University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Football Picked to Finish Fifth in Sun Belt West Division
7/13/2026 12:00:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Southern Miss football team has been picked to finish fifth in the Sun Belt Conference West Division Monday in a poll submitted by the league's 14 head coaches.
The Golden Eagles finished 7-6 a year ago and made an appearance in the 25th annual New Orleans Bowl. It was the program's 28th bowl appearance. Coach Blake Anderson opens his first full season with the program, after being elevated to the top job last December. He inherits a team that has 75 newcomers and only one offensive starter and three special teams starters back from last season.
The league's coaches picked Troy to finish first in the division, followed by Louisiana, Arkansas State, newcomer Louisiana Tech, the Golden Eagles, South Alabama and ULM.
James Madison, who won the 2025 conference title and earned a spot in the CFP, was voted to win the East. The Dukes were followed by Old Dominion, Marshall, Georgia Southern, Coastal Carolina, App State and Georgia State.
The Golden Eagles open the season, Saturday, Sept. 5, at home against Alcorn State in a 4 p.m., contest.
Season tickets for the 2026 home schedule are still available at SouthernMiss.com/Tickets.
The preseason league team was also announced Monday, but the Golden Eagles were not represented on the squad. The league will have their annual media day this Wednesday and Thursday. The Golden Eagles are slated to go on Thursday in New Orleans along with the remainder of the West Division programs.
2026 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
(First-Place Votes)
East Division
1. James Madison – 94 Points (11)
2. Old Dominion – 73 Points (1)
3. Marshall – 67 Points
4. Georgia Southern – 53 Points (1)
5. Coastal Carolina – 45 Points (1)
6. App State – 43 Points
7. Georgia State – 17 Points
West Division
1. Troy – 96 Points (12)
2. Louisiana – 75 Points (1)
3. Arkansas State – 69 Points
4. Louisiana Tech – 55 Points
5. Southern Miss – 47 Points (1)
6. South Alabama – 31 Points
7. ULM – 19 Points
The Golden Eagles finished 7-6 a year ago and made an appearance in the 25th annual New Orleans Bowl. It was the program's 28th bowl appearance. Coach Blake Anderson opens his first full season with the program, after being elevated to the top job last December. He inherits a team that has 75 newcomers and only one offensive starter and three special teams starters back from last season.
The league's coaches picked Troy to finish first in the division, followed by Louisiana, Arkansas State, newcomer Louisiana Tech, the Golden Eagles, South Alabama and ULM.
James Madison, who won the 2025 conference title and earned a spot in the CFP, was voted to win the East. The Dukes were followed by Old Dominion, Marshall, Georgia Southern, Coastal Carolina, App State and Georgia State.
The Golden Eagles open the season, Saturday, Sept. 5, at home against Alcorn State in a 4 p.m., contest.
Season tickets for the 2026 home schedule are still available at SouthernMiss.com/Tickets.
The preseason league team was also announced Monday, but the Golden Eagles were not represented on the squad. The league will have their annual media day this Wednesday and Thursday. The Golden Eagles are slated to go on Thursday in New Orleans along with the remainder of the West Division programs.
2026 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
(First-Place Votes)
East Division
1. James Madison – 94 Points (11)
2. Old Dominion – 73 Points (1)
3. Marshall – 67 Points
4. Georgia Southern – 53 Points (1)
5. Coastal Carolina – 45 Points (1)
6. App State – 43 Points
7. Georgia State – 17 Points
West Division
1. Troy – 96 Points (12)
2. Louisiana – 75 Points (1)
3. Arkansas State – 69 Points
4. Louisiana Tech – 55 Points
5. Southern Miss – 47 Points (1)
6. South Alabama – 31 Points
7. ULM – 19 Points
Wednesday, February 04
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