WEEK 1 CONFERENCE NOTES
NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference will kick off the 2025 season on Thursday night when ULM hosts Saint Francis at 6 p.m. on ESPN+, ahead of Friday night’s nationally-televised Duke’s Mayo Classic between App State and in-state foe Charlotte at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.
Saturday’s 12-game non-conference slate will feature six additional nationally-televised games, including five clashes with autonomy conference foes and three matchups with nationally-ranked teams.
The Sun Belt is coming off a 2024 campaign in which it defeated three autonomy conference opponents—running its tally to 22 such victories since 2016 and 11 since 2022, when the league expanded to 14 football-playing members. The Sun Belt also paced all non-autonomy conferences in Bowl Season representation for the third-straight year in 2024.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- KICKOFF CONTESTS – ULM will officially open the Sun Belt football season for the second-straight year when it hosts Saint Francis at 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 28, on ESPN+. The contest is 1-of-5 Sun Belt season-opener against FCS opposition in 2025. James Madison will host Weber State at 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, on ESPN+; Arkansas State will welcome Southeast Missouri to Jonesboro at 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, on ESPN+; South Alabama will take on Morgan State at 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, on ESPN+; and Troy will host Nicholls at 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, on ESPN. The Sun Belt is 41-0 against FCS opposition since expanding to 14 football-playing members in 2022.
- FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS – App State will take on in-state foe Charlotte in the Duke’s Mayo Classic at 6 p.m. on Friday, August 29—a game that will be nationally televised on ESPNU. The Mountaineers are 3-0 all-time against the 49ers and are 1-0 all-time inside Bank of America Stadium, home to the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. App State defeated East Carolina, 33-19, in a Duke’s Mayo Classic game to open the 2021 season. Since joining the FBS—and the Sun Belt—in 2014, App State ranks 11th among all programs and second among non-autonomy teams—trailing only Boise State (106 wins)—with 100 victories. As they kick off the Dowell Loggains era, the Mountaineers will look to rebound from their first since sub-.500 season since 2013.
- AT HOME IN HATTIESBURG – Southern Miss will open the Charles Huff era by welcoming in-state autonomy conference foe Mississippi State to Hattiesburg for the first time since 2015 and the third time since 1978. The nationally-televised game will kick off at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 30, on ESPN. The all-time series sits nearly even, with the Bulldogs owning a slight 16-14-1 advantage. The Golden Eagles have not defeated Mississippi State since 1988, but are 8-5 in 13 all-time meetings outside of Starkville, including a 2-3 mark on their home turf.
- AGAINST AUTONOMY – The Sun Belt, which owns a non-autonomy leading 11 wins over autonomy conference foes since 2022, will have five opportunities against autonomy conference opposition in Week 1. In addition to Southern Miss’ home date with Mississippi State, the conference’s kickoff slate features four autonomy conference road clashes, including three against nationally-ranked opponents. Old Dominion will visit No. 20/19 Indiana at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, on FS1; Marshall will travel to No. 5/4 Georgia at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, on ESPN; Coastal Carolina will take on Virginia at 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, on ACC Network; and Georgia State will visit No. 21/15 Ole Miss at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, on SEC Network.
- OPEN LATE – Louisiana will officially open Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium when it hosts Rice at 7 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, on ESPN+. The Ragin’ Cajuns will unveil the results of the 19-month, $65 million project that represents the most significant upgrade to the facility since it opened in 1971. Texas State will also open its 2025 season at home at 7 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, on ESPN+ against Eastern Michigan. Georgia Southern will round out the Sun Belt’s opening weekend with an 8:30 p.m. kickoff at Fresno State on FS1, the program’s first-ever game in the state of California.
WHERE TO WATCH
| Date |
Game |
Game Notes |
Time |
Broadcast |
| Thursday, Aug. 28 |
Saint Francis at ULM |
Game Notes |
6 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
| Friday, Aug. 29 |
App State vs. Charlotte |
Game Notes |
6 p.m. |
ESPNU |
| Saturday, Aug. 30 |
Mississippi State at Southern Miss |
Game Notes |
11 a.m. |
ESPN |
| Saturday, Aug. 30 |
Old Dominion at No. 20/19 Indiana |
Game Notes |
1:30 p.m. |
FS1 |
| Saturday, Aug. 30 |
Marshall at No. 5/4 Georgia |
Game Notes |
2:30 p.m. |
ESPN |
| Saturday, Aug. 30 |
Coastal Carolina at Virginia |
Game Notes |
5 p.m. |
ACC Network |
| Saturday, Aug. 30 |
Weber State at James Madison |
Game Notes |
5 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
| Saturday, Aug. 30 |
Southeast Missouri at Arkansas State |
Game Notes |
6 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
| Saturday, Aug. 30 |
Morgan State at South Alabama |
Game Notes |
6 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
| Saturday, Aug. 30 |
Nicholls at Troy |
Game Notes |
6 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
| Saturday, Aug. 30 |
Georgia State at No. 21/15 Ole Miss |
Game Notes |
6:45 p.m. |
SEC Network |
| Saturday, Aug. 30 |
Rice at Louisiana |
Game Notes |
7 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
| Saturday, Aug. 30 |
Eastern Michigan at Texas State |
Game Notes |
7 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
| Saturday, Aug. 30 |
Georgia Southern at Fresno State |
Game Notes |
8:30 p.m. |
FS1 |
All Times CT