Sun Belt Conference (FBS Group Of Five)
Overview: The 2021 season proved to be another banner year for the Sun Belt Conference, with four of its 10 teams qualifying for postseason play last fall while finishing 3-1 in bowl games, as Appalachian State (10-4 overall in 2021) suffered the league's lone loss after losing to Western Kentucky in the Boca Raton Bowl. Coastal Carolina outlasted Northern Illinois 47-41 in the Cure Bowl on December 17 for the Chanticleers' first-ever bowl win to finish the season at 11-2 overall. That was followed up by Louisiana knocking off future SBC member Marshall at the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl the following night (December 18) to finish a league-best 13-1 overall. Georgia State (8-6 overall) ended the Sun Belt Conference's postseason run on a winning note, with the Panthers crushing Ball State 51-20 in the Camellia Bowl on Christmas Day.
Looking ahead to the 2022 season, Louisiana will look to win its second straight outright SBC title after outlasting Appalachian State 24-16 in the 2021 championship game on December 4. While the Ragin' Cajuns hope to carry over a season-ending 13-game winning streak into this upcoming season, they must try to accomplish this feat under new head coach Michael Desormeaux, who replaced now Florida head coach Billy Napier at the end of last season.
If that wasn't enough, the Ragin' Cajuns also must try to build on the success of the last three years (34-5 overall since 2019) while welcoming four new members to the Sun Belt Conference in perennial FCS powerhouse James Madison, as well as Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Mississippi. The three latter programs join the SBC from Conference USA, with the Thundering Herd (New Orleans Bowl) and Monarchs (lost to Myrtle Beach Bowl) becoming bowl-eligible at the end of the 2021 season. JMU lost to eventual FCS national champion North Dakota State on December 17 to finish its season at 12-2 overall. The Dukes are ineligible for the SBC title because of their transition from the FCS to the FBS.
With the addition of the aforementioned four institutions listed above, expect more "fun" in the Sun Belt Conference this fall. In fact, don't be surprised if two teams other than Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, or Louisiana play for the league title come early December.
West Division
Arkansas State
Louisiana
South Alabama
2022 Schedules (Teams listed in alphabetical order, click the links below to access to find the schedules)
NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, it means that the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2022 season. When the team's schedule is submitted, the link (s) will appear in each blog post. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.
NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, it means that the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2022 season. When the team's schedule is submitted, the link (s) will appear in each blog post. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.
West Division
Arkansas State
Louisiana
South Alabama
*-Ineligible for the Sun Belt Conference title, transitioning from the FCS level.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
Follow RFC on Twitter @realfootball.
No comments:
Post a Comment