James Madison enters 2026 as the favorite to defend its Sun Belt crown, with bookmakers pricing the Dukes at +250 despite an offseason that saw the program lose its head coach to the Big Ten.
Last season was historic for James Madison and the conference as a whole — the Dukes went undefeated in league play, beat Troy 31-14 in the title game, and became the first Sun Belt team ever to reach the College Football Playoff.
That success came at a cost, though: head coach Bob Chesney left for UCLA just a day after winning the championship, taking several key transfers, including star running back Wayne Knight, with him.
Billy Napier, the former Louisiana and Florida head coach, now takes over in Harrisonburg.
2026 Sun Belt Championship Odds: Full List
- James Madison Dukes +250
- Old Dominion Monarchs +450
- Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns +750
- Troy Trojans +800
- Marshall Thundering Herd +900
- Louisiana Tech Bulldogs +1000
- Arkansas State Red Wolves +1100
- South Alabama Jaguars +1200
- Appalachian State Mountaineers +1600
- Georgia Southern Eagles +1800
- Coastal Carolina Chanticleers +2500
- Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles +8000
- Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks +10000
- Georgia State Panthers +15000
Note: Odds are subject to change.
| Sportsbook | Welcome Bonus | Claim Offer |
|---|---|---|
 |
50% Up To $250 In Free Bonuses For College Football Betting | Bet Now |
Dukes Top The Sun Belt Conference Championship Odds
Despite the coaching change, the market clearly isn’t ready to abandon James Madison as the team to beat.
Napier arrives with real pedigree, having won back-to-back Sun Belt Coach of the Year honors at Louisiana before his stint at Florida, and he inherits a program that’s now won 21 of its last 27 games and produced the conference’s Player, Defensive Player and Freshman of the Year all in the same season.
Whether the roster overhaul disrupts that momentum is the biggest question hanging over the title defense.
| Sportsbook | Welcome Bonus | Claim Offer |
|---|---|---|
|
50% Up To $250 In Free Bonuses For College Football Betting | Bet Now |
Old Dominion and Troy Lead a Group of Familiar Contenders
Old Dominion checks in as the clear second choice at +450, while Troy sits at +800 after coming up just short in last year’s title game.
The Trojans have won two of the last four Sun Belt titles and return with real continuity, making them one of the safer bets to be back in the championship picture.
Louisiana rounds out the top tier at +750, a program with its own championship pedigree as the only other team besides James Madison to complete an unbeaten Sun Belt run and win the title game, back in 2021.
Marshall and Louisiana Tech follow at +900 and +1000, respectively, both considered live threats in what remains one of the more competitive Group of Six conferences.
| Sportsbook | Welcome Bonus | Claim Offer |
|---|---|---|
|
50% Up To $250 In Free Bonuses For College Football Betting | Bet Now |
A Long Way Down to the Bottom of the Board
Arkansas State, South Alabama, Appalachian State and Georgia Southern round out the next tier of teams capable of factoring into the race, while Coastal Carolina sits a bit further out at +2500 after a disappointing finish to last season.
From Southern Mississippi’s +8000 on down, the board turns into pure long-shot territory, with Louisiana-Monroe and Georgia State occupying the bottom as the clear outsiders heading into the year.
| Sportsbook | Welcome Bonus | Claim Offer |
|---|---|---|
|
50% Up To $250 In Free Bonuses For College Football Betting | Bet Now |
