Jeremy Harper Appalachian State, Arkansas State Athletics, Arkansas State University, Cajuns, Coastal Carolina, Football, G5, Georgia Southern Eagles, Georgia State Panthers, James Madison University, Louisiana, Marshall, Old Dominion, Red Wolves, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Sun Belt, Texas State, Troy, Troy Trojans, ULM

We’re Witnessing a Power Shift in the Sun Belt.

MONROE,LA - October 05, 2024 - James Madison plays ULM at Malone Stadium in Monroe,LA. Photo By Jared Thomas.

About a month before the seasons began, it was obvious to everyone that the ULM Warhawks would have trouble securing two win – the opener with Jackson State was a safe (though hardly guaranteed) bet, and perhaps a fluke conference win over somebody like Southern Miss, who’d the Warhawks would host in Monroe. It was okay. The Warhawks have a role in the Sun Belt, and that role is to pad everyone’s win column. New head coach Bryan Vincent, taking over for the legendary but ineffective Terry Bowden, would get a pass. Not on just this season, but maybe for all seasons. After all, Warhawks are the Warhawks.

ULM did indeed win that FCS matchup with Jackson State, then followed it up with a vengeance win over UAB – justice for Coach Bryant, who had been passed up for the disastrous choice of Trent Dilfer. But we all knew the fun was over once Texas thumped the Warhawks 51-3.ULM picking off Arch Manning twice in the game was just some kine of fun anomaly. The universe was functioning as it was intended.

Even when ULM defeated the Trojans at Troy by the charming score of 13-9, we could find a way to dismiss it as blind luck. After all, the Troy game ended the General Booty Era in Monroe, leaving Coach Bryan to scramble for a replacement, drawing Aidan Armenta’s name out of a hat. Armenta wasn’t about to lead a championship offense! Besides, the win was tainted by Troy quarterback Goose Crowder’s injury early in the game, right?

But we can’t ignore what’s happened in Troy anymore – not after what the Warhawks did to James Madison, formerly the conference’s only undefeated program and merciless demolisher of North Carolina. The Dukes had put 70 on the Tar Heels. They managed only 19 against ULM, even after jumping to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. Coach Vincent and his defense would seal a cap on the Dukes, bottling-up prolific quarterback Alonza Barnett to 250 yards while finding juuuust enough offense from Armenta to secure a 21-19 victory.

Out with South Alabama and Troy; in with Louisiana, Texas State, ULM and Arkansas State

Power is shifting in the Sun Belt. The West is no longer superior after the ULM win over JMU and South Alabama embarrassing Appalachian State. Who exactly is the power in the East? Coastal Carolina? Georgia Southern? Marshall? Furthermore, we’re seeing new dogs ruling the pound, with stalwarts like Troy, South Alabama, Appalachian State and James Madison pushed aside for ULM, Texas State, Arkansas State, and Louisiana. The two returning divisional champions – the Mountaineers and Trojans – sit at the bottom of their respective standings. The reversal of fortune is extreme.