2025 Sun Belt Football: Projections & Preview
- nicco Marchiol was a four-star recruit in the 2022 class, and Garrett Greene was a three-year starter.Both transferred to Huntington, and they'll compete for the starting job.
- Marshall is basically trying to become West Virginia Lite.
- 2025 projection: 101st in SP+, 5.2 average wins (3.5 in the Sun Belt)
Uncover the most crucial insights for the upcoming 2025 Sun Belt football season! Our projections pinpoint key contenders and potential overachievers, with Marshall’s surprising “West Virginia Lite” experiment stealing the headlines. Discover UTEP’s potential,led by Mike Wright III,as they aim for a bowl game,and Southern Miss’s rebuilding efforts under Charles Huff.News Directory 3 provides a thorough breakdown of team strategies, transfer impacts, and what you need to know about your favorite teams. Discover what’s next …
rshall assistant) Todd Goebbel is teh special teams coordinator.And the roster is full of West Virginia transfers.
The quarterback room is a WVU reunion. nicco Marchiol was a four-star recruit in the 2022 class, and Garrett Greene was a three-year starter.Both transferred to Huntington, and they’ll compete for the starting job. The running back room is a WVU reunion. DJ Oliver was a four-star recruit in the 2023 class, and Jaylen Anderson was a four-star recruit in the 2021 class. Both transferred to Huntington. The receiver room is a WVU reunion. Jarel Williams was a four-star recruit in the 2023 class, and Preston Fox was a three-year contributor. Both transferred to Huntington. The offensive line is a WVU reunion. Ja’Quay Hubbard was a three-year starter. he transferred to Huntington.The defensive line is a WVU reunion. Asani redwood was a three-year contributor. He transferred to Huntington. The linebacker room is a WVU reunion. Trey Lathan was a three-year contributor. He transferred to Huntington.The secondary is a WVU reunion. Andrew Wilson-Lamp was a three-year contributor. He transferred to Huntington.
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything quite like this. Marshall is basically trying to become West Virginia Lite. It’s a fascinating experiment, and it might work. The Thundering Herd have a lot of talent, and they have a lot of experience. They also have a lot of familiarity with each other. If Gibson can get everyone on the same page, marshall could be a surprise team in the Sun Belt.
Head coach: Scotty Walden (fifth year, 25-25 overall)
2025 projection: 101st in SP+, 5.2 average wins (3.5 in the Sun Belt)
Austin Peay was a mess when Scotty Walden took over in 2020. The Governors were coming off a 4-8 season, and they had just fired their head coach after he was arrested on drug charges. Walden turned things around quickly, leading Austin Peay to a 4-3 record in the spring 2021 season. He followed that up with a 6-5 record in the fall 2021 season, and then he led the Governors to a 9-4 record in 2022.Austin Peay made the FCS playoffs in 2022, and they won their first-round game before losing in the second round.
Walden left Austin Peay for UTEP after the 2022 season, and he inherited a program that had gone 5-7 in 2022. The Miners went 3-9 in Walden’s first season, but they improved to 6-6 in 2024. UTEP missed a bowl game in 2024, but they were close to making it. The miners lost three games by a touchdown or less.
UTEP is hoping to take another step forward in 2025. the Miners have a lot of talent returning, and they have a favorable schedule. UTEP opens the season with three straight home games, and they play onyl four road games all season. If the Miners can stay healthy, they should be able to make a bowl game in 2025.
Walden’s offense is generally fun, and it should be again with quarterback Mike Wright III (Vanderbilt/Mississippi State) and receiver Tyler smart (Louisiana Tech). The defence is a bigger question mark, but Walden brought in a new coordinator, and he’s hoping that will make a difference. the Miners have some talent on defense, but they need to play more consistently.
UTEP is a team to watch in 2025. The Miners have the potential to be a surprise team in the Sun Belt.If they can stay healthy and play consistently, they could make a run at the conference title.
Head coach: Charles Huff (first year)
2025 projection: 102nd in SP+, 5.0 average wins (3.4 in the Sun Belt)
Southern Miss is hoping that Charles Huff can bring some stability to the program. The golden eagles have had four head coaches in the past five years, and they haven’t had a winning season as 2015. Huff was a prosperous head coach at Marshall, leading the Thundering Herd to a 23-14 record in three seasons. He’s known for his recruiting ability,and he’s hoping to bring some talent to Southern Miss.
Huff inherited a roster that was depleted by transfers, but he’s been busy in the transfer portal. the Golden Eagles have added several key players, including quarterback Billy Wiles (Clemson) and running back Frank Gore Jr. (Miami). Wiles is expected to compete for the starting quarterback job, while Gore is expected to be the team’s leading rusher.
The Golden Eagles also added several key players on defense, including linebacker Tavius Robinson (Ole Miss) and defensive back DeShawn Gaddie (Memphis). Robinson is expected to be a key contributor on the defensive line, while Gaddie is expected to start at safety.
Southern Miss has a challenging schedule in 2025. The Golden Eagles play four Power Five opponents, including Alabama, Auburn, LSU, and Mississippi State.They also play three ranked teams in the Sun Belt, including Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, and Troy. If Southern Miss can navigate its challenging schedule, they could surprise some people in 2025.