Like most of the other non-autonomy conferences, the Sun Belt saw a lot of shakeup ahead of their 2026 Media Days. Numerous players and coaches have arrived or departed. Yet more interestingly, so have some programs. Texas State has left the SBC for the PAC-12 during realignment. Meanwhile, the Sun Belt adds Louisiana Tech from Conference USA. With that in mind, we’ll dive into some of the biggest questions ahead of this week’s event.
2026 Sun Belt Media Days
Ahead of the 2026 college football season, the Sun Belt conference has plenty of questions and concerns that should be addressed at their media days event.
Sun Belt Billy Returns?
After a less-than-stellar tenure at Florida, Billy Napier returns to the Sun Belt. This time, he’ll be coaching SBC-royalty in James Madison, who has been a powerhouse within the conference the last few years. Napier fills the shoes of Bob Chesney, who has become the new coach of the UCLA Bruins. Yet the biggest question surrounding Napier is if he can once again find success in the conference.
Napier had incredible success in his first head coaching gig at Louisiana, finishing with a 40-12 overall record and two conference championships. He was a stellar 27-5 in the conference, too, showcasing his ability to dominate the SBC.
There have been some rumors that Napier and the staff have not handled recruiting in the NIL era the right way. And, that may rub some people the wrong way. However, for JMU fans, the bigger question is if he can retain the dominance that the Dukes hold in the conference. Not only did they win the SBC last year, but James Madison also reached the College Football Playoff. While that feat is unlikely to be replicated, success needs to come early and often.
At the 2026 media days, deciphering what the culture around JMU is like, and Napier’s plans for the future will be important. Furthermore, with doubts around his handling of recruiting, clarification on some of these issues would be interesting to see resolved.
How Does the Conference Handle Realignment?
As mentioned at the beginning, the Sun Belt has already seen some team changes within the conference. However, there are other questions to be had about the future of the SBC.
With potential litigation forcing conference members to essentially be “stuck”, things could change – and quickly. With that in mind, a concern for the conference going forward is how the SBC will be able to keep teams like JMU within the conference. And, with the PAC-12 being viewed more as a non-autonomy conference, how can the SBC compete amongst the rest of the G6 in terms of revenue and growth going forward?
Conference changes are bound to happen in one way or another. However, how it’s resolved within the conference will be important. One move, or lack thereof, could be the difference between growth and failure.
Is Parity a Problem?
Currently, the Sun Belt is the only football conference that still has divisions. However, is parity currently a problem within the SBC?
The SBC West is a division full of competition, where multiple teams consistently fight for the top spot. However, the SBC East has primarily been ran by JMU. Some teams have had spark seasons in the East, but nothing consistent. And from a year-to-year perspective, that’s a problem.
Parity is going to be needed for the conference to thrive. While JMU will remain SBC royalty for the foreseeable future, the conference needs another program to step up. Many thought Georgia Southern could have been that nominee before a severely disappointing 2025 season. Domination isn’t a death blow to the conference, but it makes things uncertain if one of the better programs ever decides to leave for greener pastures.
How Does Louisiana Tech Fit In?
Louisiana Tech is the newest member of the Sun Belt Conference. The team joined the SBC on July 1, and will instantly look to make an impact in the conference. Geographically, the addition makes sense and rekindles some rivalries, which is always great for conference play. And fortunately for them, they have a lot of returning production for the 2026 season.
However, the question is how will the program adjust to a new conference? Being in the SBC West, they will have an uphill battle for conference relevancy. Further, how will the team perform under head coach Sonny Cumbie? While the Bulldogs had success in 2025, Cumbie was a paltry 11-26 in the three years prior. Was the move to the SBC based on merit, or more of an addition due to subtraction?
Conference USA is one of the weaker G6 conferences in the nation. They have some budding teams, but the overall value is lower in comparison to some of the other heavy hitters in the G6. Moving to the Sun Belt is a step up in competition. Yet, the results of Louisiana Tech in Year 1 could give a real glimpse at the talent disparity between the conferences. If the Bulldogs are wildly successful in their first year, what does that say to about the overall talent in the conference? Further, would it mean the possibilities of a complete G6 realignment are more realistic than previously thought?
Discover more from The League Winners
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
