The Sun Belt is built upon a footprint of rivalry. Every game is a “pay back” game in the SBC! Here are five in from the East Division that have our attention.

James Madison vs. Georgia Southern, October 14

The Dukes were absolutely rolling through their schedule in 2022 – starting a clean five and zero while putting out figurative cigarettes in the eyeballs of everybody who doubted Curt Cignetti and James Madison. The steamroller fell into sinkhole in Statesboro when Clay Helton and his Eagles dropped an elbow on the Dukes’ defense. Georgia Southerns Kyle Vantrease threw for 4 touchdowns and 578 yards to lead the Eagles to a 45-38 victory, triggering a three game losing streak for the Dukes.

PAY BACK: The Dukes get the Eagles in Harrisonburg this October, with both coaches breaking in new quarterbacks.

Coastal Carolina vs. James Madison, November 24

The Chanticleers was on cruise control for the majority of the season until the rumors of HC Jamey Chadwell’s defection to Liberty became reality towards the end of the season. Suddenly, the eventual SBC East Champions seemed completely out of sorts – and man, did the Dukes take advantage. After allowing a TD in the first quarter, James Madison scored 44 unanswered points and held Coastal Carolina to a ridiculous 183 yards for a 47-7 pile-driving.

PAY BACK: All-Universe QB Grayson McCall was unavailable against the Dukes last season, and he’ll look to but the last feature in his feather-full cap in Conway for his last regular season college game of his storied career.

Appalachian State vs. Marshall, November 4

In Week 2, the Mountaineers upended #6 Texas A&M and the Thundering Herd thumped #8 Notre Dame, seeming to signal incredible seasons for both programs. It was not to be. While both teams disappointed moving forward, it was Appalachian State that seemed to stumble most, finishing with a 6-6 record that included a lackluster 28-21 loss to Marshall. Herd QB Cam Fancher threw for 285 yards and two TDs, but it was Marshalls’ defense that won the game, forcing two turnovers and holding Chase Brice to just 177 passing yards.

PAY BACK: The Mountaineers get to welcome the revenge game in Boone, where it’s never easy for visiting teams to win. Shawn Clark will spend the season shaking off the chagrin from last season, and he can’t afford another loss to The Thundering Herd.

Old Dominion vs. Marshall, September 30

Twelve to zero is an odd football score, but that’s how the game ended last year between the Monarchs and The Thundering Herd, with ODU failing to find the end zone or even the goal posts in sixty minutes of play. Of course, Marshall didn’t cross the end zone either (credit all scoring to Herd kicker Rece Verhoff, who made 4-of-5 field-goal attempts), so maybe both of these teams have something to prove when they face each other in September.

PAY BACK: The Monarchs enter the season with low expectations, so we will consider it a victory if ODU pushes the ball across the goal line. Surely they can improve on the 11 total yards of rushing they belched last game.

Georgia Southern vs. Georgia State, October 26

The Panthers didn’t have a particularly good season in 2022, but they did bust Georgia Southern in the beak 41-33 in Atlanta. The Eagles, who always try to play it cool with Georgia State, are likely secretly seething over the defeat, and will welcome a chance to clean its claws in Statesboro. Look for Clay Helton to unleash new Eagles’ QB Davis Brin on a Panthers defense that struggled in 2022.

PAY BACK: Defense aside, Georgia State’s Darren Grainger is still among the most talented QBs in the Sun Belt, which means we’re likely in for another offensive showdown, which is fine by us.