Sun Belt Team Previews, Computer Projections, and Preseason Poll

August 20, 2022 by SunBeltSports.org and CollegeFootballPoll.com Staff

NEW ORLEANS — The new Sun Belt is somewhat new and improved with the additions of Marshall, Old Dominion and Southern Miss from Conference USA, and the welcoming of James Madison from the FCS.

The West is still expected to be ruled by Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns, but the East goes to Georgia State. The Sun Belt Media Poll likes rematch of the 2021 title game between UL-L and Appalachian State which are the only teams ever to have physically played in the conference title game. The Ragin Cajuns and Mountaineers faced-off in 2018, 2019 and 2021. The 2020 game between Coastal Carolina and Louisiana was canceled de to Covid. 

SUN BELT PREDICTIONS - CONGROVE COMPUTER RANKINGS

CONF.	NAT'L	TEAM	CONF.	POWER	RANK	W	L	CW	CL	SCHED
1	29	Georgia State	Sun-E	72.58	60.48	10	2	8	0	84
2	42	Appalachian State	Sun-E	65.36	49.02	9	3	7	1	109
3	66	Old Dominion	Sun-E	64.45	37.60	7	5	6	2	89
4	81	Coastal Carolina	Sun-E	59.29	29.65	6	6	4	4	120
5	90	Marshall	Sun-E	57.89	24.12	5	7	3	5	98
6	105	James Madison	Sun-E	52.73	14.38	3	8	2	6	114
7	121	Georgia Southern	Sun-E	51.00	8.50	2	10	1	7	100
1	28	Louisiana-Lafayette	Sun-W	66.04	60.54	11	1	8	0	124
2	56	South Alabama	Sun-W	60.26	40.17	8	4	6	2	129
3	77	Troy	Sun-W	61.62	30.81	6	6	4	4	107
4	87	Texas State	Sun-W	53.88	26.94	6	6	3	5	131
5	106	Southern Mississippi	Sun-W	54.75	13.69	3	9	2	6	113
6	122	Louisiana-Monroe	Sun-W	50.63	8.44	2	10	1	7	77
7	130	Arkansas State	Sun-W	43.55	3.63	1	11	0	8	106
		*Georgia State hosts and defeats Louisiana-Lafayette in the Sun Belt Championship game

 

SUN BELT PREDICTIONS - CONFERENCE COACHES PRESEASON POLL

East Division
1. App State – 94 Points (10)
2. Coastal Carolina – 77 Points (2)
3. Georgia State – 68 Points (1)
4. Marshall – 62 Points
5. Georgia Southern – 35 Points (1)
6. James Madison – 31 Points
7. Old Dominion – 25 Points

West Division
1. Louisiana – 95 Points (12)
2. South Alabama – 79 Points (2)
3. Troy – 76 Points
4. Texas State – 41 Points
5. Southern Miss – 40 Points
6. Arkansas State – 37 Points
7. ULM – 24 Points

TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS

APPALACHIAN STATE

Reigning Sun Belt East Division champion App State will kick off its 2022 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 3, when it plays host to in-state foe UNC at 12 noon ET/11 a.m. CT live on ESPNU.

The Tar Heels first visit to Kidd Brewer Stadium has already been announced as a sellout. The Mountaineers won the most recent meeting—34-31 at UNC in 2019.

App State’s non-conference slate also features a visit to Texas A&M (Sept. 10) and home games against The Citadel (Oct. 1) and Robert Morris (Oct. 29).

The Mountaineers were picked to win the Sun Belt East Division and advance to their fourth Sun Belt Football Championship Game in the event’s five-year existence in last month’s 2022 Sun Belt Football Preseason Coaches Poll.

Third-year head coach Shawn Clark will guide a roster that returns 10 All-Sun Belt selections from 2021 and had eight players named to the 2022 Preseason All-Sun Belt teams. The Mountaineers also had 12 student-athletes listed on national preseason award watch lists ahead of the 2022 campaign.

App State has advanced to a bowl game in each of the past seven seasons.

2022 SCHEDULE (* Sun Belt Conference Game)

9/3	UNC
9/10	at Texas A&M
9/17	Troy*
9/24	James Madison*
10/1	The Citadel
10/8	at Texas State*
10/19	Georgia State*
10/29	Robert Morris
11/3	at Coastal Carolina*
11/12	at Marshall*
11/19	Old Dominion*
11/26	at Georgia Southern*

2021 ALL-SUN BELT RETURNERS
First Team
RB – Nate Noel, App State (So., RB – Miami, Fla.) 
OL – Cooper Hodges, App State (RS Jr., OL – Glen St. Mary, Fla.) 
DB – Steven Jones Jr., App State (RS Sr., DB – Rockingham, N.C.)

Second Team
RB – Camerun Peoples, App State (RS Jr., RB – Lineville, Ala.) 
LB – Trey Cobb, App State (Sr., LB – Waycross, Ga.) 

Third Team
QB – Chase Brice, App State (RS Sr., QB – Grayson, Ga.) 
OL – Anderson Hardy, App State (RS Jr., OL – Raleigh, N.C.) 
LB – Nick Hampton, App State (RS Jr., LB – Anderson, S.C.) 

Honorable Mention
TE – Henry Pearson (Sr., TE – Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J.) 
DL – Jordon Earle (RS Jr., DL – West Palm Beach, Fla.) 

2022 PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS
First Team
RB – Camerun Peoples, App State (RS Jr., RB – Lineville, Ala.) 
OL – Cooper Hodges, App State (RS Jr., OL – Glen St. Mary, Fla.) 

Second Team
QB – Chase Brice, App State (RS Sr., QB – Grayson, Ga.) 
RB – Nate Noel, App State (So., RB – Miami, Fla.) 
OL – Damion Daley, App State (RS Jr., OL – Columbia, S.C.) 
LB – Nick Hampton, App State (RS Jr., LB – Anderson, S.C.) 
LB – Trey Cobb, App State (Sr., LB – Waycross, Ga.) 
DB – Steven Jones Jr., App State (RS Sr., DB – Rockingham, N.C.)

COASTAL CAROLINA

Following an 11-2 campaign and its first-ever bowl victory in 2021, Coastal Carolina will commence its 2022 season on Saturday, Sept. 3, when it welcomes Army to Brooks Stadium at 7 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. live on ESPN+.

The matchup will be the first-ever meeting between the Chanticleers and Black Knights and is 1-of-4 first-time matchups on Coastal Carolina’s schedule this season—joining Marshall, Southern Miss and Virginia.

Coastal Carolina’s non-conference slate also features home games against Gardner-Webb (Sept. 10) and Buffalo (Sept. 17) and a road trip to Virginia (Nov. 19).

The Chanticleers were picked to finish second in the new-look Sun Belt East Division, behind reigning division champion App State, but were 1-of-4 teams to receive at least one first-place vote in the 2022 Sun Belt Football Preseason Coaches Poll.

In his fourth season as the full-time head coach, Jamey Chadwell will lead a roster that returns five All-Sun Belt selections from 2021 and had five players named to the 2022 Preseason All-Sun Belt teams. The Chanticleers also had 10 student-athletes listed on national preseason award watch listsahead of the 2022 campaign.

Paramount among Coastal Carolina’s returners is two-time Sun Belt Player of the Year redshirt junior quarterback Grayson McCall, who was also named the 2022 Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Sophomore defensive lineman Josaiah Stewart earned the 2022 Sun Belt Preseason Defensive Player of the Year nod, giving the team from Conway a clean sweep of the preseason individual accolades.

The Chanticleers have advanced to a bowl game in each of the past two seasons—the first FBS postseason appearances in program history.

2022 SCHEDULE (* Sun Belt Conference Game)

9/3	Army
9/10	Gardner-Webb
9/17	Buffalo
9/22	at Georgia State*
10/1	Georgia Southern*
10/8	at ULM*
10/15	Old Dominion*
10/29	at Marshall*
11/3	App State*
11/12	Southern Miss*
11/19	at Virginia
11/26	at James Madison*

2021 ALL-SUN BELT RETURNERS
First Team
QB – Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina (RS Jr., QB – Indian Trail, N.C.)
DL – Josaiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina (So., DL – Everett, Mass.) 
DB – D’Jordan Strong, Coastal Carolina (Super Sr., DB – Batesville, Miss.)

Second Team
OL – Willie Lampkin, Coastal Carolina (Jr., OL – Lakeland, Fla.)

Honorable Mention
RB – Braydon Bennett (RS So., RB – Greenville, S.C.)

2022 PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS
First Team
QB – Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina (RS Jr., QB – Indian Trail, N.C.)
OL – Willie Lampkin, Coastal Carolina (Jr., OL – Lakeland, Fla.) 
DL – Josaiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina (So., DL – Everett, Mass.) 
DB – D’Jordan Strong, Coastal Carolina (Super Sr., DB – Batesville, Miss.)

Second Team
DL – Jerrod Clark, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., DL – Dorchester, Mass.) 

GEORGIA SOUTHERN

Georgia Southern kicks off its first season under head coach Clay Helton on Saturday, Sept. 3, when it hosts Morgan State at Allen E. Paulson Stadium at 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT on ESPN3. 

The opening game the Helton era will be the first-ever meeting between the Bears and the Eagles.

Georgia Southern’s non-conference slate also includes visits to Nebraska (Sept. 10) and UAB (Sept. 17) and a home game against Ball State (Sept. 24).

The Eagles were picked to finish fifth in the new-look Sun Belt East Division in the 2022 Sun Belt Football Preseason Coaches Poll, behind four teams that qualified for Bowl Season a year ago—App State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State and Marshall.
 
Helton—who led USC to three conference championship games, a Rose Bowl championship in 2016 and a Pac-12 Conference title in 2017—will guide an Eagles roster that returns five All-Sun Belt selections from 2021 and had four players named to the 2022 Preseason All-Sun Belt teams. Georgia Southern also had three student-athletes listed on national preseason award watch lists ahead of the 2022 campaign.

The Eagles have appeared in bowl games in three of the past four seasons (2018, 2019, 2020). 

2022 SCHEDULE (* Sun Belt Conference Game)

9/3	Morgan State
9/10	at Nebraska
9/17	at UAB
9/24	Ball State
10/1	at Coastal Carolina*
10/8	at Georgia State*
10/15	James Madison*
10/22	at Old Dominion*
11/5	South Alabama*
11/10	at Louisiana*
11/19	Marshall*
11/26	App State*

2021 ALL-SUN BELT RETURNERS
Second Team
P – Anthony Beck II, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., P – Guyton, Ga.)

Third Team
OL – Khalil Crowder, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., OL – Carrollton, Ga.) 
DB – Anthony Wilson, Georgia Southern (RS Jr., DB – Columbia, S.C.)

Honorable Mention
WR – Khaleb Hood, Georgia Southern (Sr., WR – McDonough, Ga.) 
DL – Justin Ellis, Georgia Southern (6th Yr., DL – Roswell, Ga.)

2022 PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS
Second Team
DL – Justin Ellis, Georgia Southern (6th Yr., DL – Roswell, Ga.) 
DB – Derrick Canteen, Georgia Southern (RS Jr., DB – Evans, Ga.) 
P – Anthony Beck II, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., P – Guyton, Ga.) 
AP – Amare Jones, Georgia Southern (5th Yr., AP – Frisco, Texas) 

GEORGIA STATE

Georgia State, which won four-straight to close out the 2021 season, kicks off the 2022 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 3, at South Carolina at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+ and SECN+.

Head coach Shawn Elliott spent seven seasons on the Gamecocks staff, including a stint as interim head coach in 2015, before taking over at Georgia State in 2017.

Georgia State’s non-conference schedule also includes home games against a pair of teams from North Carolina—UNC (Sept. 10) and Charlotte (Sept. 17)—and a trip to West Point to take on Army (Oct. 1).

The Panthers were picked to finish third in the new-look Sun Belt East Division in the 2022 Sun Belt Football Preseason Coaches Poll, behind 2021 division champion App State and 2020 division champion Coastal Carolina.

Elliott—who has guided Georgia State to bowl games in 4-of-5 seasons at the helm—will lead a Panther roster that returns 10 All-Sun Belt picks from 2021 and had a conference-high eight players named to the 2022 Preseason All-Sun Belt teams. Georgia State also had six student-athletes listed on national preseason award watch lists ahead of the 2022 campaign.

The Panthers have appeared in bowl games in each of the past three seasons—including back-to-back bowl wins for the first time in program history in 2020 and 2021.

2022 SCHEDULE (* Sun Belt Conference Game)

9/3	at South Carolina
9/10	UNC
9/17	Charlotte
9/22	Coastal Carolina*
10/1	at Army
10/8	Georgia Southern*
10/19	at App State*
10/29	Old Dominion*
11/5	at Southern Miss*
11/12	ULM*
11/19	at James Madison*
11/26	at Marshall*

2021 ALL-SUN BELT RETURNERS
First Team
DB – Antavious Lane, Georgia State (RS Jr., DB – West Palm Beach, Fla.)

Second Team
OL – Malik Sumter, Georgia State (RS Sr., OL – Irmo, S.C.)

Third Team
RB – Tucker Gregg, Georgia State (Sr., RB – Chatsworth, Ga.) 
OL – Pat Bartlett, Georgia State (RS Sr., OL – Newtown, Pa.)
LB – Blake Carroll, Georgia State (Sr., LB – Lawrenceville, Ga.) 
DB – Quavian White, Georgia State (Sr., DB – Greer, S.C.)

Honorable Mention
RB – Jamyest Williams (RS Sr., RB – Athens, Ga.) 
TE – Aubry Payne (RS Sr., TE – Locust Grove, Ga.) 
DL – Thomas Gore (RS Jr., DL – Nashville, Tenn.) 
LB – Jordan Veneziale (Sr., LB – Dallas, Ga.)

2022 PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS
First Team
OL – Malik Sumter, Georgia State (RS Sr., OL – Irmo, S.C.) 
LB – Blake Carroll, Georgia State (Sr., LB – Lawrenceville, Ga.) 
DB – Antavious Lane, Georgia State (RS Jr., DB – West Palm Beach, Fla.)

Second Team
RB – Tucker Gregg, Georgia State (Sr., RB – Chatsworth, Ga.) 
OL – Travis Glover, Georgia State (RS Sr., OL – Vienna, Ga.) 
OL – Pat Bartlett, Georgia State (RS Sr., OL – Newtown, Pa.)
TE – Aubry Payne, Georgia State (RS Sr., TE – Locust Grove, Ga.) 
DL – Thomas Gore, Georgia State (RS Jr., DL – Nashville, Tenn.) 

JAMES MADISON

James Madison will begin its FBS tenure with a home game, when it hosts Middle Tennessee to open the 2022 season on Saturday, Sept. 3, at 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

While making the jump from the FCS to the FBS ranks, the Dukes will become just the second transitioning program to host another FBS school in its season opener, joining Buffalo in 1999.

James Madison’s non-conference slate also includes a home game against Norfolk State (Sept. 10) and a visit to Louisville (Nov. 5).

The Dukes were picked to finish sixth in the new-look Sun Belt East Division in the 2022 Sun Belt Football Preseason Coaches Poll, one spot ahead of fellow new member Old Dominion.

No stranger to the FBS level, where he spent 27 years as an assistant, Curt Cignetti will guide James Madison into a new era with a roster that returns five All-Conference selections from 2021 and had one student-athlete named to the 2022 Preseason All-Sun Belt teams.

The Dukes will aim to follow the path forged by a number of current Sun Belt members—most recently App State, Georgia Southern and Coastal Carolina—that have found success at the FBS level after transitioning from the FCS ranks.

James Madison had made eight-straight trips to the FCS Playoffs, including semifinal appearances in five of the last six seasons, before making the jump to the FBS and the Sun Belt. As a transitioning program, the Dukes are ineligible for the Sun Belt Conference championship game or a bowl game during the 2022 season.

2022 SCHEDULE (* Sun Belt Conference Game)

9/3	Middle Tennessee
9/10	Norfolk State
9/24	at App State*
10/1	Texas State*
10/8	at Arkansas State*
10/15	at Georgia Southern*
10/22	Marshall*
11/5	at Louisville
11/12	at Old Dominion*
11/19	Georgia State*
11/26	Coastal Carolina*

2021 ALL-CONFERENCE RETURNERS
First Team
WR – Kris Thornton, James Madison (RS Sr., WR – Manassas, Va.) 
OL – Nick Kidwell, James Madison (RS Jr., OL – Knoxville, Md.) 
LS – Kyle Davis, James Madison (Gr., LS – Waxhaw, N.C.)

Second Team
DL – Isaac Ukwu, James Madison (RS Sr., DL – Upper Marlboro, Md.)

Third Team
KR – Solomon Vanhorse, James Madison (RS Jr., KR – Alpharetta, Ga.)

2022 PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS
First Team
WR – Kris Thornton, James Madison (RS Sr., WR – Manassas, Va.) 

OLD DOMINION

Old Dominion will kick off the 2022 Sun Belt football season on Friday, Sept. 2, when it plays host to in-state foe Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT on ESPNU.

The game will be the Hokies first appearance in Norfolk since the Monarchs stunned then-No. 13 ranked Virginia Tech, 49-35, in 2018.

Old Dominion’s non-conference slate also includes visits to East Carolina (Sept. 10) and Virginia (Sept. 17) and a home game against Liberty (Oct. 1).

The Monarchs were picked to finish in the cellar of a deep new-look Sun Belt East Division in the 2022 Sun Belt Football Preseason Coaches Poll, with 5-of-7 teams in the division coming off of bowl appearances in 2021.

Head coach Ricky Rahne will guide an Old Dominion roster that returns nine All-Conference selections from 2021 and had three players named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt teams. Old Dominion also had six student-athletes listed on national preseason award watch lists ahead of the 2022 season.

Since becoming bowl eligible in 2016, the Monarchs have made a pair of postseason appearances, including five-straight games to close out the 2021 regular-season to secure bowl eligibility after a 1-6 start.

2022 SCHEDULE (* Sun Belt Conference Game)

9/2	Virginia Tech
9/10	at East Carolina
9/17	at Virginia
9/24	Arkansas State*
10/1	Liberty
10/15	at Coastal Carolina*
10/22	Georgia Southern*
10/29	at Georgia State*
11/5	Marshall*
11/12	James Madison*
11/19	at App State*
11/26	at South Alabama*

2021 ALL-CONFERENCE RETURNERS
First Team
TE – Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion (RS Jr., TE – Camp Hill, Pa.)

Honorable Mention
RB – Blake Watson, Old Dominion (RS Jr., RB – Queens, N.Y.) 
WR – Ali Jennings III, Old Dominion (Jr., WR – Richmond, Va.) 
OL – Nick Saldiveri, Old Dominion (RS Jr., OL – Waxhaw, N.C.) 
LB – Ryan Henry, Old Dominion (RS Sr., LB – Miami, Fla.) 
DB – Tre Hawkins II, Old Dominion (Sr., DB – Temple, Texas) 
DB – R’Tarriun Johnson, Old Dominion (RS Sr., DB – Wiggins, Miss.) 
KR – LaMaereon James, Old Dominion (So., KR – Norfolk, Va.) 
PR – Isiah Paige, Old Dominion (So., PR – Richmond, Va.)

2022 PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS
First Team
TE – Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion (RS Jr., TE – Camp Hill, Pa.) 
WR – Ali Jennings III, Old Dominion (Jr., WR – Richmond, Va.)

Second Team
OL – Nick Saldiveri, Old Dominion (RS Jr., OL – Waxhaw, N.C.)

ARKANSAS STATE

Arkansas State’s 2022 season will commence on Saturday, Sept. 3, when it hosts Grambling State at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT on ESPN3.

The second-ever meeting between the two programs will kick off the Red Wolves non-conference slate that also includes visits to Ohio State (Sept. 10) and rival Memphis (Sept. 17) and a home game against UMass (Nov. 12).

Arkansas State was picked to finish sixth in the Sun Belt West Division in the 2022 Sun Belt Football Preseason Coaches Poll, ahead of ULM.

Head coach Butch Jones will lead a Red Wolves roster that returns four All-Sun Belt picks from 2021 and had three players named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt teams. Arkansas State also had five student-athletes listed on national preseason award watch lists ahead of the 2022 season.

The Red Wolves appeared in nine-straight bowl games from 2011-19—and will look to make a return to the postseason in the second season of the Butch Jones era. 

2022 SCHEDULE (* Sun Belt Conference Game)

9/3	Grambling State
9/10	at Ohio State
9/17	at Memphis
9/24	at Old Dominion*
10/1	ULM*
10/8	James Madison*
10/15	at Southern Miss*
10/22	at Louisiana*
10/29	South Alabama*
11/12	UMass
11/19	at Texas State*
11/26	Troy*

2021 ALL-SUN BELT RETURNERS
Second Team
LB – Kivon Bennett, Arkansas State (RS Sr., LB – Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Third Team
WR – Te’Vailance Hunt, Arkansas State (Sr., WR – Texarkana, Texas)
P – Ryan Hanson, Arkansas State (RS So., P – Taylor, Texas)

Honorable Mention
TE – Emmanual Stevenson, Arkansas State (So., TE – Eufala, Ala.)

2022 PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS
First Team
LB – Kivon Bennett, Arkansas State (RS Sr., LB – Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) 
RS – Johnnie Lang, Arkansas State (RS Sr., RS – Palmetto, Fla.)

Second Team
WR – Te’Vailance Hunt, Arkansas State (Sr., WR – Texarkana, Texas) 

LOUISIANA

Reigning Sun Belt champion Louisiana—which has advanced to all four Sun Belt Football Championship Games—will commence its 2022 season on Saturday, Sept. 3, when it plays host to in-state foe Southeastern Louisiana at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

The teams last met in 2017, with Louisiana prevailing in a 51-48 shootout.

The Ragin’ Cajuns will also host Eastern Michigan (Sept. 10), before closing out non-conference action with a pair of road games at Rice (Sept. 17) and Florida State (Nov. 19).

Louisiana was picked to win its fifth-straight Sun Belt West Division title in the 2022 Sun Belt Football Preseason Coaches Poll, garnering 12-of-14 first-place votes. The Ragin’ Cajuns defeated App State, 24-16, in the 2021 Sun Belt Football Championship Game and won the 2021 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, 36-21 over Marshall.

Head coach Michael Desormeaux’s team carries an FBS-leading 13-game winning streak into the 2022 campaign. The first-year head coach will guide a roster that returns nine All-Sun Belt selections from 2021 and had five players named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt teams. The Ragin’ Cajuns also had five student-athletes listed on national preseason award watch lists ahead of the 2022 season.

Louisiana has appeared in four-straight bowl games—winning the last three, including the aforementioned New Orleans Bowl win over Marshall in head coach Michael Desormeaux’s first game at the helm.

2022 SCHEDULE (* Sun Belt Conference Game)

9/3	Southeastern Louisiana
9/10	Eastern Michigan
9/17	at Rice
9/24	at ULM*
10/1	South Alabama*
10/12	at Marshall*
10/22	Arkansas State*
10/27	at Southern Miss*
11/5	Troy*
11/10	Georgia Southern*
11/19	at Florida State
11/26	at Texas State*

2021 ALL-SUN BELT RETURNERS
First Team
P – Rhys Byrns, Louisiana (Sr., P – Rye, Australia) 
AP – Chris Smith, Louisiana (RS Jr., AP – Louisville, Miss.)

Second Team
DL – Zi’Yon Hill-Green, Louisiana (RS Sr., DL – New Iberia, La.) 
DB – Eric Garror, Louisiana (Sr., DB – Mobile, Ala.)

Third Team
RB – Chris Smith, Louisiana (RS Jr., RB – Louisville, Miss.)
LB – Andre Jones, Louisiana (RS Sr., LB – Varnado, La.)

Honorable Mention
TE - Johnny Lumpkin, Louisiana (RS Sr., TE – Atlanta, Ga.) 
WR - Michael Jefferson, Louisiana (Sr., WR – Mobile, Ala.) 
DB - Bralen Trahan (RS Jr., DB – Lafayette, La.)

2022 PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS
First Team
DL – Zi’Yon Hill-Green, Louisiana (RS Sr., DL – New Iberia, La.) 
DB – Eric Garror, Louisiana (Sr., DB – Mobile, Ala.) 
P – Rhys Byrns, Louisiana (Sr., P – Rye, Australia) 
AP – Chris Smith, Louisiana (RS Jr., AP – Louisville, Miss.)

Second Team
LB – Andre Jones, Louisiana (RS Sr., LB – Varnado, La.) 

ULM

LM will kick off its 2022 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 3, when it visits Texas at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on Longhorn Network.
 
The game will be the Warhawks second-ever trip to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

ULM will host Nicholls State (Sept. 10), before visits to Alabama (Sept. 17) and Army (Oct. 22) to round out non-conference play.

The Warhawks were picked to finish in the cellar of the new-look Sun Belt West Division in the 2022 Sun Belt Football Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
Head coach Terry Bowden will lead a ULM roster that returns four All-Sun Belt picks from 2021 and had two players named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt teams. 

ULM will look to get back to the postseason in the second year of the Terry Bowden era. The Warhawks own one all-time bowl appearance (2012)—though they have been bowl eligible on five occasions, most recently in 2018.

2022 SCHEDULE (* Sun Belt Conference Game)

9/3	at Texas
9/10	Nicholls State
9/17	at Alabama
9/24	Louisiana*
10/1	at Arkansas State*
10/8	Coastal Carolina*
10/15	at South Alabama*
10/22	at Army
11/5	Texas State*
11/12	at Georgia State*
11/19	at Troy*
11/26	Southern Miss*

2021 ALL-SUN BELT RETURNERS
Third Team
WR – Boogie Knight, ULM (Gr., WR – Jefferson, Ohio) 
K – Calum Sutherland, ULM (6th Yr., K – Keller, Texas)

Honorable Mention
DL – Caleb Thomas, ULM (Gr., DL – Mansfield, Texas)
LB – Zack Woodard, ULM (Gr., LB – Thomasville, Ala.)

2022 PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS
Second Team
WR – Boogie Knight, ULM (Gr., WR – Jefferson, Ohio) 
K – Calum Sutherland, ULM (6th Yr., K – Keller, Texas) 

SOUTH ALABAMA

The second year of the Kane Wommack era in Mobile will commence when South Alabama plays host to Nicholls State in its season-opener on Saturday, Sept. 3, at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

South Alabama is 3-0 in the all-time series, including a 41-40 overtime victory in the last meeting in 2016.

The Jaguars will visit Central Michigan (Sept. 10) and UCLA (Sept. 17) in non-conference play, before closing non-league action against Louisiana Tech (Sept. 24) at home.

South Alabama was picked to finish second in the Sun Belt West Division in the 2022 Sun Belt Football Preseason Coaches Poll—behind only four-time defending divisional champion Louisiana.

Head coach Kane Wommack will mentor a team that returns six All-Sun Belt picks from 2021 and had three players named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt teams. The Jaguars also had six student-athletes listed on national preseason award watch lists ahead of the 2022 season.

Since becoming bowl eligible in 2013, South Alabama has made a pair of postseason appearances—most recently in 2016. 

2022 SCHEDULE (* Sun Belt Conference Game)

9/3	Nicholls State
9/10	at Central Michigan
9/17	at UCLA
9/24	Louisiana Tech
10/1	at Louisiana*
10/15	ULM*
10/20	Troy*
10/29	at Arkansas State*
11/5	at Georgia Southern*
11/12	Texas State*
11/19	at Southern Miss*
11/26	Old Dominion*

2021 ALL-SUN BELT RETURNERS
First Team
DB – Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama (Sr., DB – Hattiesburg, Miss.)

Second Team
DB – Keith Gallmon Jr., South Alabama (Sr., DB – Mobile, Ala.)

Third Team
TE – Lincoln Sefcik, South Alabama (Jr., TE – Enid, Okla.)

Honorable Mention
WR – Jalen Wayne, South Alabama (Sr., WR – Spanish Fort, Ala.) 
DL – Wy’Kevious Thomas, South Alabama (RS So., DL – Riverdale, Ga.) 
P – Jack Brooks, South Alabama (Jr., P – Wagga Wagga, Australia)

2022 PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS
First Team
DB – Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama (Sr., DB – Hattiesburg, Miss.) 
DB – Keith Gallmon Jr., South Alabama (Sr., DB – Mobile, Ala.)

Second Team
WR – Jalen Wayne, South Alabama (Sr., WR – Spanish Fort, Ala.)

SOUTHERN MISS

 Southern Miss will kick off its 2022 campaign—its first as a Sun Belt Conference member—when it hosts Liberty on Saturday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

The Flames took the first-ever meeting of the programs, 56-35, in 2020.

The Golden Eagles will visit Miami (Sept. 10) and Tulane (Sept. 24) in non-conference action, bookending a home non-conference game against Northwestern State (Sept. 17).

Heading into the second year of the Will Hall era in Hattiesburg, Southern Miss was picked to finish fifth in the Sun Belt West Division in the 2022 Sun Belt Football Preseason Coaches Poll.

Head coach Will Hall will guide a Golden Eagles roster that returns eight All-Conference selections from 2021 and had a player named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt teams. Southern Miss also had three student-athletes listed on national preseason award watch lists ahead of the 2022 season.

The Golden Eagles have been to bowl games in four of the past seven seasons—most recently in 2019.

2022 SCHEDULE (* Sun Belt Conference Game)

9/3	Liberty
9/10	at Miami
9/17	Northwestern State
9/24	at Tulane
10/8	at Troy*
10/15	Arkansas State*
10/22	at Texas State*
10/27	Louisiana*
11/5	Georgia State*
11/12	at Coastal Carolina*
11/19	South Alabama*
11/26	at ULM*

2021 ALL-CONFERENCE RETURNERS
First Team
RS – Camron Harrell, Southern Miss (Sr., RS – Bradley, Ill.)

Second Team
WR – Jason Brownell, Southern Miss (Sr., WR – West Point, Miss.)

Honorable Mention
RB – Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss (So., RB – Miami, Fla.) 
DL – Josh Carr, Southern Miss (Sr., DL – Houston, Texas)
LB – Santrell Latham, Southern Miss (RS Sr., LB – Meridian, Miss.) 
LB – Hayes Maples, Southern Miss (RS Jr., LB – Hattiesburg, Miss.) 
DB – Malik Shorts, Southern Miss (RS Jr., DB – Bassfield, Miss.) 
P – Mason Hunt, Southern Miss (RS Sr., P – Wiggins, Miss.)

2022 PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS
Second Team
RS – Camron Harrell, Southern Miss (Sr., RS – Bradley, Ill.)

TEXAS STATE

Texas State will commence its 2022 season on the road at Nevada on Saturday, Sept. 3, at 5:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. CT on Nevada Sports Net.

The Wolf Pack won the lone prior meeting, 34-21, in San Marcos in 2012.

The Bobcats will host FIU (Sept. 10) and Houston Baptist (Sept. 24) in non-conference play, bookending a visit to in-state foe Baylor (Sept. 17).

Texas State was picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt West Division in the 2022 Sun Belt Football Preseason Coaches Poll, behind only four-time defending division champion Louisiana and a pair of teams that fell one win shy of bowl eligibility a year ago—South Alabama and Troy.

Head coach Jake Spavital will mentor a Bobcat roster that returns four All-Sun Belt picks from 2021 and had three of those players named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt teams. Texas State also had three student-athletes listed on national preseason award watch lists ahead of the 2022 season.

The Bobcats will look to advance to their first-ever bowl game in the fourth season under head coach Jake Spavital.

2022 SCHEDULE (* Sun Belt Conference Game)

9/3	at Nevada
9/10	FIU
9/17	at Baylor
9/24	Houston Baptist
10/1	at James Madison*
10/8	App State*
10/15	at Troy*
10/22	Southern Miss*
11/5	at ULM*
11/12	at South Alabama*
11/19	Arkansas State*
11/26	Louisiana*

2021 ALL-SUN BELT RETURNERS
Third Team
OL – Dalton Cooper, Texas State (So., OL – Prague, Okla.)
 
Honorable Mention
OL – Kyle Hergel, Texas State (Jr., OL – Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
LB – Jordan Revels, Texas State (Jr., LB – Houston, Texas)_
K – Seth Keller, Texas State (Jr., K – Colleyville, Texas)

2022 PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS
First Team
OL – Dalton Cooper, Texas State (So., OL – Prague, Okla.) 
K – Seth Keller, Texas State (Jr., K – Colleyville, Texas)

Second Team
OL – Kyle Hergel, Texas State (Jr., OL – Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

TROY

Troy will face an early test, as it visits Ole Miss in its 2022 season-opener on Saturday, Sept. 3, at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

The Rebels won the lone prior meeting, 51-21, in Oxford in 2013.

The Trojans non-conference slate also includes home games against Alabama A&M (Sept. 10) and Army (Nov. 12) and a road trip to Western Kentucky (Oct. 1).

After making the move over from the East Division, Troy was picked to finish third in the Sun Belt West Division in the 2022 Sun Belt Football Preseason Coaches Poll. The Trojans were listed behind only four-time defending division champion Louisiana and in-state rival South Alabama, which also finished one win shy of bowl eligibility a year ago.

First-year head coach Jon Sumrall will guide a Trojans roster that returns a conference-high 10 All-Sun Belt picks—tying App State and Georgia State—and had a conference-high five players named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team. In total, seven Troy student-athletes were mentioned on the Preseason All-Sun Belt teams, while 12 were listed on national preseason award watch lists ahead of the 2022 season.

In the first season of the Jon Sumrall era, the Trojans will look to get back to the postseason for the first time since a string of three-straight bowl appearances from 2016-18, during which Sumrall was the assistant head coach on Neal Brown’s staff (2015-17).

2022 SCHEDULE (* Sun Belt Conference Game)

9/3	at Ole Miss
9/10	Alabama A&M
9/17	at App State*
9/24	Marshall*
10/1	at Western Kentucky
10/8	Southern Miss*
10/15	Texas State*
10/20	at South Alabama*
11/5	at Louisiana*
11/12	Army
11/19	ULM*
11/26	at Arkansas State*

2021 ALL-SUN BELT RETURNERS
First Team
DL – Javon Solomon, Troy (So., DL – Tallahassee, Fla.) 
LB – Carlton Martial, Troy (Sr., LB – Mobile, Ala.)

Second Team
OL – Austin Stidham, Troy (Sr., OL – Russellville, Ala.) 
DL – Will Choloh, Troy (Sr., DL – Lawrenceville, Ga.)

Third Team
WR – Tez Johnson, Troy (So., WR – Pinson, Ala.) 
DL – Richard Jibunor, Troy (Jr., DL – Delta State, Nigeria) 
DB – TJ Harris, Troy (Sr., DB – Leesburg, Ga.)

Honorable Mention
RB – Kimani Vidal, Troy (So., RB – Marietta, Ga.) 
LB – KJ Robertson, Troy (Sr., LB – Alabaster, Ala.) 
DB – Reddy Steward, Troy (Jr., DB – Decatur, Ala.)

2022 PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS
First Team
OL – Austin Stidham, Troy (Sr., OL – Russellville, Ala.) 
WR – Tez Johnson, Troy (So., WR – Pinson, Ala.) 
DL – Javon Solomon, Troy (So., DL – Tallahassee, Fla.) 
DL – Will Choloh, Troy (Sr., DL – Lawrenceville, Ga.) 
LB – Carlton Martial, Troy (Sr., LB – Mobile, Ala.)

Second Team
DL – Richard Jibunor, Troy (Jr., DL – Delta State, Nigeria) 
DB – TJ Harris, Troy (Sr., DB – Leesburg, Ga.)