For a roughly 11 day period, Sun Belt fans were asked to give their thoughts on the upcoming season.

There were 66 responses. Three of which, two from App State fans and one from a JMU fan, did not take it seriously and royally screwed up the rankings. After looking over their written answers, I determined these to be joke responses and deleted them. At least if you’re making a joke out of it, make the effort to rank the poll correctly. And BTW, yes those three fans voted for their teams to win the league. Their votes were not counted.

The numbers below are the average place finish out of the 63 votes and then [first place votes].

Sun Belt East

1. James Madison — 1.79 [37]
2. Georgia Southern — 2.84 [9]
3. App State — 3.11 [10]
4. Old Dominion — 4.13 [3]
5. Coastal — 4.54
6. Marshall — 5.25 [4]
7. Georgia State — 6.24

Sun Belt West

1. Louisiana — 1.79 [35]
2. Texas State — 3.17 [8]
3. Arkansas State — 3.70 [7]
4. South Alabama — 4.11 [4]
5. Southern Miss — 4.25 [5]
6. Troy — 4.51 [3]
7. ULM — 6.24 [1]

Who will win the 2025 Sun Belt Championship Game?

1. James Madison — 20
2. Louisiana — 13
3. App State  — 7
4. Georgia Southern — 5
5. Arkansas State — 4
6. Marshall — 4
7. South Alabama — 2
8. Old Dominion — 2
9. Southern Miss — 2
10. Texas State — 2
11. ULM — 1
12. Troy — 1

Yeah, someone picked ULM. Poor Coastal and Georgia State.

JMU and Louisiana were the runaway first-place teams in each division. Understandable because out of all the top teams, they have the most returning. In this time in college football history, having a lot of people returning and having some success will get you picked high.

Georgia Southern was one Marshall play away from going to (and likely winning) the Sun Belt Championship last season, so there’s a lot of expectations in Statesboro.

As an App State fan myself, I know there’s a bias toward the Mountaineers. However, I will say that even if you take out the App State fans who voted in this poll, the Mountaineers would still be picked third in the Sun Belt East, although their first place voted and title game picks would about be cut in half.

People are still tepid about Texas State, who has never won more than eight games while in the Sun Belt. Idaho won nine games once in the Sun Belt. Can the Bobcats break through in their swan song before joining the zombie Pac-12?

Yes, Marshall fans voted for Marshall to win, even though the defending Sun Belt Champs are essentially in Hattiesburg.

USA, Ark State, Southern Miss and Texas State are all bunched close together, because they typically end up that way. Bit surprised Troy is in sixth because they rebounded a bit from a terrible start to look half-decent at the end of 2024.

No one really knows with Coastal. People don’t know how Tim Beck will build upon his foundation, or if there’s really a foundation. They’d probably be better served not getting waxed by JMU every year.

ULM, once again, is in the fresh air and exercise club. I wonder if I did this poll a month ago before the whole AD saga happened if they would be ranked better, because Vincent did have them looking good at points last season, but ran out of juice near the end.

Georgia State seems one year away from turning any kind of corner. Dell McGee was just trying to survive last season and actually had the Panthers in several close games. Still, the voters are wanting to see results before giving them a chance.

Here’s answers to the two optional questions.

What are your overall thoughts of the upcoming Sun Belt football season?

• Pandemonium as usual in the East.  Cajun White and the 6 dwarves in the west.
• FUN!!!
• Best conference in the country
• Excited
• I think the conference will be pretty strong top to bottom, and that will make it irrelevant on the national stage.
• Weak sauce
• I think the SBC is stacked this year once again.  The West and East are both loaded.  It’s going to be exciting.
• I think we’ll likely beat each other up and see our champion get passed over by a worse G6 team.
• I just hope we can maintain our momentum and compete to be the best G5 once again.  We could make huge strides by providing the CFP rep, but we all know it’ll be tough to go undefeated in our league.
• Should have seven teams playing in bowl games.
• excited
• Great football.  Beat G5 conference
• Very excited and this we have a really good conference. Problem is that someone has to lose the games so the records won’t reflect how good each team actually is
• Hopefully a good OOC.  Then we pound each other.
• Need some big upsets or a CFP contender to stay relevant in comparison to the MW and American. Don’t want to be on the same level as MAC or CUSA
• Down slightly overall from the last few years
• Quality will be more like last season than 2022 or 2023
• West is wide open.  Two team race in the East
• I think the west is a log jam of programs at the top so we may very well see a lot of 7-5 or 6-6 teams come out of that side.  On the east I think it’s JMU and Georgia Southern well ahead of everyone else.
• This should be fun!
• Can’t wait, parity is good for CFB
• This year feels a little top-heavy with Louisiana and JMU returning the most production and coaching. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Louisiana turn into a G5-slot playoff contender and run away with the conference, especially if they can get past a Missouri team that lost a lot last year.
• We call it the Fun Belt for a reason, baby!
• Should be fun
• Sunbelt football is the best group of five. Has a decent shot at the playoff.
• Except the usual suspects to rule.
• Best g5 conference
• Excited! Tough conference and fun games.
• on the rise
• Should be very competitive.
• Dogfight
• Competitive as always with around 8-10 teams finishing 6-6 and making a bowl game. 
• Stronger than last season, more teams in bowls.
• crap shoot, so many question marks on 80% of the teams.
• Going to be a fun year.
• A little down from years past overall
• Excited. Not sure if anyone stands out for the CFP though. League is just so deep unlike American or MWC (Boise State).
• LETS GO
• Hard to say. Hope for some upsets against other conferences
• Best ball in the CFB, can’t wait for football and the SBC
• Excited
• Overall believe conference will be better in 2025 versus 2024.  There are several teams to watch who can make a run ‘if’ they can get it together early.  James Madison, Louisiana, Texas State, Georgia Southern and Southern Miss.  I’d also add, do not turn your back on Appalachian State.  Those guys are hard nose and possibly pissed off
• Lots of parity. I’m sure a dominant team will emerge but there are a few candidates for whom that will be.
• I think the East comes down to JMU and Georgia Southern, barring a surprise from one of CCU or ODU. The West has so many similar teams that I think there will be a lot of “cannibalization”
• So much swapping with the portal, hard to tell. The teams with major change up in personnel will take their lumps
• Strong
• Sorry to see TX State leave, glad USM has a coach that will hopefully bring them back to prominence. Overall, i think we are a little more thin with highly anticipated teams this year. West will be TX State and UL. East will be JMU and GS.
• We all need to step up
• Average season.
• Shifting but overall group of teams are getting stronger
• Both sides will be competitive for the division title, but in the end I look for Louisiana and James Madison.  Marshall and Southern Miss will surprise a few folks.
• Another great and successful season.
• Excited – Could be a crapshoot

Second, here’s the heavily-edited thoughts from Sun Belt thoughts on Louisiana Tech, which was an optional bonus question. The Bulldogs might or might not be in the Sun Belt in 2026 (I’m thinking they will be).

BONUS QUESTION: What are your thoughts on Louisiana Tech Football going into the 2025 season?

• Nuke Ruston
• crush CUSA then leave
• I think they are in CUSA still
• ….them winning CUSA and then leaving would be good for the SBC
• Not round here partna
• Boooooo
• Meh
• Will be mid pack in CUSA, will struggle in SunBelt until they build up a bit.
• Who cares.
• I like La Tech.  They’re a known, successful G5 brand from the 90’s/00’s, similar to Southern Miss, Marshall, Troy, and Louisiana.  They bring good baseball, and their basketball will be an upgrade (hopefully).
• They haven’t been relevant since before I was born, so eh. Take em’ or leave em’. They need a new logo.
• I want them to lose because they’re Tech.  But if they lose in CUSA and then start winning in SBC then CUSA posters will be like they can’t win games in CUSA so they had to go to the SBC to win games and that narrative will become annoying so I am pulling for them to win. Heck if anyone has to win CUSA it might as well be them on their way out.
• I believe they will win 5 games in 2025.
• suck
• They won’t be good…again
• Dont love the add. I understand regional rivalries and everything but you also dont need to add another Louisiana team, especially when the top 2 most popular teams from that state aren’t coming to the conference. If LT was a bowl team every year it would be a little better but they’re not and they’re going to a harder conference. Will make basketball better which is nice but I’m not sure if they made the tournament they win a game any way
• hopefully winning CUSA going out the door!
• Not an important addition, doesn’t add a whole lot of successful football value, slight downgrade from Texas St. Could’ve waited to see if American teams leave, but seems like movement isn’t done yet with PAC12 maybe adding, so wouldn’t be surprised if American or MW tries to take Sun Belt teams eventually
• Top four in CUSA
• A Monarch does not concern himself with the affairs of a Bulldog.
• Who cares
• They have a soft schedule this year, so if they don’t make a bowl game for the first time in the Sonny Cumbie era, then he’s never making it to the SBC.
• GET REKT, LA TECH. THE RIVALRY IN DIXIE LIVES ON.
• They suck
• Subpar season in conference USA, but may struggle in the Sunbelt
• They shouldn’t be in the Sun Belt so I’m not going to provide a valid opinion (0-12 most likely)
• Weak schedule so will go bowling
• Why did they keep Crumbie?
• Oof. I mean, I guess congrats to ULM. Louisiana Tech gained more out of this than SBC did. Think this could be something to look back on in a few years as a turning point.
• Who
• Improved
• Should do well in CUSA.   
• Been a rough few years, expect them to beat up on the sisters of the poor in CUSA and finish 4thish in conference.
• Where is Ruston?
• Unfortunately, doubtful in their ability to win CUSA on their way out. Probably finish 3-9 or 4-8.
• I think we should’ve waited, it’s not a terrible pick up, but without a need to add we could’ve picked someone up at a later time who fit better
• Bums
• Hope they exit with CUSA belt around their waste
• They’ll be better, but not enough to save their coach’s job.
• I know nothing about them to give an opinion.
• I hope they win the conference. Don’t keep up with Crap-USA teams…
• 5-7
• If ULM leaves im fine with them as a replacement. If ULM stays, Louisiana is too congested and LT doesnt make the Belt any better. Overall not a fan.
• I’ll have a more accurate assessment of them when they leave the conference of misfit toys.
• Excited
• I’m just glad everybody has been so welcoming and accepting of them
• Low expectations but if we lost ULM it would be an upgrade.
• Lower tier.
• No thoughts.  I’ll start paying attention to them going forward since they are coming, but haven’t cared to this point.
• Wellcome Dawgs.
• A solid addition, good brand

In the coming days, I will post the anonymous thoughts of all 14 Sun Belt teams in a random order determined by random dot org.