As the 2025 college football season approaches, the Sun Belt Conference stands poised to build on its growing reputation as one of the most competitive and entertaining Group of Five Leagues in the nation. Once viewed as an afterthought on the national stage, the Sun Belt has evolved into a battleground of rising programs, veteran coaches, and NFL-caliber talent. All while maintaining deep regional rivalries and passionate fan bases.
Last season saw familiar powers like Marshall continue their dominance and claim the title. However, the pecking order may change dramatically due to massive changes in the transfer portal. Meanwhile, multiple programs within the conference that are on the rise such as Texas State and Georgia Southern signaled that the league's middle tier is narrowing the gap. With the overall coaching stability across the conference and strong recruiting momentum, the Sun Belt is no longer just about dark horse upsets, it's about building sustained contenders that can challenge the Power Five on any given Saturday.
As realignment continues to reshape the college football landscape (something that will affect this conference next season with the departure of Texas State), the Sun Belt's identity remains clear: tough, fast, physical football played by programs hungry for respect and ready to claim the national spotlight. That identity also holds up from a traditional sense as the Sun Belt represents the only conference in major college football that still has divisions.
Here's what to expect from the Sun Belt in 2025 as I break down where every team stands entering the season:
14) ULM
The Warhawks were a minor surprise in Bryant Vincent’s first season as Head Coach after nearly leading them to a bowl game. However, losing Admad Hardy to Missouri plus the Sun Belt being arguably the best Group of Five Conference will likely make ULM the best 1-11 Team in quite sometime.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 114
- Potential Toss-Up Games: AT UTEP, Arkansas State, Troy, Old Dominion
- Record Prediction: 1-11
- Best Case Scenario: 5-7
- Worst Case Scenario: 1-11
13) Georgia State
Going into Year 2 of the Dell McGee Era, I do expect to see this Georgia State Team to improve with Ted Hurst leading the way as one of the best receivers in the Sun Belt. Will it be enough to keep up with the rest of the league though?
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 113
- Potential Toss-Up Games: Appalachian State, Marshall
- Record Prediction: 3-9
- Best Case Scenario: 3-9
- Worst Case Scenario: 1-11
12) Marshall
After seeing Charles Huff walk away to take the Southern Miss Job, this team will be a far cry from the 2024 Team that won the Sun Belt. When almost 75% of the entire roster is new faces, its going to create some growing pains.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 108
- Potential Toss-Up Games: Old Dominion, Texas State, AT Georgia State
- Record Prediction: 3-9
- Best Case Scenario: 6-6
- Worst Case Scenario: 3-9
11) Southern Miss
The most fascinating storyline in the entire Sun Belt has to be how Charles Huff performs in his first season as the Head Coach of Southern Miss. While the Head Coach is a proven winner and brought several players from his Sun Belt Championship winning team at Marshall, I question his ability to build a culture long-term as well as administration buy in.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 107
- Potential Toss-Up Games: Appalachian State, Texas State, Troy
- Record Prediction: 4-8
- Best Case Scenario: 6-6
- Worst Case Scenario: 3-9
10) Appalachian State
Dowell Loggains becomes the new Head Coach after the failure that was the 2024 Season. He’ll have his work cut out for him right away with only 5 returning starters and questions that will need to be addressed on the offensive line alongside the entire defense. They did bring in some interesting additions through the Transfer Portal such as LSU Transfer AJ Swann and Arkansas Transfer Rashod Dubinion which will raise the ceiling of this team.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 103
- Potential Toss-Up Games: AT Southern Miss, AT Georgia State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Arkansas State
- Record Prediction: 5-7
- Best Case Scenario: 8-4
- Worst Case Scenario: 3-9
9) Arkansas State
With the expected regression of the defensive unit in 2025, Jaylen Raynor is going to need to ball out in order to keep Arkansas State relevant this season.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 101
- Potential Toss-Up Games: AT UL Monroe, Texas State, Georgia Southern, Louisiana, AT Appalachian State
- Record Prediction: 4-8
- Best Case Scenario: 8-4
- Worst Case Scenario: 3-9
8) Coastal Carolina
There is no better word to define the 2025 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers than CHANGE. Between multiple new coordinators and a significant number of transfer portal additions, it might take some time for Tim Beck’s team to mesh.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 99
- Potential Toss-Up Games: East Carolina, AT Appalachian State
- Record Prediction: 4-8
- Best Case Scenario: 6-6
- Worst Case Scenario: 4-8
7) Troy
Gerad Parker’s squad showed signs of development late into his first season but can it be sustained through the 2025 campaign? He’ll have about half of his starting defense from last year returning plus All-Name Quarterback Goose Crowder returns after missing most of last season due to injuries.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 97
- Potential Toss-Up Games: South Alabama, AT UL Monroe, Louisiana, AT Southern Miss
- Record Prediction: 5-7
- Best Case Scenario: 8-4
- Worst Case Scenario: 4-8
6) Old Dominion
With the Monarchs having multiple rising stars on the team such as Colton Joesph and Jason Henderson, Old Dominion can certainly surpass my expectations and compete for a Sun Belt Championship if both players remain healthy.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 96
- Potential Toss-Up Games: AT Marshall, AT UL Monroe
- Record Prediction: 7-5
- Best Case Scenario: 7-5
- Worst Case Scenario: 5-7
5) Texas State
The Sun Belt Western Division is going to be the more hotly contested conference races in all of College Football… and Texas State has a legitimate stake at the claim too! Yes, this team will be filled with several new faces on the roster. But, GJ Kinne has figured out to reload at the G5 Level which is an incredibly rare trait to have.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 93
- Potential Toss-Up Games: AT Arkansas State, AT Marshall, AT Southern Miss, South Alabama
- Record Prediction: 8-4
- Best Case Scenario: 8-4
- Worst Case Scenario: 4-8
4) Georgia Southern
After achieving their winningest season under the Clay Helton Era, they’ll look to be a legitimate contender for the Sun Belt in 2025. At his disposal is JC French under center behind one of the strongest offensive lines in the Sun Belt. If the defense can also improve as well, look out!
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 87
- Potential Toss-Up Games: AT Arkansas State, AT Appalachian State
- Record Prediction: 9-3
- Best Case Scenario: 9-3
- Worst Case Scenario: 7-5
3) South Alabama
The loss of Gio Lopez during the Spring Transfer Portal window is going to sting. However, I’m still not concerned about the Jaguar Offense in 2025 with a capable signal-caller in Bishop Davenport waiting in the wings for Major Applewhite. It’s the defense that might prevent South Alabama from winning the Sun Belt due to only returning 3 starters from last year.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 86
- Potential Toss-Up Games: AT Troy, Louisiana, AT Texas State
- Record Prediction: 8-4
- Best Case Scenario: 9-3
- Worst Case Scenario: 6-6
2) Louisiana
After multiple stints in the SEC, Walker Howard now joins this Louisiana Team as the possible key cog that propels the Rajan Cajuns back into the Sun Belt Championship. However, that doesn’t mean this team isn’t without its fair share of question marks as Head Coach Michael Desormeaux will need to backfill losses on the offensive line and throughout the defense.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 80
- Potential Toss-Up Games: AT Troy, AT South Alabama, AT Arkansas State
- Record Prediction: 9-3
- Best Case Scenario: 10-2
- Worst Case Scenario: 7-5
1) James Madison
While Bob Chesney was able to guide the Dukes to an 9-win campaign in his debut season as the head coach, the expectations will be even higher as they are my favorites to win the Sun Belt this year. Regardless of the health of Alonza Barnett who is still recovering from a knee injury that was sustained late last season, this coaching staff did bring in multiple transfer portal options to hold the fort down while he fully recovers. Not to mention this team will possess one of the best defenses in the conference, and you have a recipe for success entering 2025.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 58
- Potential Toss-Up Games: AT Liberty
- Record Prediction: 10-2
- Best Case Scenario: 11-1
- Worst Case Scenario: 10-2
