WEEK 10 CONFERENCE NOTES
NEW ORLEANS – Georgia Southern and Louisiana Tech aim to maintain perches atop Sun Belt East and West Divisions to highlight Sun Belt Football Week 10 schedule.
App State, Marshall and Louisiana can clinch bowl eligibility with victories on Saturday.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- HEAT CHECK – James Madison will travel to Southern Miss for a Thursday night cross-division clash at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN2. The Golden Eagles have won back-to-back games—behind a rushing attack that has produced consecutive games with multiple 100-yard rushers for the first time since 2016. Southern Miss can hand James Madison a third-straight loss for the first time since the 2022 season with a victory on Thursday night. The Dukes—1-of-2 Sun Belt teams to have clinched bowl eligibility thus far—are coming off back-to-back overtime losses to App State and Troy. James Madison won the lone prior meeting with Southern Miss, 32-15, on Oct. 25, 2024, in Harrisonburg, Va.
- UP IN THE AIR – The Sun Belt leaders in passing yards per game and passing yards will be on display for teams aiming to stay in the postseason hunt, as Coastal Carolina hosts Old Dominion at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, on ESPN+ and Arkansas State hosts ULM at 2:00 p.m. on ESPN+. Chanticleers redshirt freshman quarterback Deuce Bailey averages 243.1 passing yards per game and has amassed 1,945 yards on the season. Red Wolves third-year quarterback Trey Owens averages 242.5 passing yards per game and has accumulated 1,940 yards on the year. Each will lead his team against an opponent that has already been eliminated from Bowl Season contention. Old Dominion holds a 3-2 edge in the all-time series with Coastal Carolina, while Arkansas State is 33-15 all-time against ULM.
- BACK HOME — The two teams that have appeared in the Credit Union 1 Sun Belt Football Championship presented by Visit Pensacola more than any others—Louisiana (5) and App State (4)—will return home looking to rebound from road losses. The Mountaineers will host Georgia State at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, on ESPN+. The Ragin’ Cajuns will host South Alabama at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, on ESPN+. Both App State and Louisiana can clinch bowl eligibility with victories on Saturday. The Mountaineers have appeared in Bowl Season in 9-of-11 postseason-eligible FBS seasons, while the Ragin’ Cajuns have competed in a Sun Belt-leading eight-straight bowl games.
- FLAIR FOR THE DRAMATIC – Marshall will travel to Georgia Southern to take on the Sun Belt East Division-leading Eagles at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, on ESPN+. The Eagles have won two-straight in the head-to-head series in dramatic fashion. In 2024, Georgia Southern scored three touchdowns over the final 6:32 to complete the largest second-half comeback in Allen E. Paulson Stadium history for a 24-23 win. In 2025, the Eagles recovered an onside kick attempt with 2:25 to play to close out a 24-19 win in the regular-season finale to clinch bowl eligibility. Marshall maintains a 6-4 lead in the all-time series and can clinch bowl eligibility with a win on Saturday.
- BEST IN THE WEST – Reigning Sun Belt West Division champion Troy will host current Sun Belt West Division leader Louisiana Tech at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, on ESPN+. The matchup will be the first-ever between the two programs, with the Bulldogs looking to stay unbeaten in Sun Belt action. The game will feature a pair of defenses that boast a Top 10 sack-getter and Top 16 ball hawk in the country. Troy’s defense is anchored by fourth-year defensive lineman Donnie Smith (9th, 0.88 sacks per game) and fifth-year defensive back Justin Powe (16th, 3 interceptions). Louisiana Tech’s unit is headlined by third-year linebacker Alonzo Jackson Jr. (9th, 0.88 sacks per game) and third-year defensive back Jordan McRae (16th, 3 interceptions). Troy has represented the Sun Belt West Division in the Credit Union 1 Sun Belt Football Championship presented by Visit Pensacola in three of the past four seasons, while Louisiana Tech is aiming to make its first appearance in its first Sun Belt campaign.
WHERE TO WATCH
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