The 2023 Sun Belt season was a sight to behold. There is no reason to believe that the 2024 season shouldn’t be just as good, if not better, in the Sun Belt. But, with an exodus of talent — mainly from Harrisonburg — who has the toughest schedule ahead?
Our Sun Belt Strength of Schedule analyzed all 14 conference teams and aimed to answer just that very question.
2024 Sun Belt Strength of Schedule
Before we get to the rankings, we need to examine how we generated these metrics.
From our cross-conference strength of schedule:
CFN’s exclusive strength of schedule metric was crafted carefully using as many resources as possible ahead of the 2024 season. Using a bevy of metrics such as returning production, roster projections, coaching staff, incoming talent, home-field advantage, and other factors, the CFN SOS analyzes which teams have the most difficult and easiest schedules this season.
CFN’s strength of schedule metric included each team’s transfer portal classes, valued quarterbacks returning to their school, and continuation among the coaching staffs into the ranking.
These factors all awarded schedule difficulty more heavily based on merit and projection, as opposed to looking back at results from last season, though those results were factored in moderately. They’ve also been updated following all the reports from spring practice, final transfer portal class numbers, and the most up-to-date roster and depth chart files we have on hand.
MORE: Strength of Schedule for All 134 Teams
Here’s how the Sun Belt teams all aligned themselves for the 2024 season:
1) ODU Monarchs
Toughest Game: @ App State
Easiest Game: vs. ECU
S.O.S. Score: 9.17
National Rank: 72nd
MORE: ODU’s 2024 Football Schedule
2) UL-Monroe WarHawks
Toughest Game: @ Texas
Easiest Game: vs. Jackson State
S.O.S. Score: 8.27
National Rank: 78th
MORE: UL-Monroe’s 2024 Football Schedule
3) Marshall Thundering Herd
Toughest Game: @ Ohio State
Easiest Game: vs. Stony Brook
S.O.S. Score: 7.44
National Rank: 93rd
MORE: Marshall’s 2024 Football Schedule
4) Arkansas State Red Wolves
Toughest Game: @ Michigan
Easiest Game: vs. Central Arkansas
S.O.S. Score: 7.40
National Rank: 94th
MORE: Arkansas State’s 2024 Football Schedule
5) South Alabama Jaguars
Toughest Game: @ App State
Easiest Game: vs. Northwestern State
S.O.S. Score: 7.38
National Rank: 95th
MORE: South Alabama’s 2024 Football Schedule
6) Georgia Southern Eagles
Toughest Game: @ Ole Miss
Easiest Game: vs. South Carolina State
S.O.S. Score: 6.90
National Rank: 101st
MORE: Georgia Southern’s 2024 Football Schedule
7) Appalachian State Mountaineers
Toughest Game: @ Clemson
Easiest Game: vs. East Tennessee State
S.O.S. Score: 6.81
National Rank: 102nd
MORE: Appalachian State’s 2024 Football Schedule
8) Troy Trojans
Toughest Game: @ Memphis
Easiest Game: vs. Nevada
S.O.S. Score: 6.46
National Rank: 106th
MORE: Troy’s 2024 Football Schedule
9) Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Toughest Game: @ JMU
Easiest Game: vs. SE Louisiana
S.O.S. Score: 6.10
National Rank: 114th
MORE: Southern Miss’ 2024 Football Schedule
10) Georgia State Panthers
Toughest Game: @ App State
Easiest Game: vs. Chattanooga
S.O.S. Score: 6.00
National Rank: 115th
MORE: Georgia State’s 2024 Football Schedule
11) Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
Toughest Game: vs. App State
Easiest Game: vs. Grambling
S.O.S. Score: 5.69
National Rank: 120th
MORE: Louisiana’s 2024 Football Schedule
12) JMU Dukes
Toughest Game: @ App State
Easiest Game: vs. Gardner-Webb
S.O.S. Score: 5.19
National Rank: T126th
MORE: James Madison’s 2024 Football Schedule
13) Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Toughest Game: @ JMU
Easiest Game: vs. William & Mary
S.O.S. Score: 5.19
National Rank: T126th
MORE: Coastal Carolina’s 2024 Football Schedule
14) Texas State Bobcats
Toughest Game: vs. Louisiana
Easiest Game: vs. Lamar
S.O.S. Score: 3.56
National Rank: 134th
MORE: Texas State’s 2024 Football Schedule
KEEP READING: Top 10 Easiest College Football Schedules in 2024
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