When I look at the Sunbelt, I see a conference that is growing and building some solid rivalries.

Troy vs South Alabama
ULM vs Arkansas State
Georgia State vs Georgia Southern
App State vs Coastal Carolina
Marshall vs App State
ULL vs ULM
App State vs Georgia Southern

Not sure about who Texas State considers a rival in the Sunbelt. Their big rival appears to be UTSA.

With the new teams joining:

Old Dominion vs James Madison

But who does Southern Miss need as a rival? We really only have one team with any significant history and that's Louisiana. We've played them 21 times and are 17-4 currently. South Alabama seems the obvious choice since they're only 95 miles away. We've played twice in football and are currently 0-2 against them.

Personally I think South Alabama makes the most sense due to proximity, while ULL is the school we have the most history with. What are your thoughts?

Also, I'd like to see us play the same team at the end of the season to really build up a true rivalry week game! I'd be ok if we played La Tech at the end of each season, but I'm tired of playing some random team at the end of the season when rivalry week rolls around.

I think rivalries will naturally form with ULL and South Alabama in all sports, especially football and baseball. I think Troy may be similar.

I think there are a lot of similarities between USM and App to make it a rivalry eventually. Marshall will be a respected “rival”. I’m excited that so many of the opponents will now be a weekend trip away.

I hope we continue playing LA Tech and UAB regularly as well.

Hope we make it Marshall and do a permanent crossover game with them.

The good thing is we have a lot of close teams our fans can grow to hate and love to play.

(11-24-2021 06:34 PM)Eagle Talon Wrote:  Hope we make it Marshall and do a permanent crossover game with them.

With 7 teams in each division, a permanent cross-over would mean it takes you 6 years to rotate through the rest of the other division. You’ll have players graduating without ever having played a given conference member or possibly 2. As much as I’d love to play Marshall every year, it’s not worth having a home game vs. Appalachian State only once every 12 years.

A pure rotation is much better for the continuity of the conference and giving new matchups a chance to breathe.

(11-24-2021 06:34 PM)Eagle Talon Wrote:  Hope we make it Marshall and do a permanent crossover game with them.

I like this. I am sure South Alabama and Louisiana will be our natural rivals. but I do like the Permanent crossover with Marshall, Tons of RESPECT for them.