2025 Sun Belt Conference football season

2025 Sun Belt Conference football season
LeagueNCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision
SportFootball
DurationAugust 28, 2025 – December 5, 2025
Teams14
2026 NFL draft
Regular season
Season championsJames Madison
  Runners-upTroy
SBC Championship Game
VenueBridgeforth Stadium, Harrisonburg, Virginia
ChampionsJames Madison
  Runners-upTroy
2025 Sun Belt Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 24 James Madison xy$^   8 – 0     12 – 2  
Old Dominion   6 – 2     10 – 3  
Coastal Carolina   5 – 3     6 – 6  
Georgia Southern   4 – 4     6 – 6  
Marshall   3 – 5     5 – 7  
Appalachian State   2 – 6     5 – 7  
Georgia State   0 – 8     1 – 11  
West Division
Troy xy   6 – 2     8 – 6  
Southern Miss   5 – 3     7 – 6  
Louisiana   5 – 3     6 – 7  
Arkansas State   5 – 3     7 – 6  
Texas State   3 – 5     6 – 6  
South Alabama   3 – 5     4 – 8  
Louisiana–Monroe   1 – 7     3 – 9  
Championship: James Madison 31, Troy 14
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
As of December 24, 2025
Rankings from CFP Rankings

The 2025 Sun Belt Conference football season is the 25th season of college football play for the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) as part of the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season began on August 28, 2025, and will conclude with the Conference Championship Game on December 5, 2025. The conference consists of 14 football members split into two divisions. The conference released its full season schedule on February 28, 2025.[1]

Preseason

Preseason Media Poll

The SBC released its preseason poll on July 21. James Madison was named the favorite to win the East Division, while Louisiana was named the favorite to win the West Division.[2]

East
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 James Madison 94 (11)
2 Georgia Southern 76 (1)
3 Appalachian State 60
4 Coastal Carolina 49 (1)
5 Old Dominion 48
6 Marshall 42 (1)
7 Georgia State 23
West
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Louisiana 86 (6)
2 Texas State 78 (6)
3 Arkansas State 64 (1)
4 South Alabama 50 (1)
5 Southern Miss 47
6 Troy 43
7 Louisiana–Monroe 24

Preseason All-Conference teams

  • Offensive Player of the Year: Braylon Braxton (RS Senior, Southern Miss, quarterback)[2]
  • Defensive Player of the Year: Blayne Myrick (RS Junior, South Alabama, linebacker)
  • Special Teams Player of the Year: Clune Van Andel (Junior, Arkansas State, kicker)

Head coaches

  • On October 20, 2024, Southern Miss announced that they had fired head coach Will Hall after starting the season with a 1–6 record. Assistant head coach Reed Stringer was named the interim head coach.[3] On December 8, 2024, Southern Miss announced that they had hired Charles Huff away from Marshall to be their head coach in 2025.[4] Marshall's associate head coach Telly Lockette was named the interim head coach for Marshall's bowl game.
  • On December 2, 2024, Appalachian State announced that they had fired head coach Shawn Clark.[5] On December 7, Appalachian State announced Dowell Loggains as the new head coach. Loggains had previously been the offensive coordinator at South Carolina.[6]
  • On December 8, 2024, Marshall announced Tony Gibson as their new head coach for the 2025 season. Gibson had previously the defensive coordinator at NC State.[7]
Team Head coach Previous job Years at school Overall record Sun Belt record Sun Belt titles
Appalachian State Dowell Loggains South Carolina (Offensive coordinator/QBs coach) 1 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–) 0
Arkansas State Butch Jones Alabama (assistant coach) 5 103–85 (.548) 11–21 (.344) 0
Coastal Carolina Tim Beck NC State (offensive coordinator) 3 14–12 (.538) 8–8 (.500) 0
Georgia Southern Clay Helton USC (head coach) 4 66–43 (.606) 12–12 (.500) 0
Georgia State Dell McGee Georgia (RB coach/run game coordinator) 2 4–9 (.308) 1–7 (.125) 0
James Madison Bob Chesney Holy Cross (head coach) 2 120–50 (.706) 4–4 (.500) 0
Louisiana Michael Desormeaux Louisiana (co-offensive coordinator) 4 23–18 (.561) 14–10 (.583) 0
Louisiana–Monroe Bryant Vincent New Mexico (offensive coordinator) 2 12–13 (.480) 3–5 (.375) 0
Marshall Tony Gibson NC State (Defensive coordinator/Linebackers coach) 1 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–) 0
Old Dominion Ricky Rahne Penn State (offensive coordinator) 6 20–30 (.400) 16–16 (.500) 0
South Alabama Major Applewhite South Alabama (offensive coordinator) 2 22–17 (.564) 5–3 (.625) 0
Southern Miss Charles Huff Marshall (head coach) 1 32–20 (.615) 20–12 (.625) 1
Texas State G. J. Kinne Incarnate Word (head coach) 3 28–12 (.700) 9–7 (.563) 0
Troy Gerad Parker Notre Dame (offensive coordinator) 2 4–14 (.222) 3–5 (.375) 0

Rankings

See also: 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
  Pre Wk
1		 Wk
2		 Wk
3		 Wk
4		 Wk
5		 Wk
6		 Wk
7		 Wk
8		 Wk
9		 Wk
10		 Wk
11		 Wk
12		 Wk
13		 Wk
14		 Wk
15		 Final
Appalachian State AP
C
CFP Not released
Arkansas State AP
C
CFP Not released
Coastal Carolina AP
C
CFP Not released
Georgia Southern AP
C
CFP Not released
Georgia State AP
C
CFP Not released
James Madison AP RV RV NR RV RV RV 24 21 20 19 19
C RV RV RV 25 22 21 19 19
CFP Not released 25 24
Louisiana AP RV NR
C
CFP Not released
Louisiana–Monroe AP
C
CFP Not released
Marshall AP
C
CFP Not released
Old Dominion AP
C RV NR RV RV
CFP Not released
South Alabama AP
C
CFP Not released
Southern Miss AP
C
CFP Not released
Texas State AP
C
CFP Not released
Troy AP
C
CFP Not released
Legend
    Improvement in ranking
  Drop in ranking
  Not ranked previous week
  No change in ranking from previous week
RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll
т Tied with team above or below also with this symbol

Schedule

The 2025 schedule was released on February 28, 2025.[1]

Index to colors and formatting
Sun Belt member won
Sun Belt member lost
Sun Belt teams in bold

Week 1

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
August 28 6:00 p.m. Saint Francis (PA) Louisiana–Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA ESPN+ W 29–0   12,459
August 29 6:00 p.m. Appalachian State Charlotte Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, NC (Duke's Mayo Classic) ESPNU W 34–11   35,718
August 30 11:00 a.m. Mississippi State Southern Miss M. M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MS ESPN L 17–34   33,485
August 30 1:30 p.m. Old Dominion No. 20 Indiana Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN FS1 L 14–27   47,109
August 30 2:30 p.m. Marshall No. 5 Georgia Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA ESPN L 7–45   93,033
August 30 5:00 p.m. Coastal Carolina Virginia Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, VA ACCN L 7–48   46,143
August 30 5:00 p.m. Weber State James Madison Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA ESPN+ W 45–10   24,965
August 30 6:00 p.m. Southeast Missouri State Arkansas State Centennial Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, AR ESPN+ W 42–24   18,241
August 30 6:00 p.m. Morgan State South Alabama Hancock Whitney Stadium • Mobile, AL ESPN+ W 38–21  
August 30 6:00 p.m. Nicholls Troy Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL ESPN+ W 38–20   25,546
August 30 6:45 p.m. Georgia State No. 21 Ole Miss Vaught–Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS SECN L 7–63   66,378
August 30 7:00 p.m. Rice Louisiana Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA ESPN+ L 12–14   22,148
August 30 7:00 p.m. Eastern Michigan Texas State UFCU Stadium • San Marcos, TX ESPN+ W 52–27   21,082
August 30 8:30 p.m. Georgia Southern Fresno State Valley Children's Stadium • Fresno, CA FS1 L 14–42   36,801
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Week 2

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
September 5 6:00 p.m. James Madison Louisville L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium • Louisville, KY ESPN2 L 14–28   48,717
September 6 2:30 p.m. Lindenwood Appalachian State Kidd Brewer Stadium • Boone, NC ESPN+ W 20–13   34,921
September 6 2:30 p.m. Texas State UTSA Alamodome • San Antonio, TX (I-35 Rivalry) ESPN+ W 43–36   45,778
September 6 2:30 p.m. Troy No. 8 Clemson Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC ACCN L 16–27   77,890
September 6 4:00 p.m. Arkansas State Arkansas War Memorial Stadium • Fayetteville, AR ESPN+ L 14–56   54,224
September 6 4:00 p.m. No. 15 (FCS) Jackson State Southern Miss M. M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MS ESPN+ W 38–20   32,011
September 6 5:00 p.m. Missouri State Marshall Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV ESPN+ L 20–21   28,564
September 6 5:00 p.m. North Carolina Central Old Dominion S.B. Ballard Stadium • Norfolk, VA ESPN+ W 54–6   18,111
September 6 6:00 p.m. Memphis Georgia State Center Parc Stadium • Atlanta, GA ESPN+ L 16–38   13,625
September 6 6:00 p.m. Tulane South Alabama Hancock Whitney Stadium • Mobile, AL ESPN+ L 31–33   16,871
September 6 6:30 p.m. Charleston Southern Coastal Carolina Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC ESPN+ W 13–0   22,217
September 6 6:30 p.m. Georgia Southern USC Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA FS1 L 20–59   66,514
September 6 6:45 p.m. Louisiana–Monroe No. 21 Alabama Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL SECN L 0–73   100,077
September 6 7:00 p.m. McNeese Louisiana Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA (Cajun Crown) ESPN+ W 34–10   26,071
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Week 3

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
September 13 11:00 a.m. Memphis Troy Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL ESPNU L 7–28   23,384
September 13 11:45 a.m. South Alabama No. 24 Auburn Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL SECN L 15–31   88,043
September 13 12:00 p.m. Louisiana No. 25 Missouri Faurot Field • Columbia, MO ESPN+ L 10–52   57,321
September 13 3:00 p.m. No. 14 Iowa State Arkansas State Centennial Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, AR ESPN2 L 16–24   22,248
September 13 5:00 p.m. Eastern Kentucky Marshall Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV ESPN+ W 38–7   23,925
September 13 6:00 p.m. Jacksonville State Georgia Southern Paulson Stadium • Statesboro, GA ESPN+ W 41–34   24,585
September 13 6:00 p.m. Murray State Georgia State Center Parc Stadium • Atlanta, GA ESPN+ W 37–21   13,988
September 13 6:00 p.m. Old Dominion Virginia Tech Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, VA ACCN W 45–26   57,627
September 13 6:00 p.m. Appalachian State Southern Miss M. M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MS ESPN+  USM 38–22   24,534
September 13 6:30 p.m. East Carolina Coastal Carolina Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC ESPN+ L 0–38   21,634
September 13 9:30 p.m. Texas State Arizona State Mountain America Stadium • Tempe, AZ TNT L 15–34   54,005
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Week 4

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
September 20 2:30 p.m. James Madison Liberty Williams Stadium • Lynchburg, VA (Battle of the Blue Ridge) ESPNU W 31–13   24,022
September 20 2:30 p.m. Louisiana Eastern Michigan Rynearson Stadium • Ypsilanti, MI ESPN+ L 31–34   18,371
September 20 2:30 p.m. Troy Buffalo UB Stadium • Buffalo, NY ESPN+ W 21–17   12,068
September 20 5:00 p.m. Arkansas State Kennesaw State Fifth Third Stadium • Kennesaw, GA ESPN+ L 21–28   10,713
September 20 6:00 p.m. Maine Georgia Southern Paulson Stadium • Statesboro, GA ESPN+ W 45–17   23,217
September 20 6:00 p.m. Marshall Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TN ESPN+ W 42–28   15,168
September 20 6:00 p.m. Coastal Carolina South Alabama Hancock Whitney Stadium • Mobile, AL ESPN+  CCU 38–20   17,050
September 20 6:30 p.m. Georgia State No. 20 Vanderbilt FirstBank Stadium • Nashville, TN ESPNU L 21-70   35,000
September 20 6:30 p.m. Southern Miss Louisiana Tech Joe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LA (Rivalry in Dixie) ESPN+ L 20–30   17,108
September 20 7:00 p.m. Nicholls Texas State UFCU Stadium • San Marcos, TX (Battle for the Paddle) ESPN+ W 35–3   31,500
September 20 8:00 p.m. Louisiana–Monroe UTEP Sun Bowl • El Paso, TX ESPN+ W 31–25   15,272
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Week 5

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
September 27 11:00 a.m. South Alabama North Texas DATCU Stadium • Denton, TX ESPNU L 22–36   16,575
September 27 12:30 p.m. Georgia Southern James Madison Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA ESPN+  JMU 35–10   25,029
September 27 2:00 p.m. Arkansas State Louisiana–Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA ESPN+  ULM 28–16   21,147
September 27 5:00 p.m. Liberty Old Dominion S.B. Ballard Stadium • Norfolk, VA ESPN+ W 21–7   18,435
September 27 6:00 p.m. Jacksonville State Southern Miss M. M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MS ESPN+ W 42–25   25,034
September 27 6:30 p.m. Appalachian State Boise State Albertsons Stadium • Boise, ID FS1 L 14–47   32,904
September 27 7:00 p.m. Marshall Louisiana Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA ESPN+  ULL 54–51 2OT  20,125
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Week 6

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
October 4 2:30 p.m. Oregon State Appalachian State Kidd Brewer Stadium • Boone, NC ESPN+ W 27–23   35,021
October 4 2:30 p.m. James Madison Georgia State Center Parc Stadium • Atlanta, GA ESPN+  JMU 14–7   19,256
October 4 2:30 p.m. Louisiana–Monroe Northwestern Martin Stadium • Evanston, IL BTN L 7–42   12,023
October 4 3:00 p.m. Texas State Arkansas State Centennial Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, AR ESPNU  ARKST 31–30   15,841
October 4 5:00 p.m. Coastal Carolina Old Dominion S.B. Ballard Stadium • Norfolk, VA ESPN+  ODU 47–7   20,895
October 4 6:00 p.m. South Alabama Troy Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL (rivalry) ESPN+  TROY 31–24 OT  28,035
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Week 7

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
October 9 7:00 p.m. Southern Miss Georgia Southern Paulson Stadium • Statesboro, GA ESPN2  USM 38–35   20,032
October 11 11:00 a.m. Louisiana James Madison Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA ESPN2  JMU 24–14   25,128
October 11 2:30 p.m. Appalachian State Georgia State Center Parc Stadium • Atlanta, GA ESPN+  APPST 41–20   19,587
October 11 2:30 p.m. Old Dominion Marshall Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV ESPN+  MRSH 48–24   23,515
October 11 6:00 p.m. Louisiana–Monroe Coastal Carolina Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC ESPN+  CCU 23–8   15,211
October 11 7:00 p.m. Troy Texas State UFCU Stadium • San Marcos, TX ESPN+  TROY 48–41 OT  24,369
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Week 8

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
October 14 6:30 p.m. Arkansas State South Alabama Hancock Whitney Stadium • Mobile, AL ESPN2  ARKST 15–14   19,634
October 18 2:00 p.m. Troy Louisiana–Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA ESPN+  TROY 37–14   16,863
October 18 2:30 p.m. Coastal Carolina Appalachian State Kidd Brewer Stadium • Boone, NC ESPN+  CCU 45–37   33,862
October 18 2:30 p.m. Old Dominion James Madison Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA (Royal Rivalry) ESPNU  JMU 63–27   25,232
October 18 2:30 p.m. Texas State Marshall Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV ESPN+  MU 40–37 2OT  27,533
October 18 4:00 p.m. Southern Miss Louisiana Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA ESPN+  USM 22–10   21,047
October 18 6:00 p.m. Georgia State Georgia Southern Paulson Stadium • Statesboro, GA (rivalry) ESPN+  GASO 41–24   25,428
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Week 9

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
October 23 6:30 p.m. South Alabama Georgia State Center Parc Stadium • Atlanta, GA ESPN2  SOAL 38–31   13,673
October 25 11:00 a.m. Appalachian State Old Dominion S.B. Ballard Stadium • Norfolk, VA ESPNU  ODU 24–21   18,097
October 25 2:30 p.m. Louisiana–Monroe Southern Miss M. M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MS ESPN+  USM 49–21   27,111
October 25 6:00 p.m. Georgia Southern Arkansas State Centennial Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, AR ESPN+  ARKST 34–24   16,341
October 25 6:00 p.m. Louisiana Troy Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL ESPN+  TROY 35–23   16,341
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Week 10

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
October 28 6:30 p.m. James Madison Texas State UFCU Stadium • San Marcos, TX ESPN2  JMU 52–20   17,363
October 30 6:30 p.m. Marshall Coastal Carolina Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC ESPN2  CCU 44–27   17,034
November 1 2:30 p.m. Old Dominion Louisiana–Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA ESPN+  ODU 31–6   17,087
November 1 2:30 p.m. Louisiana South Alabama Hancock Whitney Stadium • Mobile, AL ESPN+  ULL 31–22   18,462
November 1 7:00 p.m. Arkansas State Troy Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL ESPNU  ARKST 23–10   23,391
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Week 11

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
November 6 6:30 p.m. Georgia Southern Appalachian State Kidd Brewer Stadium • Boone, NC (rivalry) ESPN2  GASO 25–23   31,876
November 8 11:00 a.m. James Madison Marshall Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV ESPN2  JMU 35–23   26,727
November 8 11:00 a.m. Southern Miss Arkansas State Centennial Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, AR ESPNU  USM 27–21   15,441
November 8 3:00 p.m. Georgia State Coastal Carolina Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC ESPN+  CCU 40–27   18,878
November 8 4:00 p.m. Texas State Louisiana Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA ESPN+  ULL 42–39   14,231
#Rankings from College Football Playoff. All times are in Central Time.

Week 12

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
November 13 6:30 p.m. Troy Old Dominion S.B. Ballard Stadium • Norfolk, VA ESPN  ODU 33–0   18,831
November 15 1:00 p.m. Marshall Georgia State Center Parc stadium • Atlanta, GA ESPN+  MU 30–18  
November 15 2:30 p.m. Appalachian State James Madison Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA ESPN+  JMU 58–10  
November 15 2:30 p.m. South Alabama Louisiana–Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA ESPN+  SOAL 26–14  
November 15 2:30 p.m. Texas State Southern Miss M. M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MS ESPN+  TXST 41–14  
November 15 5:00 p.m. Coastal Carolina Georgia Southern Paulson Stadium • Stateboro, GA ESPN+  GASO 45–40  
#Rankings from College Football Playoff. All times are in Central Time.

Week 13

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
November 20 6:30 p.m. Louisiana Arkansas State Centennial Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, AR ESPN  ULL 34–30  
November 22 12:00 p.m. Washington State James Madison Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA ESPN+ W 24–20  
November 22 12:00 p.m. Old Dominion Georgia Southern Paulson Stadium • Statesboro, GA ESPN+  ODU 45–10  
November 22 1:30 p.m. Marshall Appalachian State Kidd Brewer Stadium • Boone, NC (rivalry) ESPN+  APPST 26–24  
November 22 2:30 p.m. Southern Miss South Alabama Hancock Whitney Stadium • Mobile, AL ESPN+  SOAL 42–35  
November 22 3:00 p.m Georgia State Troy Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL ESPN+  TROY 31–19  
November 22 3:15 p.m. Coastal Carolina South Carolina Williams–Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC SECN L 7–51  
November 22 4:00 p.m. Louisiana–Monroe Texas State UFCU Stadium • San Marcos, TX ESPN+  TXST 31–14  
#Rankings from College Football Playoff. All times are in Central Time.

Week 14

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
November 29 12:30 p.m. Georgia Southern Marshall Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV ESPN+  GASO 24–19  
November 29 1:00 p.m. Georgia State Old Dominion S.B. Ballard Stadium • Norfolk, VA ESPN+  ODU 27–10  
November 29 1:30 p.m. Arkansas State Appalachian State Kidd Brewer Stadium • Boone, NC ESPN+  ARKST 30–29  
November 29 2:00 p.m. Louisiana–Monroe Louisiana Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA (Battle on the Bayou) ESPN+  ULL 30–27 OT 
November 29 2:00 p.m. South Alabama Texas State UFCU Stadium • San Marcos, TX ESPN+  TXST 49–26  
November 29 2:30 p.m. Troy Southern Miss M. M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MS ESPN+  TROY 28–18  
November 29 2:45 p.m. James Madison Coastal Carolina Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC ESPNU  JMU 59–10  
#Rankings from College Football Playoff. All times are in Central Time.

Championship Game

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
December 5 6:00 p.m. Troy James Madison Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA ESPN  JMU 31–14   19,836
#Rankings from College Football Playoff. All times are in Central Time.

Postseason

Bowl Games

See also: 2025–26 NCAA football bowl games
Legend
  Sun Belt win
  Sun Belt loss
Bowl game Date Site Television Time (CST) Sun Belt team Opponent Score Attendance
Salute to Veterans Bowl December 16 Cramton Bowl • Montgomery, AL ESPN 8:00 p.m. Troy Jacksonville State L 13–17 15,721
Cure Bowl December 17 Camping World Stadium • Orlando, FL ESPN 4:00 p.m. Old Dominion South Florida W 24–10 15,036
68 Ventures Bowl December 17 Hancock Whitney Stadium • Mobile, AL ESPN 7:30 p.m. Louisiana Delaware L 13–20 17,234
Xbox Bowl December 18 Ford Center at The Star • Frisco, TX ESPN2 8:00 p.m. Arkansas State Missouri State W 34–28 7,782
New Orleans Bowl December 23 Caesars Superdome • New Orleans, LA ESPN 4:30 p.m. Southern Miss Western Kentucky  
Birmingham Bowl December 29 Protective Stadium • Birmingham, AL ESPN 1:00 p.m. Georgia Southern Appalachian State[a]  
Independence Bowl December 30 Independence Stadium • Shreveport, LA ESPN 1:00 p.m. Coastal Carolina Louisiana Tech  
Armed Forces Bowl January 2, 2026 Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TX ESPN 12:00 p.m. Texas State Rice  
College Football Playoff bowl games
College Football Playoff (First round) December 20 Autzen Stadium • Eugene, OR TNT 6:30 p.m. James Madison Oregon L 34–51 55,124

Sun Belt records vs. other conferences

2025–2026 records against non-conference foes:

Regular season

Power Four Conferences Record
ACC 1–3
Big 12 0–2
Big Ten 0–3
Notre Dame 0–0
SEC 0–9
Power 4 Total 1–17
Other FBS Conferences Record
American 2–6
C-USA 6–3
Independents (Excluding Notre Dame) 0–0
MAC 2–1
Mountain West 0–2
Pac-12 2–0
Other FBS Total 12–12
FCS Opponents Record
Football Championship Subdivision 14–0
Total Non-Conference Record 27–29

Sun Belt vs Power 4 matchups

This is a list of games the Sun Belt has scheduled versus power conference teams (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Notre Dame and SEC). All rankings are from the current AP Poll at the time of the game.


Date Conference Visitor Home Site Score
August 30 ACC Coastal Carolina Virginia Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, VA L 7–48
August 30 SEC Georgia State Ole Miss Vaught–Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS L 7–63
August 30 SEC Marshall Georgia Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA L 7–45
August 30 Big Ten Old Dominion Indiana Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN L 14–27
August 30 SEC Mississippi State Southern Miss M. M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MS L 17–34
September 5 ACC James Madison Louisville L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium • Louisville, KY L 14–28
September 6 Big Ten Georgia Southern USC Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA L 20–59
September 6 SEC Arkansas State Arkansas War Memorial Stadium • Fayetteville, AR L 14–56
September 6 SEC Louisiana–Monroe Alabama Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL L 0–73
September 6 ACC Troy Clemson Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC L 16–27
September 13 ACC Old Dominion Virginia Tech Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, VA W 45–26
September 13 Big 12 Iowa State Arkansas State Centennial Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, AR L 16–24
September 13 SEC Louisiana Missouri Faurot Field • Columbia, MO L 10–52
September 13 SEC South Alabama Auburn Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL L 15–31
September 13 Big 12 Texas State Arizona State Mountain America Stadium • Tempe, AZ L 15–34
September 20 SEC Georgia State Vanderbilt FirstBank Stadium • Nashville, TN L 21–70
October 4 Big Ten Louisiana–Monroe Northwestern Martin Stadium • Evanston, IL 'L 7–42
November 22 SEC Coastal Carolina South Carolina Williams–Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC L 7–51

Sun Belt vs other FBS matchups

The following games include Sun Belt teams competing against teams from the American, C-USA, MAC, Mountain West, or Pac-12.


Date Conference Visitor Home Site Score
August 29 American Appalachian State Charlotte Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, NC W 34–11
August 30 Mountain West Georgia Southern Fresno State Valley Children's Stadium • Fresno, CA L 14–42
August 30 American Rice Louisiana Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA L 12–14
August 30 MAC Eastern Michigan Texas State UFCU Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 52–27
September 6 American Memphis Georgia State Center Parc Stadium • Atlanta, GA L 16–38
September 6 C-USA Missouri State Marshall Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV L 20–21
September 6 American Tulane South Alabama Hancock Whitney Stadium • Mobile, AL L 31–33
September 6 American Texas State UTSA Alamodome • San Antonio, TX W 43–36
September 13 American East Carolina Coastal Carolina Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC L 0–38
September 13 C-USA Jacksonville State Georgia Southern Paulson Stadium • Statesboro, GA W 41–34
September 13 American Memphis Troy Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL L 7–28
September 20 C-USA James Madison Liberty Williams Stadium • Lynchburg, VA W 31–13
September 20 C-USA Marshall Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TN W 42–28
September 20 C-USA Arkansas State Kennesaw State Fifth Third Stadium • Kennesaw, GA L 21–28
September 20 MAC Louisiana Eastern Michigan Rynearson Stadium • Ypsilanti, MI L 31–34
September 20 C-USA Louisiana–Monroe UTEP Sun Bowl • El Paso, TX W 31–25
September 20 C-USA Southern Miss Louisiana Tech Joe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LA L 20–30
September 20 MAC Troy Buffalo UB Stadium • Buffalo, NY W 21–17
September 27 Mountain West Appalachian State Boise State Albertsons Stadium • Boise, ID L 14–47
September 27 C-USA Liberty Old Dominion S.B. Ballard Stadium • Norfolk, VA W 21–7
September 27 American South Alabama North Texas DATCU Stadium • Denton, TX L 22–36
September 27 C-USA Jacksonville State Southern Miss M. M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MS W 42–25
October 4 Pac-12 Oregon State Appalachian State Kidd Brewer Stadium • Boone, NC W 27–23
November 22 Pac-12 Washington State James Madison Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA W 24–20

Sun Belt vs. FCS matchups

The following games include Sun Belt teams competing against FCS schools.


Date Visitor Home Site Score
August 28 Saint Francis (PA) Louisiana–Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA W 29–0
August 30 Weber State James Madison Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA W 45–10
August 30 Southeast Missouri State Arkansas State Centennial Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, AR W 42–24
August 30 Morgan State South Alabama Hancock Whitney Stadium • Mobile, AL W 38–21
August 30 Nicholls Troy Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL W 38–20
September 6 Lindenwood Appalachian State Kidd Brewer Stadium • Boone, NC W 20–13
September 6 Charleston Southern Coastal Carolina Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC W 13–0
September 6 North Carolina Central Old Dominion S.B. Ballard Stadium • Norfolk, VA W 54–6
September 6 McNeese Louisiana Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA W 34–10
September 6 Jackson State Southern Miss M. M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MS W 38–20
September 13 Murray State Georgia State Center Parc Stadium • Atlanta, GA W 37–21
September 13 Eastern Kentucky Marshall Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV W 38–7
September 20 Maine Georgia Southern Paulson Stadium • Statesboro, GA W 45–17
September 20 Nicholls Texas State UFCU Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 35–3

Awards and honors

Player of the week honors

Week Offensive Defensive Special Teams
Player Team Position Player Team Position Player Team Position
Week 1[8] AJ Swann Appalachian State QB D'Arco Perkins-McCallister Louisiana–Monroe DB Tony Sterner Louisiana K
Week 2[9] Trequan Jones Old Dominion RB Luke Hodge Troy LB Tre' Brown Old Dominion WR
Week 3[10] Colton Joseph Old Dominion QB Ian Foster Southern Miss DB Dalen Cobb Georgia Southern WR
Week 4[11] Carlos Del Rio-Wilson Marshall QB Noah Arinze Coastal Carolina DL Evan Crenshaw Troy P
Week 5[12] Lunch Winfield Louisiana QB Trent Hendrick James Madison LB Curtis Harris-Lopez James Madison RS
Week 6[13] Jaylen Raynor Arkansas State QB Devin Lafayette Troy DB Dominic De Freitas Appalachian State K
Week 7[14] Tucker Kilcrease Troy QB Boogie Trotter Marshall DB Paddy McAteer Troy K
Week 8[15] Alonza Barnett III James Madison QB Treylin Payne Texas State LB Lorcan Quinn Marshall K
Week 9[16] Braylon Braxton Southern Miss QB Tirrell Johnson South Alabama LB Clune Van Andel Arkansas State K
Week 10[17] Alonza Barnett III (2) James Madison QB Demarcus Hendricks Arkansas State DL Clune Van Andel (2) Arkansas State K
Week 11[18] JC French IV Georgia Southern QB Josh Moten Southern Miss DB Tripp Bryant Georgia Southern K
Week 12[19] OJ Arnold Georgia Southern RB Kris Trinidad Old Dominion DL Braeden McAlister Georgia State K
Week 13[20] Kentrel Bullock South Alabama RB Drew Spinogatti James Madison LB Ian Ratliff Appalachian State P
Week 14[21] Camden Brown Georgia Southern RB Jaden Dugger Louisiana LB Jordan Sample Arkansas State LB

Sun Belt individual awards

Main article: Sun Belt Conference football individual awards

The following individuals received postseason honors as voted by the Sun Belt Conference football coaches at the end of the season.[22]

Award Player School
Player of the Year Alonza Barnett James Madison
Offensive Player of the Year Colton Joseph Old Dominion
Defensive Player of the Year Trent Hendrick James Madison
Freshman Player of the Year Sahir West James Madison
Newcomer of the Year Camden Brown Georgia Southern
Coach of the Year Bob Chesney James Madison

All-Conference teams

The following players were selected as part of the Sun Belt's All-Conference Teams.[22]

Notes

  1. ^ Appalachian State was selected as the second team for the Birmingham Bowl despite being in-conference with Georgia Southern, as all teams ahead of Appalachian State in the selection process declined the invitation.

References

  1. ^ a b "Sun Belt Announces 2025 Football Schedule". sunbeltsports.org. Sun Belt Conference. February 28, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Sun Belt Announces 2025 Football Preseason Awards & Poll". Sun Belt Sports. July 21, 2025. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  3. ^ Sklar, Sam (October 20, 2024). "Will Hall fired by Southern Miss football in 4th season as coach". hattiesburgamerican.com. Hattiesburg American. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  4. ^ Thamel, Pete (December 8, 2024). "Last-place Southern Miss hires Marshall coach Charles Huff". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  5. ^ Gillenwater, Sam (December 2, 2024). "Appalachian State fires Shawn Clark". On3. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  6. ^ "Loggains Tabbed as App State Football Head Coach" (Press release). Appalachian State Mountaineers. December 7, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  7. ^ "Tony Gibson Named As Marshall's 32nd Head Football Coach" (Press release). Marshall Thundering Herd. December 8, 2024. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  8. ^ "App State's Swann, ULM's Perkins-McCallister & Louisiana's Sterner Secure Sun Belt Football Weekly Honors". sunbeltsports.org. Sun Belt Conference. September 1, 2025. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  9. ^ "Old Dominion's Jones, Troy's Hodge & Old Dominion's Brown III Claim Sun Belt Football Weekly Accolades". sunbeltsports.org. Sun Belt Conference. September 8, 2025. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  10. ^ "Old Dominion's Joseph, Southern Miss' Foster & Georgia Southern's Cobb Earn Sun Belt Football Weekly Awards". sunbeltsports.org. Sun Belt Conference. September 15, 2025. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  11. ^ "Marshall's Del Rio-Wilson, Coastal Carolina's Arinze & Troy's Crenshaw Reap Sun Belt Football Weekly Honors". sunbeltsports.org. Sun Belt Conference. September 22, 2025. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  12. ^ "Louisiana's Winfield, James Madison's Hendrick & James Madison's Harris-Lopez Claim Sun Belt Football Weekly Accolades". sunbeltsports.org. Sun Belt Conference. September 29, 2025. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  13. ^ "Arkansas State's Raynor, Troy's Lafayette & App State's De Freitas Secure Sun Belt Football Weekly Awards". sunbeltsports.org. Sun Belt Conference. October 6, 2025. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  14. ^ "Troy's Kilcrease, Marshall's Trotter & Troy's McAteer Reap Sun Belt Football Weekly Accolades". sunbeltsports.org. Sun Belt Conference. October 13, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  15. ^ "James Madison's Barnett, Texas State's Payne & Marshall's Quinn Earn Sun Belt Football Weekly Honors". sunbeltsports.org. Sun Belt Conference. October 20, 2025. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  16. ^ "Southern Miss' Braxton, South Alabama's Johnson & Arkansas State's Van Andel Secure Sun Belt Football Weekly Accolades". sunbeltsports.org. Sun Belt Conference. October 27, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  17. ^ "James Madison's Barnett, Arkansas State's Hendricks & Arkansas State's Van Andel Reap Sun Belt Football Weekly Awards". sunbeltsports.org. Sun Belt Conference. November 3, 2025. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  18. ^ "Career-Best Performances Propel Georgia Southern's French IV, Southern Miss' Moten & Georgia Southern's Bryant to Sun Belt Football Weekly Accolades". sunbeltsports.org. Sun Belt Conference. November 10, 2025. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  19. ^ "Georgia Southern's Arnold, Old Dominion's Trinidad & Georgia State's McAlister Reap Sun Belt Football Weekly Honors". sunbeltsports.org. Sun Belt Conference. November 17, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  20. ^ "South Alabama's Bullock, James Madison's Spinogatti & App State's Ratliff Earn Penultimate Sun Belt Football Weekly Accolades". sunbeltsports.org. Sun Belt Conference. November 24, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  21. ^ "Georgia Southern's Brown, Louisiana's Dugger & Arkansas State's Sample Claim Final Sun Belt Football Weekly Honors". sunbeltsports.org. Sun Belt Conference. December 1, 2025. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  22. ^ a b "Sun Belt Announces 2025 Football Postseason Awards & All-Conference Teams". sunbeltsports.org. Sun Belt Conference. December 4, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
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