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By Matthew Davis
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The Sun Belt fielded a College Football Playoff team in James Madison last season, and the Dukes could do more of the same.
That said, two other teams could knock JMU from the Sun Belt throne in 2026. Here’s a look at the three biggest contenders for the Sun Belt title.
James Madison
First-year head coach Billy Napier will look to keep JMU on course after a CFP appearance in 2025.
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Napier will look to bounce back from his time at Florida with a Dukes program that expects to win despite heavy turnover. That said, JMU is the undisputed favorite in the Sun Belt East Division.
JMU has first-team All-Sun Belt preseason standouts in grad transfer offensive lineman Zach Greenberg and redshirt senior defensive lineman Amar Thomas. Second-team running back George Pettaway is a playmaker for the Dukes.
JMU will be looking to a transfer quarterback such as Arrington Maiden, who played for Memphis last year, to get the Dukes offense going.
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Troy
The Troy Trojans won the Sun Belt West Division and fell short against JMU last year.
Expect more of the same for the Trojans in 2026 under third-year head coach Gerad Parker. Troy arguably has the best defensive player in senior defensive end Donnie Smith, the conference’s preseason favorite for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Trojans senior quarterback Goose Crowder will look to get the offense going strong. If he doesn’t, the Trojans can go to running quarterback Tucker Kilcrease again to spark the offense.
Louisiana
The Ragin Cajuns have one of the best wide receivers in the conference in redshirt junior Shelton Sampson Jr., and Brent Gordon Jr. is a dangerous defensive back.
Both made the Preseason All-Sun Belt first team, and the Ragin Cajuns have plenty of talent after those two. Junior running back Anthony Reagan Jr. can make plays, and Reagan could stand out among the few transfers Louisiana has.
If the Ragin Cajuns make the championship game, it will have an old-school feel with only seven transfers under head coach Michael Desormeaux.
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