Sun Belt 2022 thread

[BDKJMU]

Well, what do we have on here now? Couple ASU, couple GSU, couple ODU, 1 CCU, and now 1 JMU fans. That’s 5 of the 7 Sun Belt East.

Sunbelt schedules released today with the departing C-USA Marshall, ODU, and Southern Miss, despite the lawsuits.

Marshall files lawsuit against CUSA last week in wffort to leave the CUSA this year:
https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/49848339

Yesterday ODU files restraining order against CUSA in effort to leave this year:
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/odu ... 00918.html

[Ibanez]

https://sunbeltsports.org/news/2022/2/2 ... mbers.aspx

APP STATE
9/3 UNC
9/10 at Texas A&M
9/17 Troy*
9/24 James Madison*
10/1 The Citadel
10/8 at Texas State*
10/19 Georgia State*
10/29 Robert Morris
11/3 at Coastal Carolina*
11/12 at Marshall*
11/19 Old Dominion*
11/26 at Georgia Southern*

COASTAL CAROLINA
9/3 Army
9/10 Gardner-Webb
9/17 Buffalo
9/22 at Georgia State*
10/1 Georgia Southern*
10/8 at ULM*
10/15 Old Dominion*
10/29 at Marshall*
11/3 App State*
11/12 Southern Miss*
11/19 at Virginia
11/26 at James Madison*

GEORGIA SOUTHERN
9/3 Morgan State
9/10 at Nebraska
9/17 at UAB
9/24 Ball State
10/1 at Coastal Carolina*
10/8 at Georgia State*
10/15 James Madison*
10/22 at Old Dominion*
11/5 South Alabama*
11/10 at Louisiana*
11/19 Marshall*
11/26 App State*

GEORGIA STATE
9/3 at South Carolina
9/10 UNC
9/17 Charlotte
9/22 Coastal Carolina*
10/1 at Army
10/8 Georgia Southern*
10/19 at App State*
10/29 Old Dominion*
11/5 at Southern Miss*
11/12 ULM*
11/19 at James Madison*
11/26 at Marshall*

JAMES MADISON
9/3 Middle Tennessee
9/10 Norfolk State
9/24 at App State*
10/1 Texas State*
10/8 at Arkansas State*
10/15 at Georgia Southern*
10/22 Marshall*
11/5 at Louisville
11/12 at Old Dominion*
11/19 Georgia State*
11/26 Coastal Carolina*

MARSHALL
9/3 Norfolk State
9/10 at Notre Dame
9/17 at Bowling Green
9/24 at Troy*
10/1 Gardner-Webb
10/12 Louisiana*
10/22 at James Madison*
10/29 Coastal Carolina*
11/5 at Old Dominion*
11/12 App State*
11/19 at Georgia Southern*
11/26 Georgia State*

OLD DOMINION
9/2 Virginia Tech
9/10 at East Carolina
9/17 at Virginia
9/24 Arkansas State*
10/1 Liberty
10/15 at Coastal Carolina*
10/22 Georgia Southern*
10/29 at Georgia State*
11/5 Marshall*
11/12 James Madison*
11/19 at App State*
11/26 at South Alabama*

SUN BELT WEST DIVISION

ARKANSAS STATE
9/3 Grambling State
9/10 at Ohio State
9/17 at Memphis
9/24 at Old Dominion*
10/1 ULM*
10/8 James Madison*
10/15 at Southern Miss*
10/22 at Louisiana*
10/29 South Alabama*
11/12 UMass
11/19 at Texas State*
11/26 Troy*

LOUISIANA
9/3 Southeastern Louisiana
9/10 Eastern Michigan
9/17 at Rice
9/24 at ULM*
10/1 South Alabama*
10/12 at Marshall*
10/22 Arkansas State*
10/27 at Southern Miss*
11/5 Troy*
11/10 Georgia Southern*
11/19 at Florida State
11/26 at Texas State*

ULM
9/3 at Texas
9/10 Nicholls State
9/17 at Alabama
9/24 Louisiana*
10/1 at Arkansas State*
10/8 Coastal Carolina*
10/15 at South Alabama*
10/22 at Army
11/5 Texas State*
11/12 at Georgia State*
11/19 at Troy*
11/26 Southern Miss*

SOUTH ALABAMA
9/3 Nicholls State
9/10 at Central Michigan
9/17 at UCLA
9/24 Louisiana Tech
10/1 at Louisiana*
10/15 ULM*
10/20 Troy*
10/29 at Arkansas State*
11/5 at Georgia Southern*
11/12 Texas State*
11/19 at Southern Miss*
11/26 Old Dominion*

SOUTHERN MISS
9/3 Liberty
9/10 at Miami
9/17 Northwestern State
9/24 at Tulane
10/8 at Troy*
10/15 Arkansas State*
10/22 at Texas State*
10/27 Louisiana*
11/5 Georgia State*
11/12 at Coastal Carolina*
11/19 South Alabama*
11/26 at ULM*

TEXAS STATE
9/3 at Nevada
9/9 FIU
9/17 at Baylor
9/24 Houston Baptist
10/1 at James Madison*
10/8 App State*
10/15 at Troy*
10/22 Southern Miss*
11/5 at ULM*
11/12 at South Alabama*
11/19 Arkansas State*
11/26 Louisiana*

TROY
9/3 at Ole Miss
9/10 Alabama A&M
9/17 at App State*
9/24 Marshall*
10/1 at Western Kentucky
10/8 Southern Miss*
10/15 Texas State*
10/20 at South Alabama*
11/5 at Louisiana*
11/12 Army
11/19 ULM*
11/26 at Arkansas State*

Looking forward to the opening with Army.

[BDKJMU]

2021 Standings
East Div
ASU (10-4/7-1)
CCU (11-2/6-2)
GST: (8-6/6-2)
GSU (3-9/2-6)

West Div:
Louisiana at Lafayette (8-0/13-1)
Troy St (5-7/3-5) (East Div last season)
Texas St (4-8/3-5)
Louisiana at Monroe (4-8/2-6)
South Alabama (5-7/2-6)
Arkansas St (2-10/1-7)

New additions
Marshall (7-6/5-3 CUSA)
ODU (6-7/5-3 CUSA)
Southern Miss (3-9/2-6 CUSA)
JMU (12-2/7-1 FCS/CAA)

[BDKJMU]

JAMES MADISON
9/3 Middle Tennessee (7-6/4-4 CUSA)
9/10 Norfolk State
9/17 BYE
9/24 at App State*
10/1 Texas State*
10/8 at Arkansas State*
10/15 at Georgia Southern*
10/22 Marshall*
10/29 BYE
11/5 at Louisville
11/12 at Old Dominion*
11/19 Georgia State*
11/26 Coastal Carolina*

Well, JMU gets 4 of the 5 top SBC teams from last season. At least miss ULL, and get GST and CCU at the emd of the season. Good chance JMU will show the most improvement over the season with all the new faces

I’ve seen outside prognosticators, ESPN included, say they expect JMU to be immediately competitive.
-6 seasons since 2016 70-11/39-4. 5 semis/3 NC games/1 NC. 2nd in FCS to you know who.
-Apparently will have the have the full 85 on scholly due to everyone in 2020 being given extra Covid season, a large recruit class, and a # of transfers.

BUT with a Nov 21’ moveup announcement, when most of the 2022 recruits have already committed with the Dec early signing date, have zero full FBS recruit classes, and won’t have 5 until 2027.

Lost all of our FCS All Americans, 7 who made it last year and 2 in prior seasons:
-QB, OT (2019), WR (2nd yr Fr who transferred to SC).
-DT (2020), DE, LB, CB
-K (All time FCS leader), LS.

Have a bunch off all CAA returning, and if were still FCS, would have a bunch of new All Americans, and probably facing NDSU again in the semis or Frisco. But FBS a whole diff ballgame. FWIW new starting QB was Colorado St’s starter last season.

So I’ll go with a preliminary 5-6/3-5 prediction.

[BDKJMU]

FBS should be at least a 25%-30% attendance boost if you have the capacity and are winning.

You think you'll draw more folks for Texas State, Georgia State, Troy....?

2 of those 3 are SBC West, who only play 2 of 7 every season. Only GST is SBC East.

And yes, like 93 said, even more so SBC East for Marshall, ODU, App State, CCU, GSU.

And will draw better for both home OOC. Before our 2 home OOC were 2 crap NEC/MEAC/Patriot, or occasionally 1 decent FCS/1 crap. Now 2 home OOC will either be G5/decent FCS, or P5/decent FCS.

[UNI88]

You think you'll draw more folks for Texas State, Georgia State, Troy....?

2 of those 3 are SBC West, who only play 2 of 7 every season. Only GST is SBC East.

And yes, like 93 said, even more so SBC ast for Marshall, ODU, App State, CCU, GSU.

And will draw better for both home OOC. Before our 2 home OOC were 2 crap NEC/MEAC/Patriot, or occasionally 1 decent FCS/1 crap. Now 2 home OOC will either be G5/decent FCS, or P5/decent FCS.

I know it happens occasionally, but how many G5 teams have played a home game against a P5 in the last 5 years? Which G5 and who did they play?

[BDKJMU]

2 of those 3 are SBC West, who only play 2 of 7 every season. Only GST is SBC East.

And yes, like 93 said, even more so SBC ast for Marshall, ODU, App State, CCU, GSU.

And will draw better for both home OOC. Before our 2 home OOC were 2 crap NEC/MEAC/Patriot, or occasionally 1 decent FCS/1 crap. Now 2 home OOC will either be G5/decent FCS, or P5/decent FCS.

I know it happens occasionally, but how many G5 teams have played a home game against a P5 in the last 5 years? Which G5 and who did they play?

I doubt JMU will get any home and homes vs P5s, at least not this decade, but it has been done by other SBC. Just off the top of my head, JMU’s fellow in state SBC, ODU, and ASU.

ODU moved up 2014:
2014: @ NC State, @ Vandy
2015: NC State
2016: @ NC State
2017: UNC, @ VT
2018: VT
2019: @ VT, @ UVA
2020* Wake, UVA (cancelled)
2021: @ Wake
2022: VT, @ UVA

So ODU in 9 seasons (if include 2020’ cancelled games):
6 home, 8 away. 2 home/2 away vs VT, and looks like had a home & home vs Wake Forest. Pretty good for a G5 with a 23k stadoum, albeit in a major recruiting ground, esp for the VA & NC P5s.

ASU had a home/home vs Miami, but believe that was a scheduling fluke.

[BDKJMU]

I see JMU getting future 1 for 2s vs P5s. Maybe some 0 for 1s vs powerhouse P5. Not in a major recruiting ground or TV market, so will be difficult to get a home and home vs a P5, at least until after the expansion is done.

Starting in a few years could see something along the lines of:
Yr 1: G5 and FCS home, 2 P5 away.
Yr 2: P5 and FCS home, P5 and G5 away

So over 2 seasons:
1 P5 home, 3 away
1 G5 home, 1 away.
2 FCS home
————————————
= 4 home/4 away.

Right now as far as FBS OOC , hosting MTSU this season in a 1 and done for 700k. Had to get a 5th home FBS so could start in year 2 of the 2 year transition. 1st home and home is Miami of OH. 3 future P5 games were all schedule before moveup announcement, not sure about Liberty.
2023 @ Miami (OH)
2024 @ UNC
2025 @ VT
2026 Miami (OH), @ Liberty
2028 @ UNC

[UNI88]

I know it happens occasionally, but how many G5 teams have played a home game against a P5 in the last 5 years? Which G5 and who did they play?

I don’t think JMU will get any home and homes vs P5s, never said they would, but it has been done by other SBC.

JMU’s fellow in state SBC, ODU, moved up 2014, and has done better than that.
2014: @ NC State, @ Vandy
2015: NC State
2016: @ NC State
2017: UNC, @ VT
2018: VT
2019: @ VT, @ UVA
2020* Wake, UVA (cancelled)
2021: @ Wake
2022: VT, @ UVA

So in 9 seasons (if include 2020’ cancelled games):
6 home, 8 away. 2 home/2 away vs VT, and looks like had a home & home vs Wake Forest.

ASU had a home/home vs Miami, but believe that was a scheduling fluke.

Last 5 years = 2017-2021
Home game = game on their home field

So for ODU:

• 2015 (outside the timeframe): NC State (part of 2 away, 1 home)
• 2017: UNC
• 2018: VT (part of home & home)
• 2020: Wake (part of home & home) and UVA (part of 2 away, 1 home)
• 2022: VT (part of home & home)

Was the UNC game a fluke?

6 games in 9 seasons is a home game vs a P5 every 1.5 years.

[BDKJMU]

I don’t think JMU will get any home and homes vs P5s, never said they would, but it has been done by other SBC.

JMU’s fellow in state SBC, ODU, moved up 2014, and has done better than that.
2014: @ NC State, @ Vandy
2015: NC State
2016: @ NC State
2017: UNC, @ VT
2018: VT
2019: @ VT, @ UVA
2020* Wake, UVA (cancelled)
2021: @ Wake
2022: VT, @ UVA

So in 9 seasons (if include 2020’ cancelled games):
6 home, 8 away. 2 home/2 away vs VT, and looks like had a home & home vs Wake Forest.

ASU had a home/home vs Miami, but believe that was a scheduling fluke.

Last 5 years = 2017-2021
Home game = game on their home field

So for ODU:

• 2015 (outside the timeframe): NC State (part of 2 away, 1 home)
• 2017: UNC
• 2018: VT (part of home & home)
• 2020: Wake (part of home & home) and UVA (part of 2 away, 1 home)
• 2022: VT (part of home & home)

Was the UNC game a fluke?

6 games in 9 seasons is a home game vs a P5 every 1.5 years.

They were @ UNC in 2013.
Yeah, they’re gotten a home vs a P5 every 1.5 years, or 2 every 3 years. Very good for a G5. Like I said, I’m hopeing starting in a few years a home P5 every 2 years for JMU.

[UNI88]

Last 5 years = 2017-2021
Home game = game on their home field

So for ODU:

• 2015 (outside the timeframe): NC State (part of 2 away, 1 home)
• 2017: UNC
• 2018: VT (part of home & home)
• 2020: Wake (part of home & home) and UVA (part of 2 away, 1 home)
• 2022: VT (part of home & home)

Was the UNC game a fluke?

6 games in 9 seasons is a home game vs a P5 every 1.5 years.

They were @ UNC in 2013.
Yeah, they’re gotten a home vs a P5 every 1.5 years, or 2 every 3 years. Very good for a G5. Like I said, I’m hopeing starting in a few years a home P5 every 2 years for JMU.

How does Harrisonburg compare to Hampton Roads for recruiting? Are P5s willing to play at ODU for local exposure to help their recruiting?

[Skjellyfetti]

ASU had a home/home vs Miami, but believe that was a scheduling fluke.

Also hosted Wake and will host UNC this year.

Hosting in state P5 is huge.

For UNI88, imagine UNI hosting Iowa.

[Baldy]

I have no doubt JMU will be immediately competitive. The Dukes won't go 13-1, but I'll be surprised if you don't get at least 6-7 wins. Appy, Marshall, Coastal, GS (hopefully this year), UL-L, Troy, Gag State ( ) etc. You'll be playing NDSU caliber and better teams most every week.

[UNI88]

ASU had a home/home vs Miami, but believe that was a scheduling fluke.

Also hosted Wake and will host UNC this year.

Hosting in state P5 is huge.

For UNI88, imagine UNI hosting Iowa.

Wake = Iowa Wake is probably the #4 university in NC, Iowa is #1 in Iowa. UNI hosting Iowa is closer to Furman hosting Clemson then ASU hosting Wake.

[Baldy]

Also hosted Wake and will host UNC this year.

Hosting in state P5 is huge.

For UNI88, imagine UNI hosting Iowa.

Wake = Iowa Wake is probably the #4 university in NC, Iowa is #1 in Iowa. UNI hosting Iowa is closer to Furman hosting Clemson then ASU hosting Wake.

I'm pretty sure he was referring to UNC and not Wake.

[89Hen]

You'll be playing NDSU caliber and better teams most every week.

Fortunately for the Dukes, not true.

37 Louisiana
38 North Dakota State
47 Appalachian State
57 Coastal Carolina
68 James Madison
83 Marshall
85 Georgia State
116 Old Dominion
120 Troy
134 South Alabama
137 Georgia Southern
144 Arkansas State
146 Louisiana Monroe
155 Texas State

[Baldy]

You'll be playing NDSU caliber and better teams most every week.

Fortunately for the Dukes, not true.

37 Louisiana
38 North Dakota State
47 Appalachian State
57 Coastal Carolina
68 James Madison
83 Marshall
85 Georgia State
116 Old Dominion
120 Troy
134 South Alabama
137 Georgia Southern
144 Arkansas State
146 Louisiana Monroe
155 Texas State

lol...ok

[89Hen]

Some interesting things OOC. Am I to understand that UNC is @ AppSt and @ GeorgiaSt back to back to open the season? Their fans must be thrilled. I guess Army is hoping to win the SunBelt this year. The SB West can't get anyone to come to them.

APP STATE
9/3 UNC
10/1 The Citadel
10/29 Robert Morris

COASTAL CAROLINA
9/3 Army
9/10 Gardner-Webb
9/17 Buffalo

GEORGIA SOUTHERN
9/3 Morgan State
9/24 Ball State

GEORGIA STATE
9/10 UNC
9/17 Charlotte

JAMES MADISON
9/3 Middle Tennessee
9/10 Norfolk State

MARSHALL
9/3 Norfolk State
10/1 Gardner-Webb

OLD DOMINION
9/2 Virginia Tech
10/1 Liberty

ARKANSAS STATE
9/3 Grambling State
11/12 UMass

LOUISIANA
9/3 Southeastern Louisiana
9/10 Eastern Michigan

ULM
9/10 Nicholls State

SOUTH ALABAMA
9/3 Nicholls State
9/24 Louisiana Tech

SOUTHERN MISS
9/3 Liberty
9/17 Northwestern State

TEXAS STATE
9/9 FIU
9/24 Houston Baptist

TROY
9/10 Alabama A&M
11/12 Army

[89Hen]

Fortunately for the Dukes, not true.

37 Louisiana
38 North Dakota State
47 Appalachian State
57 Coastal Carolina
68 James Madison
83 Marshall
85 Georgia State
116 Old Dominion
120 Troy
134 South Alabama
137 Georgia Southern
144 Arkansas State
146 Louisiana Monroe
155 Texas State

lol...ok

You say that as if those numbers are made up.

[Baldy]

lol...ok

You say that as if those numbers are made up.

They're fine when comparing apples to oranges.

I made the same mistake when my team played in the FCS.

[89Hen]

You say that as if those numbers are made up.

They're fine when comparing apples to oranges.

I made the same mistake when my team played in the FCS.

Do you have anything else besides just watching teams to use to compare? I hate computer models, but it's all we have for I-A vs I-AA. That and wins over Iowa, Iowa St, Kansas St, Colorado St, Minnesota and Kansas during their run. 6-0 vs I-A.

[CAA Flagship]

Crap. I can't remember the P5 contract details that Old Dominion has/had.

I know the first was 2 away/1 home with Virginia Tech. Then that was followed up with a 4 away/4 home series contract.

I'm pretty sure Wake was a 1/1. Our home game was canceled due to Covid in 2020 but is now rescheduled for 2023

Virginia, UNC, and NC State look like 2 away/1 home but I'm not sure if that is the right way to look at them. I think a couple of them were initially away games in our transition year and early FBS years to fill out a schedule (and get a paycheck), but then was followed up with 1/1's. During the early FBS years, you have to break some OOC FCS contracts to whittle them down to 1. That cost is offset with P5 guarantee games.

[UNI88]

Some interesting things OOC. Am I to understand that UNC is @ AppSt and @ GeorgiaSt back to back to open the season? Their fans must be thrilled. I guess Army is hoping to win the SunBelt this year. The SB West can't get anyone to come to them.

APP STATE
9/3 UNC
10/1 The Citadel
10/29 Robert Morris

COASTAL CAROLINA
9/3 Army
9/10 Gardner-Webb
9/17 Buffalo

GEORGIA SOUTHERN
9/3 Morgan State
9/24 Ball State

GEORGIA STATE
9/10 UNC
9/17 Charlotte

JAMES MADISON
9/3 Middle Tennessee
9/10 Norfolk State

MARSHALL
9/3 Norfolk State
10/1 Gardner-Webb

OLD DOMINION
9/2 Virginia Tech
10/1 Liberty

ARKANSAS STATE
9/3 Grambling State
11/12 UMass

LOUISIANA
9/3 Southeastern Louisiana
9/10 Eastern Michigan

ULM
9/10 Nicholls State

SOUTH ALABAMA
9/3 Nicholls State
9/24 Louisiana Tech

SOUTHERN MISS
9/3 Liberty
9/17 Northwestern State

TEXAS STATE
9/9 FIU
9/24 Houston Baptist

TROY
9/10 Alabama A&M
11/12 Army

I could see why UNC might play Ga State for additional exposure to Atlanta recruits. It would be similar to Iowa playing an away game vs. Northern Illinois at Soldier Field for exposure in Chicago. I don't think Iowa would ever play 2 G5's away from home in the same year. UNC is a state flagship whose focus is basketball and Iowa is a state flagship whose focus is football and UNC hasn't been nearly as successful in football. While Iowa compares to UNC better than Wake it still isn't a strong comparison.

Any answers to my question about recruiting value of playing in Hampton Roads vs. Harrisonburg/Shenandoah Valley?

[Baldy]

They're fine when comparing apples to oranges.

I made the same mistake when my team played in the FCS.

Do you have anything else besides just watching teams to use to compare? I hate computer models, but it's all we have for I-A vs I-AA. That and wins over Iowa, Iowa St, Kansas St, Colorado St, Minnesota and Kansas during their run. 6-0 vs I-A.

There's no good way to compare. The Bizon have been a beast since their move up. It's also been fortunate that during their rise to the top the traditional powers in the division moved on. Now with the exit of JMU, JSU, and SHSU, their grip on the top spot will only get tighter.

I was initially talking about the relative ease that JMU has had it in the CAA over the last few years. Now they will be facing teams of NDSU's caliber week in and week out. If you're trying to say that Appy, Coastal, Marshall, UL-L, etc. aren't of the same caliber, then I'm not sure you've been paying attention.

[89Hen]

Any answers to my question about recruiting value of playing in Hampton Roads vs. Harrisonburg/Shenandoah Valley?

I don't know VA HS football well enough, but I know HR is considered a hotbed and Hburg and Shenandoah are so spread out, there's a HS every 20+ miles. Sheer numbers would suggest HR is 5x more important for recruiting. $0.02