Get a clearer picture of the SBC's football history, top teams, and best players of Sun Belt Conference Football. Discover the incredible non-conference wins that put this conference on the college football map and the schools that have won the most Sun Belt Football Championships. In this feature, we will dive into the history and legacy of the Sun Belt Conference in football, and what sets it apart from other conferences.

SBC Programs With Most Titles	Conference Titles	Last SBC Title
Troy	6	2022
Arkansas State	6	2016
Appalachian State	4	2019
Louisiana Uof L's 2013 title was vacated because of NCAA infractions	3	2021
North Texas (Former Member)	4	2004
Middle Tennessee (Former Member)	2	2006
Georgia Southern	1	2014
Louisiana Monroe	1	2005
Florida Atlantic (Former Member)	1	2007
Florid International (Former Member)	1	2010

FCS Champs Now Compete at FBS Level in the Belt

The Sun Belt is home to some of the most impressive football programs in the country. Many of these teams have a rich history in the FCS, with multiple championship titles to their name. Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, James Madison, Marshall, and Louisiana Monroe are all former FCS powers that have made the jump to the FBS level. It's been exciting to see them compete against new opponents and showcase their skills at the higher level.

Georgia Southern, with six FCS championships under their belt, heads the pack, followed closely by Appalachian State with three titles, James Madison and Marshall with two titles each, and Louisiana Monroe with one. These teams have brought their experience and dominance to the FBS level, and the Sun Belt Conference is all the more exciting for it.

Sun Belt Conference Signature Wins

The Belt may be labeled as a Group of Five Conference, but SBC teams have landed many knock out punches to power conference foes. A vivid example of that was early in the 2022 season when in one 'powerful' weekend, the conference roared loudly with three incredible road wins. The 9/11/22 trifecta included.

• Marshall 26 - No. 8 Notre Dame 21
• Appalachian State 17 - No. 6 Texas A&M 14
• Georgia Southern 45 - Nebraska 42

Sun Belt Teams That Have Won National Championships

The SBC is built in large part by a group of schools that achieved great success in FCS football before advancing to the FBS ranks.

• Appalachian State won three consecutive FCS National Championships (2005-2007). It was during the 2007 season that Appalachian State shocked the college football world by upsetting No. 5 Michigan 34-32. The Mountaineers joined the FBS in 2014.
• Georgia Southern has won six national titles at the FCS level. The Eagles took championship flight in 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999 and 2000. Georgia Southern moved up to FBS in 2014.
• Louisiana Monroe won the FCS national title in 1987 with a roster headlined by QB Stan Humphries. The university jumped to the FBS level in 1994.
• Marshall won the 1992 and 1996 FBS national championships.
• James Madison captured two national titles before moving to FBS football in 2022. The Dukes were NCAA 1-AA champs in 2004 and FCS champs in 2016.

Sun Belt Football Programs that have produced Pro Football Hall of Fame Members

SBC programs have generated a long list of players that have made a big impact on the NFL. The pro football legends include the greatest punter in NFL history, a 3-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl champions.

Program	# of Inductees	Pro Football Hall of Fame Members
Marshall	2	Frank Gatski, Randy Moss
Southern Miss	2	Ray Guy, Brett Favre
James Madison	1	Charles Haley
Troy	1	DeMarcus Ware

Discover more great facts and stories

Sun Belt Football Frequently Asked Questions

Q. When was the conference formed

A. 1976

Q. When did the conference first sponsor football

A. 2001

Q. What schools were the original members of the conference

A. The SBC was originally comprised of six universities to include the University of New Orleans, Jacksonville University, North Carolina Charlotte, South Florida, Georgia State and South Alabama. Only South Alabama and Georgia State remain.