Sun Belt football is about to win the Group of Five realignment war

If you would have told me at the beginning of conference realignment, that Sun Belt football would come out unscathed, adding teams and making an argument for being the premier Group of Five conference, I would have called you crazy.

The Sun Belt has several desirable teams that I thought would be ideal fits in the American Athletic Conference during this round of conference realignment.

Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, and Louisiana, in particular, made total sense to join the AAC. These teams have been ranked, have enjoyed success against ranked teams, and/or enjoy passionate fan bases.

Even Arkansas State would have made sense for the American. The Red Wolves have enjoyed success in recent years, appearing in nine straight bowl games and have been a popular spot for downtrodden coaches to rehabilitate their image and resume. Plus they made sense as a geographical partner for Memphis.

So, it’s a total win for the Sun Belt to be able to hang on these very desirable teams and not lose them to the AAC or any other conference for that matter.

Sun Belt football quietly winning the Group of Five realignment war

Right now, Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Louisiana, Louisiana-Monroe, South Alabama, Texas State, and Troy all call the Sun Belt home.

Marshall, Old Dominion, Southern Miss are all rumored to be joining the Sun Belt, with a possible invitation to FCS member James Madison as well.

If the Sun Belt comes out of conference realignment without losing any teams and adding four really quality programs, I think it catapults them to the top of the Group of Five in terms of quality football teams.

James Madison has won two national championships in the FCS and invests heavily in their athletics. Marshall and Southern Miss are two programs that have national recognition and have been around since the 1960s.

The Sun Belt would have a legitimate argument that their conference rivals the quality in the Mountain West Conference. You could have a healthy argument about which of these two Group of Five conferences has the best overall roster of teams.

It’s a very exciting time to be a Sun Belt football fan. Commissioner Keith Gill, who was just profiled in the Washington Post, is proving why he’s one of the best leaders among all Group of Five conferences.