There have only been five teams that have played in the Sun Belt Championship since the game was established in 2018 — Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Louisiana, Troy, and Marshall.
Louisiana has five appearances while App State has four. Coastal Carolina and Troy both have two (although the 2020 contest between CCU and ULL was canceled). Marshall’s lone championship came when the Thundering Herd defeated Louisiana 31-3 in last year’s league title game.
It seemed that throughout the past decade, once Week 1 rolled around, we had a strong idea which teams were going to be at the top of the standings at the end of the season. Last year was different, however, and it was really anybody’s league to win. Entering the season, Marshall had some of the longest odds and was +1600 to claim the Sun Belt crown.
This year could be the same story with a team coming out of nowhere to win it.
A Tuesday night matchup between James Madison and Texas State in late October could dictate if one of these squads plays in the championship game, but the title game could also be a rematch between those cross-divisional opponents.
Here are some other takeaways from the 2025 Sun Belt football schedule.
No Power Four Matchup For App State
If the Mountaineers want to get back to the top of the conference, this season’s schedule could provide the opportunity to do so. They’re the only team in the league that doesn’t face a P4 program and most of their — expected — difficult conference matchups will be played at home.
App State does travel to Boise State in Week 5 and will visit James Madison on Nov. 15. These should be looked at as opportunities, however, for this fresh coaching staff to earn statement victories.
The Mountaineers also avoid playing Texas State, Louisiana, and South Alabama.
Not An Easy Path For Marshall To Defend Its Title
Like the Mountaineers, Marshall draws some of its best opponents at home, including Texas State, JMU, and Georgia Southern. Still, those will be tough outings for a program that had a coaching change and a roster overhaul following its Sun Belt Championship season.
The Herd visit Louisiana, Coastal, and App State, making it one of the more daunting schedules in the league.
Georgia State Gets No Favors
There are only three schools in the league that face two Power Four teams this season, and Georgia State is one of them. The Panthers have dates with two SEC schools — Ole Miss and Vanderbilt — and have a week off before a brutal October slate where they face JMU, App State, South Alabama, and Georgia Southern.
Things may get a little easier down the stretch, but the Panthers have three road games in November. It’ll be a tall task to surpass last year’s three wins.
No Southern Miss-Marshall Reunion
As much intrigue as it would bring, we unfortunately won’t see Southern Miss coach Charles Huff and the 19 players who went with him meet their former team.
The Road To The College Football Playoff
There’s a chance that a G5 representative in the CFP could come from the Sun Belt, but one team has to prove its dominance while the league takes care of contests against other G5 schools.
Some of those noteworthy games include JMU at Liberty in Week 4, South Alabama vs. Tulane in Week 2, and App State at Boise State in Week 5.
We’ll Learn Plenty About Georgia Southern Early
If GASO handles business early, then the path to a Sun Belt Championship becomes easier and easier.
There’s a chance the fate of the Eagles’ season is decided in a Week 5 meeting with JMU, which will cap a brutal start to the season that includes making two trips to the West Coast in Weeks 1 and 2 to visit Fresno State and USC. They then face Jacksonville State in Week 3.
