As the excitement of Sun Belt Conference football continues to build, primetime matchups are set to highlight the coming week. On Tuesday, October 28, at 7:00 p.m., James Madison, the preseason favorite from the East Division, will visit Texas State in a highly anticipated showdown broadcasted on ESPN2. The Dukes have made a strong start to their conference campaign, currently boasting a perfect 4-0 record. They previously claimed victory against the Sun Belt West Division frontrunner, Louisiana, and are now eager to extend their winning streak against Texas State, who has been narrowly edged in their previous matches this season.
The Bobcats, despite trailing by just one point at the end of regulation in their last three Sun Belt games, are still seeking their first conference win, finding themselves at 0-3 after close contests with Arkansas State, Troy, and Marshall. In their last meeting, James Madison dominated Texas State with a decisive 40-13 victory during the Dukes’ inaugural home game in the conference last season.
Further emphasizing the competitiveness of the league, Marshall will face Coastal Carolina on Thursday, October 30, at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2. Both coaches, Tony Gibson and Tim Beck, have previous ties as coordinators at NC State, and now they lead their respective teams with an eye on the Sun Belt Championship. Each team has just one conference loss and looks to maintain momentum heading toward a critical matchup against James Madison in the upcoming weeks.
Also notable is Old Dominion’s upcoming historic clash with ULM at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 1, which marks their first-ever encounter. The Monarchs have an opportunity to secure bowl eligibility for the third time in five seasons under coach Ricky Rahne, while ULM has been impressive in their defensive metrics, allowing only 1.13 sacks per game.
As South Alabama enters another crucial contest while trying to hold onto their bowl hopes, they will host Louisiana on the same day. Having won their last match against Georgia State, the Jaguars are aiming to build on that success but face a tough challenge against a Ragin’ Cajuns team that holds the historical advantage in their series.
Lastly, Troy, a co-leader in the Sun Belt West Division, will look to extend their five-game winning streak against Arkansas State on Saturday night, also on ESPNU. The Trojans, riding high after winning four consecutive games against teams that previously defeated them, aim to keep their strong momentum going.
These matchups promise to be pivotal in shaping the standings as teams vie for the chance to compete in the upcoming Credit Union 1 Sun Belt Football Championship Game. The implications of each game this week highlight the competitive spirit and excitement of Sun Belt football as teams push for success in a tightly contested conference.