2018, 2019 Sun Belt football opponents announced

By Kevin Kelley -

The 2018 and 2019 Sun Belt Conference football opponents have been released. Each team will play four conference home games and four conference road games.

Beginning in 2018, the Sun Belt Conference will split into two divisions and will stage a championship game. The team with the highest ranking in the College Football Playoff poll will host the game.

Below are the division alignments which were previously announced. Idaho and New Mexico State will not be members of the Sun Belt after the 2017 season.

East Division

Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Troy

West Division

Arkansas State, South Alabama, Texas State, UL Lafayette, ULM

“Our move to a divisional structure and being able to conduct a football championship game marks one of the most significant moments in Sun Belt history,” said Commissioner Karl Benson. “Sun Belt administrators have worked hard to get an alignment structure that makes geographical sense and will enable us to play our championship game.  Our coaches, student-athletes and fans will enjoy a first class experience as our champion is crowned.”

2018 SUN BELT OPPONENTS

EAST DIVISION

Appalachian State

Home: Georgia State, UL Lafayette, South Alabama, Troy

Away: Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Texas State

Coastal Carolina

Home: Arkansas State, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, ULM

Away: Georgia State, UL Lafayette, South Alabama, Troy

Georgia Southern

Home: Appalachian State, Arkansas State, South Alabama, Troy

Away: Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, ULM, Texas State

Georgia State

Home: Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, ULM, Texas State

Away: Arkansas State, Appalachian State, UL Lafayette, Troy

Troy

Home: Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, UL Lafayette, Texas State

Away: Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, ULM, South Alabama

WEST DIVISION

Arkansas State

Home: Appalachian State, Georgia State, ULM, South Alabama

Away: Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, UL Lafayette, Texas State

South Alabama

Home: Coastal Carolina, ULM, Texas State, Troy

Away: Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, UL Lafayette

Texas State

Home: Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, UL Lafayette

Away: Georgia State, ULM, South Alabama, Troy

UL Lafayette

Home: Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, South Alabama

Away: Appalachian State, ULM, Texas State, Troy

ULM

Home: Georgia Southern, UL Lafayette, Texas State, Troy

Away: Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, South Alabama

2019 SUN BELT OPPONENTS

EAST DIVISION

Appalachian State

Home: Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, ULM, Texas State

Away: Georgia State, UL Lafayette, South Alabama, Troy

Coastal Carolina

Home: Georgia State, UL Lafayette, Texas State, Troy

Away: Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, ULM

Georgia Southern

Home: Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, UL Lafayette, ULM

Away: Appalachian State, Arkansas State, South Alabama, Troy

Georgia State

Home: Appalachian State, Arkansas State, South Alabama, Troy

Away: Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, ULM, Texas State

Troy

Home: Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, South Alabama

Away: Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, UL Lafayette, Texas State

WEST DIVISION

Arkansas State

Home: Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, UL Lafayette, Texas State

Away: Georgia State, ULM, South Alabama, Troy

South Alabama

Home: Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, UL Lafayette

Away: Georgia State, ULM, Texas State, Troy

Texas State

Home: Georgia State, ULM, South Alabama, Troy

Away: Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, UL Lafayette

UL Lafayette

Home: Appalachian State, ULM, Texas State, Troy

Away: Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, South Alabama

ULM

Home: Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, South Alabama

Away: Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, UL Lafayette, Texas State

Comments (8)

Yep, CCG options for under 12 teams is:

A) not split into divisions (B12) but everybody has to play a full round robin with in the conference
B) or split into divisions while everybody plays a round robin with in their division.

Basically, with B, you are only missing one conference opponent per regular season anyways.

Just add Liberty and bring in UMass. If UMass doesn’t want to join bring back New Mexico State. UMass and NMSU can’t survive as independents.

No and No. And no. Who the hell cares if UMass of New Mexico State survive except for UMass and NMSU?! The Sun Belt has 10 teams, 5 in each division. Every member institution receives $1 million from the CFP…why would they want to give some of that to two more schools that would be warm bodies more or less. Where is the value in adding schools like Liberty or UMass? If anything needs to happen it should be the Sun Belt poaching a few CUSA schools. The Sun Belt has already passed CUSA and the MAC in on-field performance and revenue generated. The SBC has their sights on the Mountain West and the American. Not a very well thought out comment…it’s like “Hey, the SEC should add North Dakota State cuz they can beat mediocre Power 5 teams!”. Ignorance is bliss I suppose.

It could be a while before the SBC can poach anyone from any FBS conferences yet, but maybe that could change down the road (not from the MAC, though). The SBC is better than it used to be, but it still has a way to go to catch up to The American and the MW, especially the latter’s Mountain Division.

I disagree with your statement about the Sun Belt swaying Conference USA teams. The two conferences are very similar at this point and arguments can be made that the Sun Belt is on a higher trajectory which would entice other schools. The MAC isn’t in the SBC’s footprint so you’re right, none of those schools would shift and the Sun Belt isn’t interested anyway. I agree the Sun Belt has a ways to go before they catch the American or the Mountain West…I was only stating that those are the next targets…CUSA and MAC are in the rear view mirror.