2024 Sun Belt Football Conference Preview

2024 Sun Belt Football Conference Preview

The 2024 College Football season is right around the corner! Today, we are previewing the Sun Belt Conference, which features two of the best Group of 5 programs in the entire country! They also have divisions! Who do we have coming out of the conference? Without further ado, let’s dive into it!

West Division:

1. Texas State

Is G.J. Kinne the next best coach in America that not many know about? The 35-year-old went 12-2 with the best offense in the country (51.5 ppg, 581.2 ypg) in one season at Incarnate Word in 2022. He completely flipped around Texas State, an awful program under both Everett Withers and Jake Spavital, going 8-5 with one of the top G5 offenses. They return 18 starters–while getting James Madison transfer Jordan McCloud, the best QB in the SBC last year–and are my favorite to capture an SBC Title.

2. Arkansas State

As long as you didn’t want the Oklahoma or Memphis games last year, it was a successful season for Arkansas State. Butch Jones returns a ton of returning production, including dual-threat quarterback Jaylen Raynor, the reigning SBC Freshman of the Year. He’s put together multiple great recruiting classes and will have plenty of experience at all three levels defensively, which has improved each of the last three seasons. I think they could be a sneaky candidate to make it out of the West.

3. Louisiana

Louisiana will have a tough trek with games against Texas State, App. State and Arkansas State, but I think this squad will improve on both sides of the ball. Their defense took a step back last season, but their offense improved considerably and return one of the top offensive lines in the conference. Who knows how quarterback Chandler Fields performs under center and how their young stable of running backs supplements the production lost by Jacob Kibodi?

4. South Alabama

Both teams were gutted with new coaching staffs, but I am higher on South Alabama than Troy because of a more favorable schedule. Plus, redshirt freshman quarterback Gio Lopez was good in last year’s bowl game blowout over Eastern Michigan and I think their offensive line could be better. Major Applewhite was 15-11 at Houston, but I don’t quite think he has immediate success at South Alabama in year one.

5. Troy

Troy, who 11 games and the SBC Title last year, is due for a step back with four returning starters and a brand new coaching staff after Jon Sumrall’s departure. They have a pair of winnable games against Nevada and ULM, but there aren’t many layups on this schedule and there are too many personnel questions I have with this new staff.

6. Southern Mississippi

It’s been a very topsy-turvy three years under fourth-year head coach Will Hall, who’s coming off a 3-9 season after winning seven games in 2022. He recruited very well this offseason, but I still don’t love this offense despite the pieces–Jalil Clemons, Jalen Williams, Dylan Lawrence–it brings back on defense.

7. ULM

After winning their first two games against Army and Lamar, ULM lost their last 10 games by an average of 22.5 points. This is a rebuilding season for first-year head coach Bryant Vincent.

East Divison:

1. Appalachian State

The Mountaineers were fortunate enough to make the Sun Belt title game in spite of James Madison’s ineligibility, winning their last five regular-season games, including snapping JMU’s 13-game winning streak. They only return 11 starters, but return All-SBC quarterback Joey Aguilar plus their top four pass catchers. Despite losing their top two tacklers from a year ago, their front seven should be better and have one of the best corners in the conference in Ethan Johnson. With the Dukes losing as much production as they did, App. State is the clear favorite to represent the East in my mind.

2. Georgia Southern

Clay Helton’s offense revolves around what happens behind center, where they have plenty of question marks after Davis Brin‘s departure. Jalen White and OJ Arnold were both productive ‘backs and they return two of their top three pass catchers from a year ago. You have to hope they positively regress in the turnover department (-10) … right?!?!

3. Marshall

After a disappointing 6-7 finish, Marshall hit the transfer portal as hard as any Sun Belt team this offseason, bringing in over 30 new faces (according to 247Sports). Their quarterback play has to be better for this team to get back to where they were in 2022. Cam Fancher (who’s now at FAU) and Cole Pennington, the son of Chad Pennington, didn’t cut it last year. Charles Huff added plenty of depth along the defense, which inherits a handful of starters, at all three levels. I don’t think they get quite to the top of East, but I think they can make it competitive.

4. James Madison

Arguably a team that takes the biggest step back is James Madison, who underwent substantial roster turnover after head coach Curt Cignetti accepted a job at Indiana. Cignetti guided JMU to a 52-9 record with two SBC championship appearances in two years in the conference. Now, Bob Chesney, who went 44-21 with five straight conference titles at Holy Cross, now enters the fold. The Dukes lose All-SBC quarterback Jordan McCloud, their top three running backs, each of their top four pass catchers and eight of their top-nine tacklers. I think Chesney was a darn good hire. But I believe JMU lost too much to justify a top-3 ranking in the East, even though I don’t particularly love No. 2 or 3.

5. Coastal Carolina

Tim Beck did an amicable job in his first season with the Chanticleers, going 8-4, though replacing Grayson McCall (for a full season) will be a tall task. I also question what the top-end receiver talent looks like without Sam Pinckney or Jared Brown. I don’t think there’s much improvement to be had with the Chanticleers this season, even though I do like a few pieces on their defense, including Will Whiston, Juan Powell and Matthew McDoom (elite name).

6. Old Dominion

At least they still have Jason Henderson, a back-to-back second-team All-American; in most situations nowadays with NIL and the transfer portal, retaining talent of his caliber isn’t very common. The Monarchs had one of the nation’s worst offensive lines last season, so that must improve if they want to clinch their third bowl appearance in four years. I also don’t envy this team’s schedule at all.

7. Georgia State

When you have a coaching change in the middle of spring, I don’t like your optics for the upcoming season. First-year head coach Dell McGee is in a really tough spot. At Georgia, he showed he knew how to recruit. That said, it’s also Georgia. Georgia State isn’t Georgia. McGee doesn’t inherit a ton of talent and also faces a steep uphill climb from a schedule perspective.

Best bet:

• Texas State o8.5 wins (+108 on FanDuel)

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