Sun Belt – COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOUR

November 11, 2023December 29, 2023

JAMES MADISON – BRIDGEFORTH STADIUM

Named in honor of the fourth President of the United States, James Madison University nuzzles into the Shenandoah Valley in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Rolling mountains rise in the distance framing this campus founded in 1908. As a newer FBS member, JMU has effortlessly transferred their FCS name brand into the highest level of college football. Lesser known before, James Madison is rapidly being recognized as a notable hotspot.

November 11, 2023November 16, 2023

Game #346: UConn @ #21 James Madison

A slow start for James Madison turned into an explosive day for quarterback Jordan McCloud who threw for a career high 457-yards and led the Dukes to a 44-6 flattening of Connecticut. Purple and gold streamers colored the skies above Bridgeforth Stadium especially in the second half as JMU outscored the Huskies 31-3. The Dukes moved to 10-0, but a bigger fight lies ahead.

October 28, 2023November 14, 2023

APPALACHIAN STATE – KIDD BREWER STADIUM

Boone, North Carolina is set within the Blue Ridge Mountains which embrace the picturesque Appalachian State University. Few settings can rival the rolling peaks and rising bluffs that beautify Boone. It’s no wonder they are the Mountaineers – a geographically fitting name that equally embodies the spirit at App. The raucous fanbase that crowds Kidd Brewer Stadium on gamedays showcases this fervor for the black and gold.

October 28, 2023November 30, 2023

Game #344: Southern Miss @ App State

Homecoming in Boone featured unseasonably warm temperatures and clear skies. The Blue Ridge Mountains often receive varied forecasts, so an appreciative App State crowd arrived in Boone ready to party. Southern Miss strode into Kidd Brewer Stadium playing the underdog role and hopeful spoiler of the Mountaineer festivities.

September 23, 2023October 11, 2023

OLD DOMINION – S.B. BALLARD STADIUM

Crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel brings you to Norfolk, Virginia, home of the Old Dominion Monarchs. The Commonwealth of Virginia is known as “The Old Dominion” because it was the original colony and first dominion of England. In those early days of the New World, King Charles II coined this nickname because of Virginia’s loyalty to the crown during the English Civil War. Of course, that would change in the years ahead, but the name “Old Dominion” still stands as a time capsule of these early colonial days. The irony is that Old Dominion is one of the newest dominions on the terrain of college football having just established a team in 2009.

September 23, 2023October 10, 2023

Game #338: Texas A&M-Commerce @ Old Dominion

Plans for homecoming in Norfolk were stunted as Tropical Storm Ophelia swept through the east coast. The parade and tailgating were cut from pregame activities due to the high winds in the area. Rain had fallen, but all precipitation ceased by kickoff and the game remained overcast and dry. The result on the field also didn’t go according to plan as Old Dominion struggled mightily against their FCS guest.

September 21, 2023September 26, 2023

COASTAL CAROLINA – BROOKS STADIUM

Coastal Carolina University was established in 1954, and broke from the University of South Carolina system in 1993. As an independent public university, Coastal ascended to the FBS in 2017 becoming a formidable force on the gridiron. Situated near Myrtle Beach, CCU calls Conway home with a charming college campus saturated in spirit.

September 21, 2023October 19, 2023

Game #336: Georgia State @ Coastal Carolina

The Sun Belt conference opener featured an undefeated, but unproven Georgia State team and a Coastal Carolina team whose only loss came from a close battle at UCLA. Both teams had the urge to surge ahead and sit atop the Sun Belt for week one.

September 9, 2023October 19, 2023

Game #334: Troy @ #15 Kansas State

Looking past non-power 5 opponents has troubled Kansas State in recent seasons. That was not happening today. Troy came in riding a 12-game winning streak. The Wildcats fully planned on closing that chapter for the Trojans. “The Bill” was filled, and the scene was set with a backdrop of purple.

November 27, 2021September 21, 2022

SOUTHERN MISS – M.M ROBERTS STADIUM

The foundation of college football culture is constructed on small campus towns that swell to ten times their size on gamedays. Locations like Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Norman, Oklahoma attract most of the spotlight. But, more impressive are the dots on the map that are typically less hyped, but emit the same passion and pageantry as universities that are consistent gridiron thoroughbreds. Hattiesburg, Mississippi qualifies as one of these special campuses. Located one hour from both the Louisiana and Alabama borders, the University of Southern Mississippi is an underrated hot spot in college football that deserves more of that spotlight.