- Copyright 2025 © CollegeFootballPoll.com
- About CFP / Contact
- Legal Statements
The Sun Belt coaches have voted the James Madison Dukes to qualify for their first-ever Sun Belt football championship game as the East Division front-runner while Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns were voted tops in the West.
It would be Louisiana's 5th appearance in the championship game since its beginnings in 2018, but the school's only win in the title game came in 2021. The 2020 Championship was canceled due to Covid issues with the Coastal Carolina program when the Chanticleers were slated to host Louisiana.
ame in the Sun Belt Conference Football Preseason Coaches Poll. The Dukes claimed 11-of-14 first-place votes, with Georgia Southern, Coastal Carolina and Marshall each receiving one first-place nod.
was picked to finish atop the Sun Belt East Division and qualify for its first-ever Sun Belt Football Championship Game in the Sun Belt Conference Football Preseason Coaches Poll. The Dukes claimed 11-of-14 first-place votes, with Georgia Southern, Coastal Carolina and Marshall each receiving one first-place nod.
Louisiana was picked to claim the Sun Belt West Division crown and qualify for its second-straight Sun Belt Football Championship Game. The Ragin’ Cajuns earned 6-of-14 first-place votes, with Texas State (6), Arkansas State (1) and South Alabama (1) also earning first-place mentions.
Marshall defeated Louisiana, 31-3, in the 2024 Sun Belt Football Championship Game, becoming the first road victor in the seven-year history of the postseason contest.
The Sun Belt is coming off a 2024 campaign in which it defeated three autonomy conference foes to run its tally to 22 such victories since 2016 and 11 since 2022, when the league expanded to its current 14-member configuration. The Sun Belt also paced all non-autonomy conferences in Bowl Season representation for the third-straight year.
The 2025 Sun Belt Football Championship Game will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. ET. It will be nationally televised on ESPN.
(First-Place Votes)
East Division
1. James Madison – 94 Points (11)
2. Georgia Southern – 76 Points (1)
3. App State – 60 Points
4. Coastal Carolina – 49 Points (1)
5. Old Dominion – 48 Points
6. Marshall – 42 Points (1)
7. Georgia State – 23 Points
West Division
1. Louisiana – 86 Points (6)
2. Texas State – 78 Points (6)
3. Arkansas State – 64 Points (1)
4. South Alabama – 50 Points (1)
5. Southern Miss – 47 Points
6. Troy – 43 Points
7. ULM – 24 Points
2018 at Boone, NC - Appalachian State 30, Louisiana 19
2019 at Boone, NC - Appalachian State 45, Louisiana 38
*-2020 at Conway, SC - Louisiana vs. Coastal Carolina
2021 at Lafayette, LA - Louisiana 24, Appalachian State 16
2022 at Troy, AL - Troy 45, Coastal Carolina 26
2023 at Troy, AL - Troy 49, Appalachian State 23
2024 at Lafayette, LA - Marshall 31, Louisiana 3
*-2020 Sun Belt Championship game was canceled due to Covid-19 issues with the Coastal Carolina program.