College football arrives sooner than it feels, and while team preview episodes continue from The College Experience, we are rolling out full conference breakdowns. The season begins with Week 0 on August 27. Today I’m looking at the Sun Belt conference preview and will examine the key changes, review the odds, and share my Sun Belt Best Bets.
Sun Belt Conference Preview
The Sun Belt enters 2026 with notable realignment, several coaching moves, and active transfer-portal traffic compared with 2025. The conference remains at 14 teams and continues as the only FBS league that uses East and West divisions. Texas State left for the relaunched Pac-12. Louisiana Tech joined from Conference USA after settling exit disputes. The geographic footprint tightened slightly with the addition of Louisiana Tech, which keeps travel more manageable for most programs.
Coaching turnover hit a handful of programs hard. James Madison lost Bob Chesney to UCLA after a strong 2025 season that included a College Football Playoff appearance. The Dukes hired former Florida head coach Billy Napier, who previously enjoyed success in this conference at Louisiana.
Coastal Carolina fired Tim Beck and brought in Ryan Beard from Missouri State. Southern Miss saw Charles Huff depart for Memphis and promoted offensive coordinator Blake Anderson. Louisiana Tech arrived with its existing head coach, Sonny Cumbie. Most other staffs retained continuity. Dowell Loggains begins Year 2 at App State, Tony Gibson is in Year 2 at Marshall, and Major Applewhite remains at South Alabama.
Biggest Changes and Portal Impact
The transfer portal created significant roster turnover, especially at schools with new coaches. James Madison lost key contributors after the coaching change and postseason run. That includes quarterback Alonza Barnett III to UCF and running back Wayne Knight to UCLA. App State experienced heavy departures at quarterback and in the skill positions, with AJ Swann heading to Mississippi State and JJ Kohl to FIU.
Coastal Carolina, under Coach Beard, added a large number of transfers in an effort to overhaul the roster quickly. Marshall kept a solid core under Gibson, including quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, while adding depth. Troy returns defensive standouts led by defensive lineman Donnie Smith.
Odds to Win Sun Belt Championship
James Madison +270
Old Dominion +460
Louisiana +700
Troy +800
Marshall +900
Louisiana Tech +1000
Arkansas State +1200
South Alabama +1400
Appalachian State +1800
Georgia Southern +2600
Coastal Carolina +4500
Southern Miss +6000
ULM +10000
Georgia State +15000
| App State | Louisiana Tech |
| Arkansas State | Marshall |
| Coastal Carolina | Old Dominion |
| Georgia Southern | South Alabama |
| Georgia State | Southern Miss |
| James Madison | Troy |
| Louisiana | UL Monroe |
James Madison To Win The Conference (+270)
They’re a favorite for a reason and on paper, that reason is justified. Despite portal losses, Napier brings proven success in this league, and the Dukes still own the most complete roster. They sit atop the East polls and project as the clear talent leader.
In a division format that sends the top seeds to a December championship, that experience matters. The price does not fully reflect their projected ceiling in my opinion. They shouldn’t have too much of a problem taking this conference.
However, if you’re looking for a dark horse, sprinkle a little on App State at +1800. They’re always a feisty competitor, and we’ve seen them upset the big teams. Now they just need to consistently beat the little teams.
Troy Over 7.5 Wins (+150)
Troy over 6.5 wins stands out as another strong play. The Trojans are the West favorite in the coaches poll and return defensive standouts led by stud defensive lineman Donnie Smith. Continuity on that side of the ball and a manageable West schedule should push them well past the listed total.
I have them projected to finish 9-3 or 8-4. This fully supports the over, and could position them to make the title game.
Marshall Over 7.5 Wins (+105)
Marshall over 7.5 wins is another bet I really like in my Sun Belt best bets. Year 2 under Tony Gibson brings continuity and a strong returning core headlined by quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson. Last year, after transferring from Syracuse, he threw for over 2000 yards and ran for over 600. That was without starting every game. Another year of comfort in the offense should bring those numbers even higher.
The Thundering Herd retained key pieces while adding depth and sit firmly in the East’s upper tier. An 8-4 projection feels realistic against a competitive but beatable division slate, making the over attractive at the current number.
