE Kris Trinidad will lead the d-line following an all-conference season in 2024. Old Dominion has quietly built a program with potential in Norfolk, but they still seem to be just a step behind some of the conference’s best. This season, the Monarchs’ have their leader on offense and defense and are arguably as deep as any team in the conference. A conference championship may still be a few years away, but this team is a few upsets away from being in the mix at year end.

Final Record Prediction: 6-6 (5-3)

Head Coach: Dowell Loggains- At School and Overall: 1st year

Impact Players: QB AJ Swann, RB Kayne Roberts, WR Dalton Stroman, DE Shawn Collins, DE Thomas Davis, S DJ Burks, CB Ethan Johnson

Preview: 

Appalachian State made an interesting move in the offseason when they moved on from HC Shawn Clark, who won 40 games in 5 years, after a 5-6 finish last season. The move ushered in a new era in Boone and a mini rebuild under new coach Dowell Loggains. The first move in the rebuild was to bring in QB AJ Swann, who started 12 games at Vanderbilt and spent time last season at LSU. RB Kayne Roberts will take over as the bell cow for the Mountaineers and he will run behind an o-line returning a few players with starting experience. The job of WR1 is still up for grabs with WR Dalton Stroman and Jaden Barnes vying for that spot. The Mountaineers lost its top 4 tacklers on defense from last season. LB Kyle Arnholt and DE Thomas Davis are the lone returning starters on the front seven. On the back end, S DJ Burks and CB Ethan Johnson are the leaders. Appalachian State has one of the most underrated fan bases in college football, selling out season tickets for the fourth straight season and have become accustomed to their program being the best in the Sun Belt. The firing of Shawn Clark was a shock, but if Loggains can get back to winning football, that will be a distant memory. 

Final Record Prediction: 6-6 (4-4)

Head Coach: Tim Beck – At School and Overall; (14-12) 2 years

Impact Players: QB MJ Morris, QB Emmett Brown, WR Jameson Tucker, LT Nick Del Grande, LB Shane Bruce, RB Jalen John

Preview: 

Last season marked Coastal Carolina’s first losing season since 2019. The result was a hit to the roster as the Chanticleers lost a ton on both sides of the ball to the transfer portal and graduation. In response, Coastal dipped into the portal themselves to fill the gaps in the depth chart. One of those moves was to bring in former NC State and Maryland QB MJ Morris and San Jose St QB Emmett Brown to compete for the starting QB position. They also brought in RB Jalen John from UMASS to lead the backfield. O-line is one of the more experienced units on the team with 3 starters returning from a season ago. Leading receiver WR Jameson Tucker is back to lead the receiving corps. Similar to the offense, the defense was hit hard by the portal, but was able to retain leading tackler LB Shane Bruce, who will provide Coastal with a proven leader. LB Trey Brown and LB Wyatt Gideon provide experience and make the linebacker group the best unit on defense. Other than that, the rest of the defense will rely on transfers and reserve players to step up. Coastal was developing a reputation as one of the conference’s best teams year in and year out before last season. This season comes down to two things: if Beck made the right move replacing both coordinators and if the transfers can gel quickly. If those two don’t happen, it may be tough for Coastal to avoid back to back losing seasons. 

Final Record Prediction: 5-7 (4-4)

Head Coach: Dell McGee- At School and Overall: (3-9) 1 year

Impact Players: QB Christian Veilleux, RB Freddie Brock, WR Ted Hurst, RB Rashad Amos, DT Henry Bryant, LB Josiah Robinson

Preview: 

QB Christian Veilleux returns to Georgia State after serving as the starter for much of last season. The Panthers leading receiver WR Ted Hurst and leading rusher RB Freddie Brock are also both returning to Atlanta for another season. As for the oline, it will be reliant on transfers to come in and take a starting job. Defensively the Panthers were one of the worst in the nation, so rebuilding through the portal was a priority for Dell McGee. Former Georgia Tech S Jordan Huff is expected to start alongside Freshman Deuce Walker. DT Henry Bryant is back for another season to lead the d-line after finishing with 4.5 sacks in 2024. In the middle, LB Josiah Robinson will get the start as the team’s leading returning tackler. Georgia State was an up and down program under Shawn Elliot before moving to Dell McGee in 2024. The Panthers are hoping to improve from a 3-9 record and a 1-7 record in conference. The out of conference schedule is rough but there is hope to win more than one game in conference and use that momentum for future seasons.  

Final Record Prediction: 3-9 (2-6)

Head Coach: Tony Gibson- At School and Overall: 1st year

Impact Players: QB Carlos Del-Rio Wilson, QB Zion Turner, TE Toby Payne, S Jadarius Green-McKnight, CB Marvae Myers-Glover

Preview: 

Marshall had one of the weirdest off-seasons in college football. Following a 10 wins and a Sun Belt Championship, HC Charles Huff and the Marshall administration were unable to agree on a contract extension that led to Huff leaving the University for fellow Sun Belt member, Southern Miss. The result was the departure of over 45 players from the program; many of which left before the bowl game forcing Marshall to withdraw from post season play. New Head Coach Tony Gibson responded by signing over 60 players in the transfer portal to help fill out the roster. The QB position will be between two transfers, Carlos Del-Rio Wilson from Syracuse and Zion Turner from Jax St. In the backfield, transfers Tony Mathis and Michael Allen will most likely split carries. TE Toby Payne is one of the few returning starters from 2024. On defense, the story is the same. Almost the entire two-deep front seven is made of transfer players including DT Jalil Rivera-Harvey and LB Javae Gilmore. In the secondary, returning starter S Jadarius Green-McKnight will be joined by transfer CB Marvae Myers-Glover. It’s hard to believe that a season ago Marshall won 10 games and the Sun Belt Championship. That’s probably because 90% of the roster wasn’t on the team in 2024. Marshall should be somewhat competitive, if the transfer can gel quickly, but a repeat as Sun Belt Champs is almost impossible.

Final Record Prediction: 5-7 (2-6)

West Division

1. Texas State University Bobcats

Head Coach: G.J. Kinne – At School: 16-10 (2 years); Overall: (28-12) 3 Years

Impact Players: QB Nate Yarnell, RB Lincoln Pare, WR Beau Sparks, WR Chris Dawn, DE Jo’Laisson Landry, DE Kalil Alexander, S Ryan Nolen

Preview: 

QB Nate Yarnell comes to San Marco from Pittsburgh, where he primarily served as a backup making 5 starts. In the backfield, RB Lincoln Pare will be the workhorse after playing limited minutes last season in a reserve role due to injury. WR Chris Dawn and Beau Sparks will take over pass catching duties after the Bobcats top 3 targets from 2024 are no longer with the program. 2 starters are returning on the offensive line. On defense, only 2 starters return for the Bobcats, S Darius Jackson and S Ryan Nolen. DE Kalil Alexander will be elevated to a starter this season after leading the team in tackles for loss and sacks in 2024. As for the rest of the defense, transfers will have to fill out the gaps and linebacker, d-line, and corner. Texas St. was hit hard by the portal and graduation in the offseason, but their roster remains one of the more talented in the Sun Belt. It will remain to be seen how well the spring transfers can be acclimated to the program. Road games at rival UTSA and CFP participant Arizona St. will provide tough early tests before conference play.

Final Record Prediction: 8-4 (6-2)

Head Coach: Major Applewhite- At School: (7-6)  year; Overall: (22-17) 3 years

Impact Players: QB Bishop Davenport, QB Zach Pyron, RB Kentrell Bullock, RB Iverson Celestine, WR Devin Voisin, WR Anthony Eager, LB Blayne Myrick, S Wesley Miller

Preview: 

QB Gio Lopez was electric in his first season at South Alabama, but alas has moved on to UNC. In steps QB Bishop Davenport, who earned MVP honors in the Jags bowl game and has proven in the spring to be a capable starter. The Jaguars are returning starting RB Kentrell Bullock, who ran for almost 850 yards in 2024 and is expected to be the workhouse with other RB Fluth Bothwell leaving the program in the spring. 7th year WR Devin Voisin is back to lead a wide receiver group that is made up of younger faces eager to earn a starting spot. T Jordan Davis is an all-conference player and will lead the line. On defense, the linebacker unit will be the strength. LB Blayne Myrick and LB Darius McKenzie provide much needed experience and consistency. The rest of the defense was decimated by the transfer portal. On the line, rotational players from a season ago will get the chance to earn starting spots. In the secondary, S Wesley Miller will lead a group of transfer and former backups looking to earn a spot in the starting rotation. South Alabama was able to string together its 3rd straight winning season in 2024. That came with a price as 11 starters from 2024 transferred out of Mobile. This roster has talent on offense, but you can never quite tell how a team composed of mostly transfers is going to adapt and perform. If all goes well, South Alabama could compete for a Sun Belt Championship. If not, a winning season for the fourth straight year will be an uphill battle. 

Final Record Prediction: 6-6 (5-3)

Head Coach: Butch Jones- At School: (19-31) 4 years; Overall: (103-85) 15 years

Impact Players: QB Jaylen Raynor, RB Ja’Quez Cross, WR Corey Rucker, DE Bryan Whitehead, S AJ McGhee

Preview: 

The Red Wolves offense gets the luxury of returning one of the most talented football players in the conference in QB Jaylen Raynor. The dual threat QB was at one time freshman of the year in the Sun Belt. Raynor will also get the luxury of throwing to one of the most talented receivers in the conference in WR Corey Rucker, who is back in Jonesboro for his senior season. Joining them will be SR RB Ja’Quez Cross. Outside of those 3 the rest of the offense is a bit of a mystery. OL Noah Smith is the only returning starter on the line. On defense, all-conference DE Bryan Whitehead is the only returning starter. LB Kyle Tayor played for the Red Wolves in a reserve role last season and the remainder of the front seven will be made up of transfers. Same goes for the secondary, S AG McGhee comes to Arkansas St from Marshall and is joined by fellow transfers Avante Dickerson and Trenton Yowe. Stop me if you’ve heard this before, the success of this team will be dependent on how well the transfers can adjust to the new program. That seems to be the new trend for the Group of 5 teams and Arkansas St. is no different. They do have the benefit of returning its two best players on offense and will lean on them heavily until the other pieces around them are straightened out.

Final Record Prediction: 7-5 (5-3)

Head Coach: Michael Desmoreaux- At School and Overall: (23-18) 3 years

Impact Players: QB Walker Howard, RB Zylan Perry, RB Bill Davis, WR Robert Williams, DE Jordan Lawson, LB Cameron Whitfield, S Tyree Skipper, S Kody Jackson

Preview: 

Louisiana has built a reputation as one of the best teams in the Sun Belt, posting 10+ wins 4 times in the last 6 seasons. Last year, the 10 win season was overshadowed by two blow out losses and being outscored 65-6 in the conference championship and New Mexico Bowl to end the season. This season the Ragin’ Cajuns turn to former 5 star recruit, QB Walker Howard, who barely saw the field in his stints at LSU and Ole Miss. The backfield will be made up of veterans Zylan Perry and Bill Davis. WR Robert Williams is the team’s leading returning receiver. The offensive line needs work but has veterans on the right side to rely on. On defense, the trenches are the best unit and everything outside of that needs help. DE Jordan Lawson and edge rusher Cameron Whitfield make up one of the league’s best pass rushes. The back 7 is up for grabs, outside of returning S Tyree Skipper. S Kody Jackson and LB Jaden Dugger saw limited action last season. ULL had created a solid program built on competing year after year in the Sun Belt West. I don’t expect that to change this season, but because of the lack of experience on defense and the o-line, 10 wins may not be attainable.

Final Record Prediction: 7-5 (5-3)

Head Coach: Charles Huff- At School: 1st year; Overall: (32-20) 4 years

Impact Players: QB Braylon Braxton, RB Robert Briggs, RB Matt Jones, WR Elijah Metcalf, WR Carl Chester, WR Larry Simons, DT Brodarius Lewis, S Ahmere Foster, S Ian Foster, CB Josh Moten

Preview: 

The 2025 Southern Miss Golden Eagles are a part of one the most intriguing offseason story lines in college football. This team could have very well just been renamed the 2024 Marshall Thundering Herd for the season. After leaving fellow Sun Belt member Marshall after a contract dispute, Charles Huff landed in Hattiesburg and with him came a complete roster turnover. Almost 80 players from the 2024 Eagles roster either graduated or transferred out. Out with the old in with the new as Huff brought in 80 new players of his own, 17 coming from Marshall alone. One of which was QB Braylon Braxton, who played amazing for the Thundering Herd last season. The skill positions should be solid with transfers coming in from all over the place. The oline is a question with new transfers mixing in with some returning players. On defense, the sole returning starter is DT Brodarius Lewis. LB Chris Jones is returning to Southern Miss and should get a shot at a starting position. Most of the rest of the defense are former Marshall players and helped Marshall be one of the conference’s best statistical units. This is a rebuild that the college football landscape has never seen before. With the new transfer rules, the exiled Marshall coach was able to bring a lot of his own guys over rather than start from scratch. That being said, this by no means means that Southern Miss is all of a sudden going to be competing for a Sun Belt Championship. However, the program got lucky Huff moved on from Marshall and now they have the chance to change the culture in Hattiesburg.   

Final Record Prediction: 5-7 (3-5)

Head Coach: Bryant Vincent- At School: (5-7) 1 year; Overall (12-13) 2 years

Impact Players: QB Aidan Armeta, QB Hunter Herring, WR Jake Godfrey, TE Rylan Green, DE Kevontay Wells, DT Dylan Howell, DE Billy Pullen, LB Carl Glass, S Carl Fauntroy

Preview: 

For the Warhawks, QB Aidan Armeta is slated as the Week 1 starter over challenger Hunter Herring after taking over in the final 8 games due to injury. He’ll be playing behind an oline that returns 3 starters from a season ago. The backfield will mostly be by committee with transfers RB Zach Palmer-Smith and RB Braylon McReynolds leading the charge. WR Jake Godfrey is the leading returning pass catcher from last year. On defense, S Carl Fauntroy and DE Kevontay Wells are the Warhawks leading returning tacklers. DE Billy Pullen was an all-conference selection with 6 sacks in 2024. The ULM Warhawks program has been in disarray for quite sometime. Their last winning season and bowl game was all the way back in 2012. Last season, the Warhawks looked like they might break that cold streak after starting out 5-1, but managed to lose their last 6 games to miss out on the post season yet again. There is hope though. The majority of the ULM core is back on both sides of the ball, which should provide the team with some consistency and leadership. The problem is the non-conference schedule will most likely leave them at 1-3 or 2-2 at best, which means the Warhawks need to go at least 4-4 in conference to reach a bowl, which they haven’t done since 2019.

Final Record Prediction: 4-8 (2-6)

Head Coach: Gerad Parker- At School and Overall: (4-8) 1 year

Impact Players: QB Goose Crowder, RB Jordan Lovett, WR Peyton Higgins, TE Ethan Conner, LB Jordan Stringer, LB Devin Lafayette, S Justin Powe

Preview: 

Following back to back 11+ win seasons and a Sun Belt Championship, 2024 was a disappointing year for Trojan fans. Most of that disappointment can be attributed to QB Goose Crowder going down with an injury early in the season. In limited action Crowder was promising and will look to build on that limited sample size in 2025. He will be playing behind an o-line consisting of 3 returning starts and throwing to a unit with returning playmakers, WR Peyton Higgins and TE Ethan Conner. In the backfield, RB Jordan Lovett and RB Trey Cooley will compete for the starting job. The Trojan defense is returning two of its top tacklers from a season ago. LB Jordan Stringer and S Justin Powe will be joined by returning playmaker LB Devin Lafayette. The secondary and d-line will look towards transfers, some of whom have Power 4 experience, to fill in the gaps. This year’s Troy team is a bit of a mystery. If they play up to their complete potential, this team could find themselves back in the mix for the Sun Belt West, but if they don’t they could see themselves finishing at or near the bottom of the league. The success of the Trojans will be reliant on their QB and improvement by their defense. 

Final Record Prediction: 3-9 (1-7)