2024 Sun Belt Conference football season explained

2024 Sun Belt Conference football season
Color:
  1. 0A2240
Color Text:
  1. ffffff
League:NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision
Sport:Football
Pixels:200px
Duration:August 31, 2024 – December 7, 2024
No Of Teams:14
Draft:2025 NFL draft
Draft Link:2025 NFL draft
Season:Regular season
Finals:SBC Championship Game
Finals Link:2024 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game
Prevseason Link:2023 Sun Belt Conference football season
Prevseason Year:2023
Nextseason Link:2025 Sun Belt Conference football season
Nextseason Year:2025

The 2024 Sun Belt Conference football season will be the 24th season of college football play for the Sun Belt Conference (SBC). The season is scheduled to begin August 31, 2024 and conclude with the Conference Championship Game on December 7, 2024. The season will be part of the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The conference will consist of 14 football member split into two divisions. The conference released its full season scheduled on March 1, 2024.[1]

Previous season

See main article: 2023 Sun Belt Conference football season.

During the 2023 Sun Belt Conference season, the James Madison Dukes won the East division, while the Troy Trojans won the West division. James Madison was not eligible to play in the conference championship game due to NCAA rules regarding transitioning from FCS to FBS, and so East division runner-ups Appalachian State played in the championship game. In the Conference Championship Game, Troy defeated Appalachian State by a score of 49–23.

Preseason

Preseason Media Poll

The SBC released its preseason poll on July 22. Appalachian State was named the favorite to win the East Division, while Texas State was named the favorite to win the West Division.[2]

East
1 Appalachian State 96 (12)
2 James Madison 79 (2)
3 Coastal Carolina 67
4 Georgia Southern 50
5 Marshall 49
6 Old Dominion 32
7 Georgia State 19
West
1 Texas State 92 (9)
2 Troy 68 (4)
3 Louisiana 66 (1)
4 Arkansas State 65
5 South Alabama 54
6 Southern Miss 31
7 Louisiana–Monroe 16

Preseason All-Conference teams

PositionPlayerTeam
First Team Offense
QBJoey AguilarAppalachian State
QBJordan McCloudTexas State
RBJalen WhiteGeorgia Southern
RBIsmail MahdiTexas State
OLJacob BayerArkansas State
OLMakilan Thomas Arkansas State
OLCole PottsJames Madison
OLA. J. Gillie Georgia Southern
OLDaniel KingTroy
TEEli WilsonAppalachian State
WRKaedin RobinsonAppalachian State
WRDerwin Burgess JrGeorgia Southern
WRJoey Hobert Texas State
First Team Defense
DLSantana HopperAppalachian State
DLNate MarteyArkansas State
DLJustin RhodesGeorgia Southern
DLIsaac Walker Georgia Southern
LBNate JohnsonAppalachian State
LBMarques Watson-TrentGeorgia Southern
LBJason HendersonOld Dominion
LBBen BellTexas State
DBJordan FavorsAppalachian State
DBEthan Johnson Appalachian State
DBGavin PringleGeorgia Southern
DBJadin VoisinSouth Alabama
First Team Special Teams
KMason ShipleyTexas State
PRyan HansonJames Madison
RSZylan PerryLouisiana
APIsmail MahdiTexas State
PositionPlayerTeam
Second Team Offense
QBJaylen RaynorArkansas State
RBKanye Roberts Appalachian State
RBJa'Quez CrossArkansas State
OLChandler StrongGeorgia Southern
OLPichon WimbleyGeorgia Southern
OLTyshawn WyattJames Madison
OLLogan Osburn Marshall
OLEli RussTroy
TEKendall KarrCoastal Carolina
WRCourtney Jackson Arkansas State
WRCorey Rucker Arkansas State
WRJamaal PritchettSouth Alabama
WRKole WilsonTexas State
Second Team Defense
DLWill WhitsonCoastal Carolina
DLEric O'NeillJames Madison
DLJordan LawsonLouisiana
DLDenzel LowryOld Domimion
DLWy'Kevious ThomasSouth Alabama
LBCharles Willekes Arkansas State
LBKevin SwintGeorgia Southern
LBJordan VenezialeGeorgia State
LBKC Ossai Louisiana
DBT. J. SmithGeorgia Southern
DBChauncey Logan James Madison
DBTyrone Lewis Jr.Louisiana
DBKaleb CulpTexas State
Second Team Special Teams
KMichael HughesAppalachian State
PRobert ColeTroy
RSDeAndre BuchananGeorgia Southern
APJa'Quez CrossArkansas State

Head coaches

TeamHead coachPrevious jobYears at schoolOverall record Sun Belt recordSun Belt titles
style=Appalachian StateShawn ClarkAppalachian State (OL coach)50
style=Arkansas StateButch JonesAlabama (assistant coach)40
style=Coastal CarolinaTim BeckNC State (offensive coordinator)20
style=Georgia SouthernClay HeltonUSC (head coach)30
style=Georgia StateDell McGeeGeorgia (RB coach/run game coordinator)10
style=James MadisonBob ChesneyHoly Cross (head coach)10
style=LouisianaMichael DesormeauxLouisiana (co-offensive coordinator)30
style=Louisiana–MonroeBryant VincentNew Mexico (offensive coordinator)10
style=MarshallCharles HuffAlabama (associate head coach)40
style=Old DominionRicky RahnePenn State (offensive coordinator)50
style=South AlabamaMajor ApplewhiteSouth Alabama (offensive coordinator)10
style=Southern MissWill HallTulane (offensive coordinator)40
style=Texas StateG. J. KinneIncarnate Word (head coach)20
style=TroyGerad ParkerNotre Dame (offensive coordinator)10

Rankings

See also: 2024 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
Final
Appalachian StateAPRV
CRV
CFPNot released
Arkansas StateAP
C
CFPNot released
Coastal CarolinaAP
C
CFPNot released
Georgia SouthernAP
C
CFPNot released
Georgia StateAP
C
CFPNot released
James MadisonAP
CRV
CFPNot released
LouisianaAP
C
CFPNot released
Louisiana–MonroeAP
C
CFPNot released
MarshallAP
C
CFPNot released
Old DominionAP
C
CFPNot released
South AlabamaAP
C
CFPNot released
Southern MissAP
C
CFPNot released
Texas StateAP
CRV
CFPNot released
TroyAP
CRV
CFPNot released
Legend
  Improvement in ranking
 Drop in ranking
 Not ranked previous week
 No change in ranking from previous week
RVReceived votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll
тTied with team above or below also with this symbol

Schedule

The 2024 schedule was released on March 1, 2024

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

Championship Game

Sun Belt records vs other conferences

2024–2025 records against non-conference foes:

Power 5 Conferences Record
ACC0–0
Big Ten0–0
Big 120–0
Notre Dame0–0
Pac-120–0
SEC0–0
Power 5 Total0–0
Other FBS ConferencesRecord
American0–0
C-USA0–0
Independents (Excluding Notre Dame)0–0
MAC0–0
Mountain West0–0
Other FBS Total0–0
FCS OpponentsRecord
Football Championship Subdivision0–0
Total Non-Conference Record0–0

Sun Belt vs Power 5 matchups

This is a list of games the Sun Belt has scheduled versus power conference teams (ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac-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 31 ACC Georgia State Georgia Tech Bobby Dodd Stadium • Atlanta, GA  
August 31 SEC Old Dominion South Carolina Williams–Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC  
August 31 SEC Southern Miss Kentucky Kroger Field • Lexington, KY  
September 7 ACC Appalachian State Clemson Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC  
September 7 ACC Marshall Virginia Tech Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, VA  
September 14 SEC Vanderbilt Georgia State Center Parc Stadium • Atlanta, GA  
September 14 ACC Virginia Tech Old Dominion S.B. Ballard Stadium • Norfolk, VA  
September 14 Big Ten Arkansas State Michigan Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI  
September 14 Big 12 Arizona State Texas State Bobcat Stadium • San Marcos, TX  
September 14 Big Ten Troy Iowa Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA  
September 21 ACC Virginia Coastal Carolina Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC  
September 21 SEC Georgia Southern Ole Miss Vaught–Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS  
September 21 ACC James Madison North Carolina Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC  
September 21 Big Ten Marshall Ohio State Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH  
September 21 Big 12 Arkansas State Iowa State Jack Trice Stadium • Ames, IA  
September 21 SEC Louisiana–Monroe Texas Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, TX  
September 28 ACC Louisiana Wake Forest Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium • Winston-Salem, NC  
September 28 SEC South Alabama LSU Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA  
November 16 SEC Louisiana–Monroe Auburn Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL  

Sun Belt vs Group of Five matchups

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

Date Conference Visitor Home Site Score
August 31 C-USA Coastal Carolina Jacksonville State Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium • Jacksonville, AL  
August 31 Mountain West Boise State Georgia Southern Paulson Stadium • Statesboro, GA  
August 31 American James Madison Charlotte Jerry Richardson Stadium • Charlotte, NC  
August 31 American North Texas South Alabama Hancock Whitney Stadium • Mobile, AL  
August 31 Mountain West Nevada Troy Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL  
September 7 Mountain West Georgia Southern Nevada Mackay Stadium • Reno, NV  
September 7 American East Carolina Old Dominion S.B. Ballard Stadium • Norfolk, VA  
September 7 American Tulsa Arkansas State Centennial Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, AR  
September 7 C-USA Louisiana Kennesaw State Fifth Third Bank Stadium • Kennesaw, GA  
September 7 American UAB Louisiana–Monroe JPS Field at Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA  
September 7 MAC South Alabama Ohio Peden Stadium • Athens, OH  
September 7 American UTSA Texas State Bobcat Stadium • San Marcos, Texas  
September 7 American Troy Memphis Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium • Memphis, TN  
September 14 American Appalachian State East Carolina Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NC  
September 14 American Coastal Carolina Temple Lincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PA  
September 14 American South Florida Southern Miss M. M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MS  
September 21 American Tulane Louisiana Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA  
September 21 C-USA Southern Miss Jacksonville State Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium • Jacksonville, AL  
September 28 C-USA Liberty Appalachian State Kidd Brewer Stadium • Boone, NC  
September 28 MAC Ball State James Madison Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA  
September 28 MAC Western Michigan Marshall Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV  
September 28 MAC Old Dominion Bowling Green Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH  
September 28 C-USA Texas State Sam Houston NRG Stadium • Houston, TX  

Sun Belt vs FBS independents matchups

The following games include Sun Belt teams competing against FBS Independents, which includes UConn, or UMass.

Sun Belt vs FCS matchups

Date Visitor Home Site Score
August 31 East Tennessee State Appalachian State Kidd Brewer Stadium • Boone, NC  
August 31 Stony Brook Marshall Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV  
August 31 Central Arkansas Arkansas State Centennial Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, AR  
August 31 Grambling State Louisiana Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA  
August 31 Jackson State Louisiana–Monroe JPS Field at Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA  
August 31 Lamar Texas State Bobcat Stadium • San Marcos, TX  
September 7 William & Mary Coastal Carolina Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC  
September 7 Chattanooga Georgia State Center Parc Stadium • Atlanta, GA  
September 7 Gardner–Webb James Madison Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VA  
September 7 Southeastern Louisiana Southern Miss M. M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MS  
September 14 South Carolina State Georgia Southern Paulson Stadium • Statesboro, GA  
September 14 Northwestern State South Alabama Hancock Whitney Stadium • Mobile, AL  
September 21 Florida A&M Troy Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL  

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sun Belt Unveils 2024 Football Schedule. March 1, 2024. March 2, 2024. sunbeltsports.org. Sun Belt Conference.
  2. Web site: Sun Belt Announces Football Preseason Awards & Poll. Sun Belt Sports. July 22, 2024. July 22, 2024.
  3. Web site: ULM to Seek New Leadership for Football Program. November 26, 2023. November 26, 2023. ulmwarhawks.com. University of Louisiana Monroe Athletics.
  4. Web site: Bryant Vincent Named ULM Head Football Coach. December 5, 2023. December 5, 2023. ulmwarhawks.com. University of Louisiana Monroe Athletics.
  5. Cignetti Named 30th Head Football Coach at Indiana University . Indiana Hoosiers . November 30, 2023 . November 30, 2023.
  6. Web site: Bob Chesney Selected to Lead JMU Football as New Head Coach. December 7, 2023. December 7, 2023. jmusports.com. James Madison University Athletics.
  7. Web site: Tulane hires Troy's Jon Sumrall on 6-year deal, sources say. December 8, 2023. December 8, 2023. espn.com. ESPN.
  8. Web site: Troy Hires Notre Dame OC Gerad Parker as head coach. December 18, 2023. December 18, 2023. espn.com. ESPN.
  9. Web site: Sources: South Alabama's Kane Wommack to join Alabama staff. Christ. Low. Adam. Ritenberg. January 15, 2024. March 2, 2024. espn.com. ESPN.
  10. Web site: Major Applewhite Named Head Football Coach at South Alabama. January 18, 2024. March 2, 2024. usajaguars.com. University of South Alabama.
  11. Web site: Georgia State HC Shawn Elliott joins South Carolina staff . espn.com . Low, Chris. February 15, 2024 . February 15, 2024 . en-US.
  12. Web site: Dell McGee Named Head Football Coach. February 23, 2024. March 3, 2023. georgiastatesports.com. Georgia State University.