WEEK 8 CONFERENCE NOTES
NEW ORLEANS – Two of three unbeaten teams in Sun Belt Conference play will feature in nationally-televised mid-week contests as South Alabama travels to Marshall on Tuesday evening and James Madison visits App State on Thursday night.
Louisiana Tech will also attempt to stay unbeaten in conference action when it seeks its first-ever win over Old Dominion on Saturday, while in-state rival Louisiana can join James Madison in clinching bowl eligibility with a victory over Southern Miss on Saturday.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- ON A TUESDAY – For the fifth time in program history, Marshall will host a regular-season Tuesday night contest at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, when it welcomes South Alabama for a cross-division clash at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2. The Thundering Herd and Jaguars find themselves at opposite ends of the Sun Belt spectrum. Marshall is 1-of-3 teams still searching for its first Sun Belt Conference win, while South Alabama is 1-of-3 undefeated teams in Sun Belt Conference play. The Jaguars won the lone prior meeting between the two programs, earning a 28-0 victory in Mobile, Ala., in 2023. South Alabama leads the Sun Belt and ranks sixth nationally with a +1.33 turnover margin, having lost just three turnovers on the year.
- GROUND GAME — Two of the premier running backs in the Sun Belt will be on display when App State hosts James Madison for a Thursday night showdown at 6:00 p.m. on ESPNU. The Mountaineers are led by reigning Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week sophomore running back Jaquari Lewis, who paces the conference and ranks 11th in the country with eight rushing touchdowns and is 1-of-5 Sun Belt backs averaging at least 4.94 yards per carry. The Dukes are propelled by fifth-year running back George Petttaway, who leads the league and ranks eighth nationally averaging 7.04 yards per carry and sits third in the conference and 21st in the nation with seven rushing touchdowns. The Dukes—1-of-6 remaining unbeaten teams in the country—average 223.7 rushing yards per game, good for first in the Sun Belt and 14th in the nation. App State leads the head-to-head series 14-6, though the teams have split four prior meetings in Sun Belt Conference play.
- WARHAWKS ON A WARPATH – After falling to Louisiana a week ago, Troy will attempt to return to the win column when it hosts ULM on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 3:00 p.m. on ESPN+. The Trojans lead the all-time series 13-9-1 and have won five of the last seven meetings. ULM is in search of its first Sun Belt Conference victory since a 28-16 win over Arkansas State in its conference opener on Sept. 27, 2025. The Warhawks proved victorious in their last trip to Troy, as part of a 5-1 start to the 2024 campaign.
- CROSSING OVER – A pair of cross-division clashes will take place on Saturday, Oct. 24, as Old Dominion travels to Louisiana Tech at 4:00 p.m. on ESPN+ and Georgia State visits Arkansas State for the nightcap at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN+. Old Dominion is 2-0 all-time against Louisiana Tech, with Saturday’s matchup being the first between the two sides as Sun Belt Conference foes. Arkansas State is 7-2 in the head-to-head series with Georgia State, including an unblemished 4-0 mark in Jonesboro.
- ENTRENCHED – When Louisiana travels to Southern Miss for a Saturday, Oct. 24, matchup at 4:00 p.m. on ESPN+, it will attempt to use the battle in the trenches as a separator. The Ragin’ Cajuns own the Sun Belt’s top rushing defense, allowing just 104.3 rushing yards per game—good for 27th in the country. The Golden Eagles are allowing 252.0 rushing yards per game—last in the Sun Belt. Southern Miss has won 12 of the last 13 head-to-head matchups, dating back to 1994, including 3-of-4 meetings in Sun Belt Conference play. Behind a defense that leads the Sun Belt, conceding just 298.3 total yards per game, Louisiana will attempt to flip that script on Saturday and clinch bowl eligibility in the process.
WHERE TO WATCH
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