NEW ORLEANS — James Madison and Southern Miss opened their new head coaching eras with victories, as the Sun Belt tied the conference record with 10 non-conference wins in Week 1 of the 2026 campaign.
Six different Panthers rushed for touchdowns—while fifth-year quarterback Cameran Brown completed 15-of-20 passes for 190 yards and two scores—as Georgia State outpaced FCS foe North Carolina A&T, 59-10, on Friday night to open the Sun Belt season. Georgia State set program records for points scored (59) and margin of victory (49) in the season-opening win. Defensively, senior defensive lineman Jabriel Rhodes-Nelson led the way with two tackles for loss and two sacks, as the Panthers held the Aggies to 209 yards of total offense.
James Madison scored on each of its first four drives and never trailed, as it delivered the first victory of the Billy Napier era, 20-13, over in-state rival Liberty in the Battle of the Blue Ridge. The win was the Dukes 22nd-straight over an opponent from the state of Virginia and its 24th-straight in its home opener, dating back to 2003. In his first career start, junior quarterback JC Evans completed 7-of-9 passes for 61 yards and a touchdown and rushed for a team-high 69 yards in front of a sold-out crowd of 25,035 at Bridgeforth Stadium.
Sixth-year quarterback Goose Crowder threw for three touchdowns to three different receivers, as the Trojans outlasted Sam Houston, 24-21. With the win, Troy remains unbeaten against the Bearkats and has now won 14 of its last 15 games against teams from the state of Texas. The Trojans defensive unit compiled 13 tackles for loss, four sacks and an interception that led to a 32-yard field goal that would prove to be the difference.
The Sun Belt added seven additional victories over FCS opposition on Saturday, running its record to 8-0 against the subdivision and outscoring those opponents 382-53.
App State amassed 647 yards of total offense as it dispatched with Maine, 55-3, in front of a sold-out crowd of 33,664 at Kidd-Brewer Stadium. In his first collegiate start, senior quarterback Malachi Singleton completed 22-of-24 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns—including two touchdown connections with sophomore wideout Sam Pickett III, who finished with a team-high 76 receiving yards. Senior linebacker Colton Phares headlined the Mountaineer defensive effort with four tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack and an interception.
Behind a 123-yard, three-touchdown performance from redshirt junior running back Steven Robinson, Southern Miss secured the first victory of the Blake Anderson era, 49-3, over in-state foe Alcorn State. Redshirt freshman running back Jamarice Wilder also rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns, while redshirt senior wide receiver Mario Sanders led the way through the air with six receptions for 94 yards and a score. The Golden Eagles defense carded five takeaways, buoyed by a three-interception day from redshirt junior defensive back Kobi Albert.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Quinn Henicle accounted for all four Monarch touchdowns—two passing and two rushing—as Old Dominion defeated cross-town foe Norfolk State, 31-10. Henicle completed 9-of-12 passes for 137 yards and two scores and rushed for a team-high 68 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, fourth-year defensive lineman Javen Gibson starred with five tackles, two tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble, as the Monarchs held the Spartans to 220 yards of total offense. The victory was the seventh-straight for the Monarchs, the longest streak in program history and the third-longest active streak in the country behind only Indiana and Notre Dame.
Georgia Southern held Charleston Southern to just 110 yards of total offense in a 31-0 season-opening shutout. In his first game for the Eagles, seventh-year quarterback Max Johnson converted on 28-of-39 passes for 281 yards, including eight connections with fifth-year wide receiver Ashton Hollins for a team-high 106 yards and a touchdown.
Behind a 155-yard all-purpose day from junior running back Keenan Phillips, South Alabama ran past Southeastern Louisiana, 39-14. Phillips was 1-of-3 Jaguar running backs to rush for 60-or-more yards and also added 91 kickoff return yards. Fifth-year quarterback Bishop Davenport threw for 154 yards and a touchdown and added 23 yards and a score in the ground game.
Louisiana Tech scored on each of its first 11 possessions in an 80-6 rout of in-state foe Northwestern State for the first victory of its Sun Belt tenure. Second-year wide receiver Jalen Mickens amassed 164 all-purpose yards—including a team-high 133 rushing yards—and a touchdown. Fourth-year quarterback Blake Baker completed 10-of-14 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns, while fellow fourth-year quarterback Trey Kukuk was a perfect 4-for-4 for 45 yards and two scores. Headlined by a 58-yard punt return touchdown, fourth-year wide receiver Dedrick Latulas eclipsed the century mark (107 yards) for all-purpose yards. The Bulldogs defensive unit compiled 13 tackles for loss, a sack and an interception, while holding the Demons to just 129 yards of total offense.
Louisiana rushed for all five of its touchdowns—highlighted by an 84-yard, two-touchdown day from redshirt freshman running back Darrell Smith—in a 38-7 season-opening victory over Lamar. Redshirt junior quarterback Lunch Winfield completed 15-of-21 passes for 189 yards and co-led the team with 84 rushing yards. The Ragin’ Cajuns defense carded four takeaways and held the Cardinals to 205 yards of total offense.
Coastal Carolina mounted a second-half comeback bid—outscoring West Virginia, 24-7—but fell just short in a 31-24 loss in the opening game of the Ryan Beard era. Redshirt freshman quarterback Deuce Bailey completed 21-of-37 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns, including four completions to sophomore wideout Clayton Coppock Jr. for a team-high 83 yards and two scores.
Redshirt senior quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson was the lone bright spot in Marshall’s 45-0 loss to No. 18/17 Penn State. Del Rio-Wilson completed 17-of-25 passes for 102 yards and also rushed for a team-high 30 yards, while redshirt senior tight end Toby Payne caught a career-high eight passes for 55 yards.
Arkansas State fifth-year running back Kenyon Clay made his mark in the season-opener, accumulating 135 all-purpose yards—including a team-high 50 rushing yards—and two touchdowns in a 42-24 loss to cross-border rival Memphis. The Red Wolves battled in a one-possession game for nearly three quarters, before conceding the final 14 points in defeat. Third-year quarterback Trey Owens completed 21-of-30 passes for 325 yards and a touchdown to Clay, who was 1-of-3 receivers with 75-or-more receiving yards alongside fourth-year wideouts Hunter Summers (98) and Chauncy Cobb (75). Fourth-year linebacker Robert Stevens III led the Red Wolves defense with a team-high nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
Second-year quarterback Austin Carlisle found fifth-year running back Derrick Jameson for the lone ULM touchdown in a 62-13 loss to Mississippi State. Carlisle led the Warhawks with 73 passing yards and 50 rushing yards, while Jameson paced the team with 40 receiving yards on his lone reception.
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SUN BELT FOOTBALL – WEEK 1 RESULTS
Georgia State def. North Carolina A&T, 59-10
West Virginia def. Coastal Carolina, 31-24
James Madison def. Liberty, 20-13
App State def. Maine, 55-3
No. 18/17 Penn State def. Marshall, 45-0
Southern Miss def. Alcorn State, 49-3
Old Dominion def. Norfolk State, 31-10
Memphis def. Arkansas State, 42-24
Georgia Southern def. Charleston Southern, 31-0
South Alabama def. Southeastern Louisiana, 39-14
Troy def. Sam Houston, 24-21
Mississippi State def. ULM, 62-13
Louisiana Tech def. Northwestern State, 80-6
Louisiana def. Lamar, 38-7