The Sun Belt Conference just dropped its 2026 football schedule, and honestly, fans can’t stop talking about it. This season looks like it’ll be another wild ride, especially after that historic 2025 run where the Sun Belt finally broke into the College Football Playoff (CFP).
With a stacked lineup and those classic regional rivalries, the Sun Belt seems ready to keep the energy high. You can feel the anticipation building already.
Sun Belt Conference: A Rising Power
The Sun Belt’s really been making moves lately, earning a reputation as a legit contender in college football. Just last season, six teams from the conference popped up in the CFP Selection Day Rankings over the last seven years.
That first CFP berth? Huge moment. The Sun Belt put itself on the map in a big way.
Leading the Pack in Bowl Season
Let’s talk Bowl Season. For the fourth year in a row, the Sun Belt led all non-autonomy conferences in bowl representation.
Their bowl winning percentage sits at .548 during the CFP era—pretty impressive, honestly. Only the Big Ten and SEC have done better.
2026 Season Structure
So, 2026 marks the 26th season of Sun Belt football. The schedule’s got 56 league games on tap.
Each team plays eight conference games—six against their division, two cross-division. Keeps things balanced and, well, a little unpredictable.
Divisional Breakdown
The Sun Belt splits into East and West Divisions. The East Division includes:
- App State
- Coastal Carolina
- Georgia Southern
- Georgia State
- James Madison
- Marshall
- Old Dominion
Meanwhile, out West, you’ll find:
- Arkansas State
- Louisiana
- ULM
- Louisiana Tech
- South Alabama
- Southern Miss
- Troy
Midweek Showdowns on ESPN Platforms
Something fans seem to love: midweek games. Thirteen programs will get the spotlight in these matchups, all airing on ESPN platforms.
It’s more chances to catch your team in action, and honestly, who doesn’t want a little football to break up the week?
Key Midweek Matchups
Some games you might want to circle:
- Thursday, Sept. 24: Liberty at Coastal Carolina
- Tuesday, Oct. 6: Southern Miss at Troy
- Thursday, Oct. 8: South Alabama at Arkansas State
- Thursday, Oct. 15: Georgia Southern at Old Dominion
- Friday, Oct. 16: App State at Coastal Carolina
- Tuesday, Oct. 20: South Alabama at Marshall
- Thursday, Oct. 22: James Madison at App State
- Thursday, Oct. 29: Troy at James Madison
Kickoff times and TV details for all midweek games, plus the first three weekends, will drop in late May. Still waiting on the exact date for Arkansas State at Louisiana Tech, too. The rest will come out on the usual 12-day schedule.
Team-by-Team Schedules
The 2026 schedule’s got a good mix of conference and non-conference games for everyone. Here’s a quick look at what each team’s facing in both divisions.
Sun Belt East Division
- App State: Big games against North Carolina State, James Madison, and Georgia Southern.
- Coastal Carolina: Opens at West Virginia and hosts Liberty for a midweek battle.
- Georgia Southern: Heads to Clemson and has a midweek clash with Old Dominion.
- Georgia State: On the road at UCF and hosting James Madison.
- James Madison: Faces Liberty, San Diego State, and App State.
- Marshall: Starts at Penn State, plus a midweek matchup with South Alabama.
- Old Dominion: Takes on Virginia Tech, East Carolina, and James Madison.
Sun Belt West Division
- Arkansas State: Opens at Memphis and gets South Alabama midweek.
- Louisiana: Travels to USC and faces ULM midweek.
- ULM: Plays Mississippi State and Louisiana Tech.
- Louisiana Tech: Starts with Northwestern State and hosts Arkansas State midweek.
- South Alabama: Heads to Kentucky and faces Marshall midweek.
- Southern Miss: Opens with Alcorn State and gets Troy midweek.
- Troy: Meets Missouri, Utah State, and James Madison.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
The 2026 Sun Belt football season is creeping up, and honestly, it’s hard not to feel a little excited. Fans are in for a wild ride, with games that should be packed with drama and those classic, heated rivalries.
There’s a strong lineup of teams this year. The Sun Belt Conference really seems determined to make its mark as one of college football’s top contenders.
If you’re curious about the full 2026 Sun Belt football schedule, you can check it out on the official Sun Belt Conference website.
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