This is a list of yearly Sun Belt Conference football champions. Co-champions are listed in alphabetical order. From 2001 to 2017, there had not been a tie breaker for conference champions. Since 2018, an outright conference champion is determined by the Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game.
Schools are listed by their current athletic branding, not necessarily what they used in a given season.
Champions by year Pre-championship game era (2001–2017) Year Champions Conference record Overall record Bowl result2001Middle Tennessee5–18–3North Texas5–15–7L New Orleans Bowl 20–45 vs. Colorado State2002North Texas6–08–5W New Orleans Bowl 25–19 vs. Cincinnati2003North Texas7–09–4L New Orleans Bowl 17–27 vs. Memphis2004North Texas7–07–5L New Orleans Bowl 10–31 vs. Southern Miss2005Arkansas State5–26–6L New Orleans Bowl 19–31 vs. Southern MissLouisiana5–26–5Louisiana-Monroe5–25–62006Middle Tennessee6–17–6Troy6–18–5W New Orleans Bowl 41–17 vs. Rice2007Florida Atlantic6–18–5W New Orleans Bowl 44–27 vs. MemphisTroy6–18–42008Troy6–18–5L New Orleans Bowl 27–30 vs. Southern Miss2009Troy8–09–4L GMAC Bowl 41–44 vs. Central Michigan2010FIU6–27–6W Little Caesars Pizza Bowl 34–32 vs. ToledoTroy6–28–5W New Orleans Bowl 48–21 vs. Ohio2011Arkansas State8–010–3L GoDaddy.com Bowl 20–38 vs. Northern Illinois2012Arkansas State7–110–3W GoDaddy.com Bowl 17–13 vs. Kent State2013 Arkansas State5–27–5W GoDaddy Bowl 23–20 vs. Ball State Louisiana 5–28–4W New Orleans Bowl 24–21 vs. Tulane2014 Georgia Southern 8–0 9–3 2015Arkansas State 8–0 9–3 L New Orleans Bowl 28–47 vs. Louisiana Tech2016Appalachian State 7–1 9–3 W Camellia Bowl 31–28 vs. ToledoArkansas State 7–1 8–5 W Cure Bowl 31–13 vs. UCF2017Troy 7–1 10–2 W New Orleans Bowl 50–30 vs. North TexasAppalachian State 7–1 8–4 W Dollar General Bowl 34–0 vs. Toledo
Sun Belt Conference Championship Game (2018–present) YearEast Division ScoreWest Division SiteDateAttendance 2018 30–19 Kidd Brewer Stadium • Boone, North Carolina December 1, 2018 14,963 2019 No. 21 45–38 December 7, 2019 18,618 2020† No. 12 No Contest No. 19 Brooks Stadium • Conway, South Carolina December 19, 2020 N/A 2021 16–24 No. 24 Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana December 4, 2021 31,014 2022 26–45 Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, Alabama December 3, 2022 21,554 2023 23–49 December 2, 2023 20,183 2024 Marshall 31–3 Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana December 7, 2024 20,0672025 No. 25 31–14 Bridgeforth Stadium • Harrisonburg, VirginiaDecember 5, 202519,386 † 2020 game canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Championships by team RankTeamChampionshipsYears1Troy82006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2017, 2022, 20232Arkansas State62005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 3 (T)Appalachian State42016, 2017, 2018, 2019 Louisiana42005, 2013, 2020, 2021North Texas42001, 2002, 2003, 20044Middle Tennessee22001, 20065 (T)Coastal Carolina12020FIU12010Florida Atlantic12007Georgia Southern12014Louisiana–Monroe12005Marshall12024James Madison12025
Bold indicates an outright title. (T) indicates a tie.
Italics indicate team is no longer a member of the Sun Belt Conference.
See also List of Sun Belt Conference football standings
References