Sun Belt Unveils 2026 Football Schedule

The Sun Belt Conference has officially released its football schedule for the 2026 season. This marks a significant milestone as the conference continues to grow in both prestige and competitiveness.

2026 Season Highlights

The 2026 campaign will include a total of 56 league games. Each of the Sun Belt’s 14 member teams will participate in eight conference matches. This will consist of six games against opponents within their division and two against teams from the opposite division. The Sun Belt is divided into an East and West Division, each housing seven teams.

Divisional Breakdown

• Sun Belt East Division:
  • App State
  • Coastal Carolina
  • Georgia Southern
  • Georgia State
  • James Madison
  • Marshall
  • Old Dominion
• Sun Belt West Division:
  • Arkansas State
  • Louisiana
  • ULM
  • Louisiana Tech
  • South Alabama
  • Southern Miss
  • Troy

Broadcast Information

This season will also see all conference games aired on ESPN platforms, ensuring broad visibility for the programs. The midweek schedule includes multiple notable matchups.

Key Dates and Midweek Matchups

• Thursday, Sept. 24: Liberty at Coastal Carolina
• Tuesday, Oct. 6: Southern Miss at Troy
• Thursday, Oct. 8: South Alabama at Arkansas State
• Thursday, Oct. 15: Georgia Southern at Old Dominion
• Friday, Oct. 16: App State at Coastal Carolina
• Tuesday, Oct. 20: South Alabama at Marshall
• Thursday, Oct. 22: James Madison at App State
• Thursday, Oct. 29: Troy at James Madison
• Thursday, Nov. 5: James Madison at Southern Miss
• Thursday, Nov. 12: Louisiana at ULM

Recent Achievements and Future Outlook

The Sun Belt Conference is coming off a successful 2025 season. It celebrated its first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff (CFP). Over the past seven seasons, six teams from the conference have been ranked during the CFP Selection Day, showcasing its growing competitiveness.

Additionally, the Sun Belt leads all non-autonomy conferences in terms of bowl game representation, maintaining a .548 winning percentage during the CFP era. The 2026 season looks poised to continue this trend of success as the program solidifies its reputation in college football.