The Sun Belt enjoyed a good start in Week 1, notching 10 wins – including a pair over peer conference opponents and a grisly 80-6 blowout from the brutes at Louisiana Tech. Not only did the Sun Belt make good its pledge to never lose to the FCS, we managed to tilt the data towards Sun Belt supremacy.
The week was not without its disappointments and concerns. Sun Belt West champion Troy hosted pitiful Sam Houston and scraped by with a three-point victory. Marshall, thought to have one of the best offenses in the Sun Belt, was shut-out by #19 Penn State. ULM wasn’t supposed to beat Mississippi State, but allowing 762 yards to what might be the worst team in the SEC was discouraging.
Overall though, hard to complain, right? Right?
Saturday, September 12
Old Dominion Monarchs (1-0) @ Virginia Tech Hokies (1-0), 11:00 AM, CW Network, -18.5 Hokies
Quinn Henicle totaled four touchdowns in the Monarchs’ 31-10 win over Norfolk, a game that likely didn’t involve more than a few pages from Coach Ricky Rahne’s playbook. ODU receives a stiffer test when they visit in-state rival Virginia Tech, who trounced VMI 73-3 thanks in part to a trio of touchdowns from running back Marcellous Hawkins Jr. Neither team showed their cards in Week 1. Look for Rahne to be all in against this ACC foe.
OUTCOME: That Vegas line is not safe at all
Appalachian State Mountaineers (1-0) @ East Carolina Pirates (0-1), 11:00 AM, ESPNU, -7.5 Pirates
The Pirates sailed into Tuscaloosa in Week 1 and were summarily sunk by Alabama 48-10. East Carolina recorded a mighty 2 rushing yards against the Crimson Tide, but for reasons unknown, the Lords of Las Vegas feel that the Pirates will have more luck against Danger Zone Loggains and the Mountaineers. Appalachian State didn’t have much resistance from Maine, winning 55-3 behind quarterback Malachi Singleton’s 291 yards and three touchdowns.
OUTCOME: Appalachian State defeats the spread and the Pirates
ULM Warhawks (0-1) @ UAB Blazers (0-1), 2:30 PM, ESPN+, -10 Blazers
Second week into the season, the Warhawks may have a QB controversy. Aiden Armenta started the game against Mississippi State, but after completing 10 passes for just 67 yards, coach Bryant Vincent turned to Austin Carlisle, a sophomore billed as “the fastest QB in college football.” Not only did Carlisle lead the team in rushing (50 yards), he scored the team’s only touchdown – a forty yard strike. Meanwhile, Blazers lost to Illinois 42-23 but Vegas thinks that Vincent has forgotten who passed him over for head coach a few years ago.
OUTCOME: Look for an upset in Birmingham
Wagner Seahawks (1-1) @ James Madison Dukes (1-0), 2:30 PM, ESPN+, ODDS TBD
James Madison led 17-6 at the half against the Liberty Flames, then relied on its defense to secure a 20-13 victory. QB JC Evans was the Dukes’ leading passer (61 yards) and rusher (69 yards), spearheading a fairly 291yards of offense on the day. A win is a win, but it wasn’t a particularly assuring victory for new head coach Billy Napier, who should have many opportunities to tweak and tinker against the Seahawks.
OUTCOME: Tweaks and Tinkering
Alabama State Hornets (2-0) @ Troy Trojans (1-0), 3:00 PM, ESPN+, ODDS TBD
The Hornets have proven themselves acquainted with the end zone, having crossed the goal line seven times this young season. Also a citizen of the end zone, Troy QB Goose Crowder, who managed three scoring tosses in a 24-21 win over Sam Houston State. Crowder and head coach Gerad Parker will likely receive a similar test from Alabama State, who has only given up 17 points for two games.
OUTCOME: Troy continues to polish the process
South Alabama Jaguars (1-0) @ Tulane Green Wave (0-1), 6:00 PM, ESPN+, -9.5 Wave
If you forgot that former Southern Miss head coach Will Hall is now the current Green Wave head coach, this is your reminder that Will Hall is the coach for Tulane, who managed to score just three points in Week 1 over Duke. Yes, these aren’t your Willie Frtiz or Jon Sumrall Green Waves. The Jags survived their FCS opponent on Saturday, with Bishop Davenport providing touchdowns with his arm and feet. Look for this game to see more offense from both teams.
OUTCOME: For some reason, I like the Jags here
West Georgia Wolves (0-2) @ Arkansas State Red Wolves (0-1), 6:00 PM, ESPN+, ODDS TBD
West Georgia spent Week 1 receiving a lesson from future Arkansas State opponent Kennesaw State, enduring a 47-0 beatdown that probably didn’t amuse anyone. Meanwhile, the Red Wolves venture to Memphis and largely played well in a 24-42 loss, considering the team threw four interceptions. A-State QB will Trey Owens should have a less pressurized cauldron from which to harden his skills on Saturday.
OUTCOME: Red Wolves take their bites
Georgia State Panthers (1-0) @ Kennesaw State Owls (1-0), 6:00 PM, ESPN+, -9.5 Owls
The Owls celebrated their excellent 2025 season by clobbering West Georgia 47-0 thanks largely to a pair of touchdown runs from Latrelle Murrell. The Panthers, who made NC A&T look silly in Week 1, should provide a far greater challenge. Cameran Brown is proving himself a strong quarterback with a couple TD passes in his season debut while the run game piled up 6 touchdowns from six different runners. It’s too early to declare the Panthers more legit than first believed, but this in-state rival game should be a pleasure for those electing to view it.
OUTCOME: I wouldn’t trust that spread, Hoss.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (1-0) @ Marshall Thundering Herd (0-1), 6:00 PM, ESPN+, -13.5 HERD
Middle took care of their business against Murray State, with running back Antonio Martin chalking up a 100-yard day and QB Roman Gagliano tossing a matching set of touchdowns. By contrast, The Herd didn’t provide any thunder in Week 1, putting up a pitiful 147 yards against the Nittany Lions in a dispiriting 45-0 loss. It was Marshall’s defense that was supposed to be questionable, not the offense! Playing at home should calm the Thundering Herd’s nerves, but that spread may be too rich for some of us to handle.
OUTCOME: Herd rumbles softly for the win
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (1-0) @ #8 LSU Tigers (1-0), 6:30 PM, SEC Network, -35.5 Tigers
Sure, the beloved and modest Lane Kiffin and the Tigers looked pretty sharp in their win over Clemson, but did they put up 80 points like LaTech did on Saturday? Three Bulldogs quarterbacks combined for six touchdown passes on Northwestern State while limiting the poor Demons to just 129 total yards of offense. Mercy! Still, you have to reckon that LSU will come better resourced.
OUTCOME: Kiffin returns to Ole Miss in Week 3. Distraction!
Georgia Southern Eagles (1-0) @ Clemson Tigers (0-1), 6:30 PM, ACC Network, -20.5 Tigers
In his Eagles debut, Max Johnson threw for a cool 281 yards and a touchdown against Charleston Southern, leading Georgia Southern to an antacid-free 31-0 win. It was a nice return to the starting role – something Johnson hasn’t seen since 2023. Now he gets the Clemson Tigers, recently embarrassed on national television by LSU. It’s possible that Dabo Swinney is playing for his paycheck on Saturday, and it’s never advisable to stand between an man and his money (even if that man’s name is “Dabo”).
OUTCOME: The spread seems to be on it
Fordham Rams (0-2) @ Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (0-1), 6:30 PM, ESPN+, ODDS TBD
The Chanticleers didn’t look bad in a 31-24 loss to West Virginia, though new head coach Ryan Beard didn’t find the end zone until the second half. QB Deuce Bailey threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns, but the run game largely let the Chants down, producing a mere 52 yards (1.9 per carry). That run game should work out some kinds against the Rams, of whom I know nothing.
OUTCOME: Chants, 1-1
Southern Miss Golden Eagles (1-0) @ Auburn Tigers (1-0), 6:45 PM, SEC Network, -33.5 Tigers
Sun Belt has seen enough Tigers in Week 2. The Alex Ghosh Era got off to a good enough start in Week 1 when Auburn danced by Baylor 17-16. Coach Blake Anderson had more fun in Hattiesburg, flattening Alcorn State 49-3 behind three touchdown runs from Steven Robinson. It’s a bigger challenge going into that imposing stadium at Auburn. Is Coach Anderson’s playbook deeper than Ghosh’s checkbook?
OUTCOME: Great teams beat the spread
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (1-0) @ #14 USC Trojans (2-0), 10:00 PM, BIG 10 Network, -30.5 Trojans
The Cajuns have begun their bounce-back with a good win over Lamar, a 38-7 plastering that saw running back Darrell Smith score twice. To beat USC, however, QB Lunch Winfield can’t throw two picks like he did against Lamar. Meanwhile, USC has punished the Mountain West and the Pretend 12 to record a 2-0 record. Can the Cajuns prevent the Trojans from adding the Sun Belt to its G6 trophy case?
OUTCOME: USC isn’t Lamar
IMAGE: Sun Belt Media