2025 College Football Review: Sun Belt
Photo by Robert Simmons from The Associated Press
The Sun Belt may be the last conference that actually makes sense, having fewer teams and divisions and all that, but that didn’t stop it from being clear and obvious who the champion would be.
Biggest Surprise: Old Dominion Monarchs
A ten win season is always good if you’re a G5 school.
Add in a win over Virginia Tech, and that’s even better.
ODU was far and away the second best team in the conference this year, and many thought they’d simply fight for a bowl game.
Biggest Disappointment: Texas State
It’s hard for a 6-6 season to be considered a disappointment, but G.J. Kinne had made some great progress in his first two years at Texas State, winning 7 games in both.
I expected another leap forward for the Bobcats before they leave for the PAC 12.
Instead, they took a step backwards.
What I Got Right
Bryant Vincent almost made a miracle happen last year at ULM, getting them to a bowl game.
Then, he had to try to do it again, while also being the acting athletic director at the school.
That’s always too much on one plate for a football coach, let alone one coaching at a school who is usually weak.
The 3-9 season they put out proved I was right.
What I Got Wrong
I thought Charles Huff would have an iffy first year at Southern Miss and miss a bowl game.
After all, they went 1-11 last year and brought in a ton of new transfers.
But Charles Huff in year one got them to turn it around to 7-5.
It was a turnaround so good, that Huff left the job he was desperate to get for Memphis after just one season with the Golden Eagles.
Money talks.
Coach Of The Year: Bob Chesney
Curt Cignetti was the one who put JMU on the map in FBS football, but Bob Chesney will be remembered as the man who took them to their first ever college football playoff.
Player Of The Year: Alonza Barnett III
JMU was the best team in the conference, and they were led by Barnett all year long, all the way to the playoff.
He was the only choice.
Team Of The Year: James Madison Dukes
Much like how JMU was the obvious choice for team of the year.
12-1. Sun Belt champions. College football playoff participant.
It was a fantastic year, and one Dukes fans will remember forever.
