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2025 Sun Belt Football Previews: An Interview with Phil Steele
83 Plays2 months ago
Today, we have a special edition of the podcast as Brian is joined by college football expert Phil Steele!
Brian and Phil dive into which teams could surprise and which could disappoint, as well as some news on Texas State's departure and what the future could hold for Louisiana Tech coming back to the Fun Belt.
Email questions to the show at warmweatherfans@gmail.com!
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Transcript
Introduction to Sunbelt Football Special
00:00:15
Speaker
Welcome everybody into a special edition of Warm Weather Fans, the Sunbelt Podcast.
Phil Steele's Busy Schedule
00:00:20
Speaker
I am Brian Stone, joined here by college football expert Phil Steele to talk a little Sunbelt football. Phil, how are you? How how are things going? know it's a busy time of the year for you.
00:00:32
Speaker
Well, actually, this is my calm time of the year, Brian. ah Magazine season is seven months of like 80 plus hours a week. Football season, I'm trying to keep track of 65 games a week, so I'm working 100 plus hours a week.
00:00:44
Speaker
This is magazines or this is radio and TV season, doing five to six radio shows a day, writing some blogs, maybe working 60 hours a week. It's like being on vacation right now. I hear that. I came from the newspaper business, so I know what it's like to have to put together, not not to your extent, because your your magazine is pretty comprehensive, but I know what it's like to have to kind of put together special editions and sections and stuff like that. So I do appreciate you carving out some time to to talk Sunbelt Ball with me today. today Yeah, and I always enjoy talking Sunbelt. You know, I do probably 250 radio shows or podcasts or TV shows over the summer, and majority of them, okay, Phil, who's your top 10, who's your top 20?
00:01:26
Speaker
I love talking Sunbelt football, so it's always great to be on one of these. Absolutely.
Sunbelt Coaches on the Hot Seat
00:01:31
Speaker
um Okay, so we have ah some questions here for you, just getting your your feel about the Sun Belt this season. And then we have two listener submitted questions that I wanted to bounce off of you as well.
00:01:45
Speaker
I just want to start with this. ah When you joined the podcast last year, we talked about coaches that had a hot seat within the Sun Belt. And I think everybody consensus-wide was like, it's Will Hall.
00:01:57
Speaker
Southern Miss is is not in a good place right now. he He gets fired. ah Who do you think has the hottest seat coach-wise heading into the Sun Belt in 2025?
00:02:09
Speaker
um I don't know if there's really that many coaches on the hot seat. You know, when when I go through them, I'm not seeing anybody that's really whose seat is all that warm this year. got a lot of new coaches in the league, you know, guys that are in just their second year, maybe their third year, and it's time to grow. I really wouldn't put any coach in that on the hot seat in the Sunbelt right now.
00:02:31
Speaker
Okay, fair Who would you put on there, Brian? Who was your pick? Well, I've got to say my my leash on some of these coaches is ah shorter than a lot of people's. um So I'm, I'm kind of of the mindset that like,
00:02:45
Speaker
If we get through year two and we're still not sure, like that's probably not a great sign.
Performance Analysis of Ricky Ronnie and Tim Beck
00:02:50
Speaker
I would say the two that come to mind for me are Ricky Ronnie at ah Old Dominion, just because he's been there since 2020. They have yet to have kind of a winning season.
00:03:01
Speaker
He's got a good quarterback in there with Colton Joseph now. To me, the big thing, having watched them last year, was they they didn't seem to surround Joseph with the pieces that he needed to be successful on offense.
00:03:13
Speaker
um and then The other coach to me, and and this may be premature, but is creeping in on hot seat territory is Tim Beck a little bit because you get the Grayson McCall season in year one, but it's still not really his team. It's kind of leftover pieces from Jamie Chadwell.
00:03:31
Speaker
And then last year, the quarterback position was kind of a disaster and he's supposed to be an offensive guy. So I, I don't really know what to make of him in year three because he's had one not so stellar season and one pretty good season.
00:03:46
Speaker
I'll be it with a guy that was the Sunbelt player of the year before that. So and those are the two coaches that, that immediately spring to mind for And I'll say with with Ricky Ronnie this year, I expect Old Dominion to really have a good year. So I'm i'm thinking that I'll get him off of the hot seat if if there is one.
00:04:02
Speaker
And with Tim Beck, you know I had an interesting call with him. i was like, ah I started off, I said, Coach, last year, second year, 68 new players. Now at least you're in your third year, so things are settling down a little bit. He's like, Phil, this year I got 69 new players, so. The problem with being in a group of five is they pluck your best players. I mean, the the power five comes along, and if you develop something and make him good, he's gone. And that's probably the biggest ah concern I have for the group of five coaches. I think give them some slack for what they're what they're dealing with here, and especially a guy like Coach Beck, whose roster is in constant thing. In fact, here's what Coach Beck told me.
00:04:42
Speaker
He said that they're going to – ah make their offense and defense simpler for the future. That way they don't have to, when you're bringing in 70 new players every year, you don't have to teach 70 new players a really complex offense. And I thought that was brilliant on his part. We'll see how works this year.
00:04:59
Speaker
Absolutely. It's going to be, it's going to be an interesting season for, ah you know, like you said, a lot of these new coaches, as well as some guys that have been around for a little bit. um I did want to ask you second question here.
00:05:11
Speaker
um So Marshall was a huge surprise last year in the Sunbelt, um you know, when, before the season started, the The Charles Huff contract thing was a ah big kind of storyline going into the year.
00:05:24
Speaker
They didn't really know who they, i mean, I assume they didn't know who they wanted to be their starting quarterback because they flipped to Braylon Braxton pretty early in the season.
Southern Miss as a Dark Horse
00:05:33
Speaker
Do you see a team this year that can kind of surprise everyone similar to the way that, maybe not winning the conference like Marshall did, but just a team that kind of kind of surprises a lot of fans in the Sun Belt?
00:05:46
Speaker
Um, and I'll say this last year i had Marshall second in the division. So I, I have, I was not as surprised as I believe they were picked fifth by the media, weren't they? Yeah. That that's kind of why I was like a lot of, you know, I, I know you were bullish on them, but a lot of people were just kind of like, I don't know how this is going to work with Charles Huff on kind of an expired yeah deal.
00:06:08
Speaker
So yeah, the team I'm going to go with this year that I think could be a surprise, uh, is a team that had a pretty poor record last year and ironically still has Charles Huff as the head coach and that's Southern Miss.
00:06:21
Speaker
I mean, Southern Miss was 0-8 last year. And if you look at last year's Sunbelt champ, there are more players from last year's Sunbelt champ on Southern Miss this year than there is on Marshall. I mean, they bring in Braylon Braxton.
00:06:35
Speaker
They bring in practically the entire Marshall receiving core from last year. The defensive front seven loaded with Marshall guys. And, you know, everybody's disrespect in Southern Miss. I looked looked at a bunch of different power ratings and things like that.
00:06:49
Speaker
Everybody has them at the very bottom of the conference. I think this team's closer to last year's Marshall than this year's Marshall is ah with everything that Marshall lost. So I think to to to me, they're going to be a surprise team this year in the Sun Belt.
00:07:02
Speaker
They do play a tough schedule, though. Yeah, I definitely agree. And I think all three members of our podcast, including myself, are higher on them than a lot of projections. I mean, if I had to make one bet for this season, like Vegas-wise, it would be the Marshall over.
00:07:22
Speaker
They're only, are ah not Marshall, Southern Miss over. they're They're only projected for four and a half wins. And I think that's kind that's very ah ah low on them for with the amount of talent they have. So I definitely agree with you there.
00:07:34
Speaker
Absolutely. I agree. Over four and a half is pretty easy. In fact, I think they're a team that can make a bowl game this year. Absolutely. Yeah, I mean, I think they could they could be as good as the second best team in the West. I mean, the West is a little bit of a ah grab bag ah with, you know, you presume Louisiana's at the top, but who who's the second best team in the West is ah is a question that's still up in the air. Yeah.
00:07:57
Speaker
And one team one team out of the West that I'm saying, keep your eyes on. It concerns me a little. I've got to be honest, when I got off the phone with Coach Vinson, he almost had me convince ULM's going to make some noise this year.
00:08:09
Speaker
And I actually picked them last because of the the schedule. But they have the highest retention rate in the Sun Belt. They had 73 new players last year. They only lost one guy in the spring portal, ah one guy off the two deep. And I think the second year, you know, they took the Sun Belt yeah everybody by surprise last year, starting out five and one finished off slow, but he feels they're going to surprise some folks this year. And that was one where, you know, when I looked at seventh, I'm like, Oh, do I really want to pick them there? And I did. So they concerned me this year.
00:08:42
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, for us, I think the biggest question is how do you replace, you know, Ahmad Hardy, who was a 1400 yard guy and really the engine of the offense. But, you know, Brian Vincent's got a track record of being able to do that, at you know, going back to his time at UAB. Who was Ahmad Hardy heading into last year?
00:09:00
Speaker
Yeah. Nobody really. I mean, I think he was an incoming freshman. um I believe it was his first year of college football. But but I again, I think b Brian Vincent, if there's one thing he can do successfully is identify a good starting running back to kind of build the offense around. So you know it'll be interesting to see.
00:09:20
Speaker
Keep your eyes on Deshaun Ford. He's a true freshman coming in. He's a higher rated recruit than Hardy was. He's 241 pounds. ah So he's he's got a very high football IQ. He's a violent runner, runs with speed.
00:09:34
Speaker
I'm thinking if you're looking for a surprise player in the Sun Belt, keep your eyes on Deshaun Ford because, as you mentioned, Brian Vinson can develop running backs. Yeah, absolutely.
00:09:45
Speaker
um On the flip side, is there a team that you think people are higher on or Vegas is higher on than you necessarily are that you are a little concerned about going into 2025?
Challenges for Arkansas State
00:09:58
Speaker
ah You know, I'm going to go with Arkansas State. And it's not that first of all. you know, talking to coach Jones through the years going all the way back when he was at central Michigan, I think he's a heck of a coach.
00:10:10
Speaker
And all you have to do is look at his special teams rankings on a yearly basis. To me, when you have outstanding special teams rankings, that shows you what a quality head coach and they've been top 25 each of the last four years, they've actually improved their record each of the last three years.
00:10:26
Speaker
Uh, which is pretty remarkable as well. They're one of the few teams in the country have done that. Now, I think when the general public looks at a team, they look at the quarterback and they look at the running back and they look at the receivers.
00:10:37
Speaker
And if you do that with Arkansas state, then it's a no brainer. Let's pick them at the top of the Sunbelt West. They've got Jalen Rayner back at quarterback. They've got Jalen, Corey Rucker back at receiver. They got Jacquez Cross back at running back.
00:10:50
Speaker
They are loaded in the skill positions. I'm a line of scrimmage defense type of guy. And when you look at Arkansas State, they only have one starter back on the offensive line. And defensively, there were some struggles last year with Arkansas State. They give up 462 yards per game and 32 points per game.
00:11:07
Speaker
And they got one starter back on the defense. So if you're looking at the line of scrimmage, Yes, they brought in a bunch of transfers to try to get tougher run defense, but they're weaker at the line of scrimmage. The defense is a big-time question mark to me. The offensive line is a question mark.
00:11:23
Speaker
And then when you look at the schedule this year, You know, they do have some pretty tough road games, and they're hosting Louisiana, ah which is a game that I think Louisiana is one of the best teams in the conference.
00:11:34
Speaker
ah They host Texas State, and if you have and Georgia Southern, another team that's one of the tops in the conference. So if you were to lose any of those home games, that means your winnable games are on the road. I think Arkansas State is that team, and for the reasons that I mentioned, everybody's going to look at quarterback, running back, receiver.
00:11:50
Speaker
I look at offensive line and defense, and that's their weaknesses. Yeah, until that i I said this, we actually just put out our Arkansas State preview ah video podcast last week.
00:12:03
Speaker
um I said on that podcast until they field a ah defense that can get them in the 25 points per game allowed range, I can't really consider them a real contender in the West because you don't know what you're getting defensively. And like you said, at the line of scrimmage on a given week. So ah until they fix that and they've got a new defensive coordinator, but it's an internal promotion. So I truly don't, I don't know. I need to see it before I can kind of give them their props. I think yeah get you can't give up 5.7 yards of carry and win very many football games.
00:12:37
Speaker
No, and although they won nine last year. i yeah i I went back and I looked through the Phil Steele magazine and and there's a lot of things in there that are concerning and just feel like they're not going to be able to repeat what they did last year. It it feels like there's a real regression coming with them, at least from kind of our perspective. So umm I'm right there with you on Arkansas State being ah concerned, concerning.
00:13:04
Speaker
Um, you mentioned Georgia Southern and actually both of our listener questions had to do with Georgia Southern. So here's a ah question from one of our listeners for you. He wants you to complete the following sentence. Georgia Southern wins the Sun Belt if blank.
Pivotal Game: Georgia Southern vs. James Madison
00:13:20
Speaker
They beat James Madison on the road. That's really my biggest question mark. And ah tell you what, if they were hosting James Madison this year, I probably would have picked Georgia Southern to win the East. ah Clay Helton, I thought, did a a remarkable job in this first year. I've never seen a team switch from the option to a passing offense.
00:13:36
Speaker
and average over 30 points per game. Generally, it's a complete regression. He shocked the heck out of me the first year getting to six and seven, second year six and seven. And then last year he told me, hey, it's our best team.
00:13:47
Speaker
And look what they got to eight and five. This year he told me it's his best team again. They're number 29 on my experience chart. And, you know, tomorrow on ah Thursday on philsteel.com, I'm putting up a blog.
00:13:59
Speaker
and it is called Homegrown Talent. And this is something that I really looked at in the offseason, and i bounced it off some of the coaches, and it's teams that are not relying on massive changes in the transfer portal, like Coastal Carolina, going through all of that.
00:14:17
Speaker
And you look at Georgia Southern, ah This year, they had ah they only brought in 15 portal guys this year, which is unusually low. And last year, they only they only have nine guys that were transferred in the previous year.
00:14:30
Speaker
The bulk of this team have been recruited by Helton. In fact, they're number two in the Sun Belt in my homegrown chart. 72% of the players are homegrown. They've got JC French back, a dynamic receiving core, OJ Arnold, a running back.
00:14:44
Speaker
I think this team is a legitimate one of the top teams in the Sunbelt. And the only reason I picked them second was the fact they have to play James Madison, play and beat James Madison on the road.
00:14:56
Speaker
I agree. I'm a, I'm a Georgia Southern alum fan, but I, I also know that they struggle more than most teams when they play on the road. ah This has been an issue going back years ah through multiple coaches. So,
00:15:11
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, it it depends if you know, they can get over the hump with the James Madison game. And if if they do, can they not do what they did last year where they lose two games with a two game advantage and end up sitting at home watching the Sunbelt title game like they did last year?
00:15:28
Speaker
So that's that's my big thing as well. um Are there specific breakout players that maybe you have your eyes on this season? I know you mentioned Deshaun Ford as a as a name with ULM. Are there any other guys that that really catch your eye in that that venue?
00:15:46
Speaker
um I think Pettaway, George Pettaway is have a big year at James Madison this year. I'm not sure. Where was he picked in the conference? Oh, yeah, he was picked first team. Let's see. I'd have to, you know, I haven't really gone back and looked at my all-conference team versus the the league's all-conference team. A lot of times they're pretty pretty close, you know, because I think my magazine has a little bit of weight, but i'm I'm not sure who's been picked high and who's been picked low, so I'm not not sure who who we can go, but I'll tell you one player that I really want to watch, and I really hope he has a ah huge year like I expect, Jason Henderson of Old Dominion. I mean, this is a guy who I had so much fun watching for two years, and then he's supposed to come back last year. I'm so happy didn't and because we wouldn't have seen 100% Jason Henderson.
00:16:33
Speaker
He's 100% this year and he's racking up his 170, 180 tackles. ah That's going to be a lot of fun to watch. And that's really going to be a big help to ah what you touched on with ah Ricky Ronnie at Old Dominion. And, you know, what would that would help him out immensely. yeah he He's just a lot of fun to watch.
00:16:50
Speaker
Absolutely. um So I know we we talked a little bit about Southern Miss earlier. um What do you think their realistic kind of ceiling is for that team? Like, ah you know, we talked about people are lower on them than, you know, maybe you or I or the rest of the members of the Warm Weather Fans podcast. We're pretty high on Southern Miss. What do you think realistically their ceiling is with Charles Huff in year one and Braylon Braxton and all that?
00:17:18
Speaker
You know, i wanted to pick them higher in the Sun Belt, but picked them third. And the reason is the schedule. They have to play Georgia Southern on the road. And while granted, they've got a lot of talent coming in, it still is blended with a team that had zero wins last year.
00:17:32
Speaker
So that's not quite Marshall of last year, but they are improved. I think they lose that one. I think they go into Louisiana. Louisiana to me is is one of the best. And I talked about homegrown. Louisiana is actually number one. I love the fact that Coach Desermo is bringing in freshman recruits and and concentrating on freshman, freshman, freshman. Zero players brought in post-spring.
00:17:54
Speaker
I find that really refreshing in the fact that the coach said, you know what, there's no positions we really need to improve. and You get a team like Arkansas State brought in 17 players post-spring.
00:18:06
Speaker
ah That tells me there's troubles on the team. So I like that factor. And I think Louisiana would be a tough game for them to win. They play South Alabama and Arkansas State on the road. I think those are possible.
00:18:17
Speaker
ah Both teams have some question marks. South Alabama with the quarterback. Arkansas State with the defense and the offensive line. But they host Texas State. So it's a tough, tough schedule. I think third place in the Sun Belt West would be a big jump from last year.
00:18:31
Speaker
and probably might be the ceiling this year. I don't know if they can completely turn it around and win that, especially with how good Texas State and Louisiana are. So I'm going third is their ceiling.
00:18:45
Speaker
i mean Yeah, that makes plenty of sense. I think we're like a right around that range as far as where we have them finishing. So that's yeah, that sounds about right. um Which quarterbacks in the Sun Belt do you think that are going to have the most or the most significant impact on their team this season?
00:19:04
Speaker
Would you say? Well, I think J.C. French, if he cuts down on the turnovers, which I believe he will, is going to have a massive year at Georgia Southern. Braylon Braxton, so much fun to watch at Marshall last year. And basically, he's got his entire receiving corps back with him.
00:19:18
Speaker
He's going to have himself a big year. ah Alonzo Barnett. ah You know, the thing with Alonzo is, of course, is he injured. It might be Matthew Sluka, you know, be depending on the injury.
00:19:29
Speaker
Although Coach Chesme had told me that Barnett's progressing better than expected. It is tough coming off that type of injury. But who whichever quarterback James Madison has, Barnett or Sluka, they'll do well. And then, of course, Jalen Rayner of Arkansas State. He's got all the skilled players back.
00:19:42
Speaker
As as he finds time in the pocket with that refurbished offensive line, He should have a big year. Those guys are all right at the top and and all should have really big years. I definitely agree with a lot of those names. um If Barnett doesn't end up being able to to start the season for JMU, it's going to be interesting to see what Sluka did or does ah going back to having played for Chesney at at Holy Cross and then that year at UNLV last season. So um'm I'm interested to see how that quarterback ah room shakes out for them because they have three guys, I think, that could legitimately start for that team where a lot of teams are like lucky to have
00:20:20
Speaker
one maybe. So that's, that's going to be a
Walker Howard's Potential at Louisiana
00:20:23
Speaker
really interesting. And, and I want to see Walker Howard, Louisiana guys, I mean, Walker Howard was my number four rated running our quarterback coming out of high school. Now, granted, he doesn't have a ton of experience, but he is talented and he is a great addition. He's mature. He's got leadership skills.
00:20:40
Speaker
He's got elite arm strength. He's a very ah effective runner. And, uh, he's a guy that's, uh, he's a, uh, somebody that I think could have a major impact in that Louisiana offense this year. So keep your eyes on him. He's not going to lead the league in passing.
00:20:54
Speaker
I'll tell you that much, but he is going to have himself a heck of a year with the supporting talent that he's got around him. Yeah, Desermo likes to run the ball, so I don't see them airing it out as much as so some other Sunbelt teams. But yeah, i think I think he could have a big impact as well. And and Matt, our our third co-host, would be happy to hear you say that since he's a Louisiana fan.
00:21:15
Speaker
um I wanted to squeeze in the the other listener question. You mentioned Georgia Southern and JC French. but Is there a position group for Georgia Southern that you think will have the most impact on the team's success this year?
00:21:32
Speaker
um I would have to say, i think the special teams are going to be pretty good this year. But let me look at this. I'm going to go running back. ah You know, you got OJ Arnold, you got Terrence Gibbs, you got David Medina, all at the running back core. Gibbs is a guy that intrigues me. I mean, he has been hobbled the last couple of years.
00:21:53
Speaker
If he's a hundred percent, he's another one of those guys that's, ah My number 16 rated running back out of high school and just ready to explode. They've got a guy like Arnold already who yeah can definitely do it. He's their best pass catching one.
00:22:07
Speaker
And I think they've got good depth at the running back core and their receivers. I'll just go with the skill players for Georgia Southern. How's that? Because they've got a really good receiving core as well. Absolutely. um I'm, as a Georgia Southern fan, I'm still waiting to see if Terrence Gibbs is healthy.
00:22:24
Speaker
um I know he had that really bad injury coming out of high school, which I think might be the reason that Southern landed him in the first place was because a lot of other teams probably looked at him and was like, this guy's going to have to rehab.
00:22:36
Speaker
And frankly, we, we would rather use scholarships elsewhere, but he's been able to do that for two seasons at Georgia Southern, but hasn't really shown a ton on the field yet. So, I think this is kind of a make break season for him because, like I said, it's been years and we haven't really gotten a lot out of him. I mean, I think he has 31 yards rushing over two seasons or something like that. Yeah. Now, Coach Elton told me he's finally back to 100%.
00:23:04
Speaker
So going on that is the reason I listed him second there because he did say he's finally back to 100%, and I appreciate that. Well, hopefully they let him run with the ball because but ah with the previous OC, running the ball was not ah a priority for them.
00:23:21
Speaker
But, ah ah you know, hopefully they give him some touches if he is back to 100 percent. um So I wanted to ask you a question about something that happened recently and just kind of get your take on it.
00:23:33
Speaker
So ULM comes out and their AD resigned two days ago when we're recording this August 4th.
Financial Concerns at ULM
00:23:40
Speaker
ah They have promoted Bryant Vincent to interim AD.
00:23:44
Speaker
ah They've it's come out that they have all these budgetary issues. What do you think their long term outlook is? Do you think they stay in the Sunbelt or do you think they they pull like an Idaho from years ago and have to drop back down to the FCS level?
00:24:00
Speaker
You know, I'm not not very well versed on that, so I can't tell you. I know when I talked to Coach Vincent, he never mentioned anything like that was in the offing, and I think he's built a pretty good roster this year.
00:24:11
Speaker
He's happy with it, so, um you know, we'll have we'll have to see where that – who are they going to hire as the AD? what Does this particular incident bring upon more funding from the boosters?
00:24:22
Speaker
We'll have to see how that goes, but that's that's an interesting thought that you have there. Yeah, the only reason, like I said, I compared it to Idaho is we have that precedence of of the Sun Belt kind of ushering out a team if they don't feel like they're a fit for the conference, ah which i haven't I haven't seen a lot of other conferences do.
00:24:41
Speaker
um And OK, so another kind of long term, I guess, question What are your kind of thoughts on Texas State's exit and and going over to the Pac-12?
00:24:52
Speaker
Do you think that they fit there? Do you think they can be competitive in a new kind of rebuilt Pac-12? What are your kind of thoughts on Texas State long-term?
Texas State's Competitiveness in the Pac-12
00:25:01
Speaker
Yeah, the way G.J. Kinney recruits, I mean, now they're like the anti-homegrown team because they're at the very bottom of the chart. They're just all transfer portal guys, but he's been hitting some home runs, sort of like ah Florida State did for a couple of years, and then boom, it hit Florida State.
00:25:16
Speaker
I think the danger is what what happened to Florida State last year. When things start going bad and you don't have a homegrown team, do you really have a team stay together? Maybe it falls apart at the end. I thought Texas State was better in their final record last year. They actually lost some games I didn't think they would, but they only have five starters back.
00:25:33
Speaker
I think they'll be strong this year with all the transfers they brought in. But I think with the fact that Kenny is a solid recruiter, I think he's doing a really good job at Texas State, that they'll be able to step in and go into the Pac-12 and have success in those first couple of years. ah He's got practically a brand new team this year. He'll have practically a brand new team probably next year.
00:25:53
Speaker
Absolutely. um Just two more questions and we'll we'll get you out of here. So it it feels like Louisiana Tech is going to be the team that comes in and replaces an outgoing Texas State.
00:26:05
Speaker
Do you think they moved the needle for the Sun Belt at all as a football conference? I think they will after this year. When I look at Louisiana Tech, I picked them second in CUSA. I got them playing in the CUSA title game. I think Sonny Cumbie has this team on the verge of something. Last year they had excellent defense. I know he's had three straight losing seasons, and it's one of those where people are like, I don't know if Louisiana Tech has a history. Some guy named Terry Bradshaw played there a long time ago.
00:26:34
Speaker
So I think with the history Louisiana Tech has and the fact I believe they'll be coming off a very successful season, ah coming into the Sun Belt I think will be a big plus next year. i'm I'm going to call that a wash, Louisiana Tech and Texas State. And I know Tech left the Sun Belt for CUSA, and at the time I thought it was a good move. I thought CUSA was a better conference.
00:26:54
Speaker
But the Sun Belt has improved by leaps and bounds, and I think Tech's happy to be back. and it's a much better Sun Belt league now than it was when Louisiana Tech left it years ago. Absolutely.
00:27:05
Speaker
ah Last question for you
Sun Belt Title Game Predictions
00:27:07
Speaker
here. Give me your take on who goes to the Sunbelt title game and who is which team is holding the trophy up at the end of the season. You know, because ah ah James Madison hosts that big game against Georgia Southern, I'm going to go with them. And then, ah you know, at the start, I had Louisiana and Texas State. I was sort of torn which one.
00:27:27
Speaker
The more I've looked at it this summer, I really like Louisiana. i like the homegrown atmosphere. I like ah what they have at quarterback and and Walker Howard. I think he's going to do well. And this is just a team that's that's a team.
00:27:40
Speaker
I mean, they only had seven portal guys this year, and all seven were in for the spring. They didn't have to bring anybody in after that. They get the big game against Texas State at home. I think Louisiana is a threat to knock off James Madison. So I think it's going to be a heck of a game.
00:27:55
Speaker
And I think in the magazine, I probably leaned a little bit with James Madison, but I think Louisiana is going to give him a heck of a game. I'm anxious to watch that one. I'm sure Louisiana is is ready to to get back to that stage because it was really unfortunate what happened to their quarterback position last year with Woldridge getting hurt and then ah their backup actually gets hurt in the Sunbelt title game.
00:28:19
Speaker
So it ends up not really being a game. I mean, it was it was a pretty pretty much a blowout from Marshall's end. ah So I'm sure they're they're chomping at the bit to get back into the in the Sunbelt title game mix.
00:28:31
Speaker
But Phil, thank you so much for joining
Phil Steele's Magazine Insights
00:28:33
Speaker
me today. Is there anything that you would like to kind of promote before we get out of here? Yeah, absolutely, Brian. A couple of things. First of all, the magazine.
00:28:41
Speaker
Do you have a copy there? I have the digital edition. Oh, okay. It's 360 pages, and you get it's like getting 136 media guides rolled into one.
00:28:52
Speaker
I give you the same amount of coverage on Louisiana or Georgia Southern. I give you on Alabama, and all the information in the same spot on every page. I guarantee you'll love it. Now, it's only available at Books a Million or Barnes & Noble. So Barnes & Noble, Books a Million are the two locations ah for brick and mortar, or you can go online to philsteele.com. When you go to philsteele.com,
00:29:13
Speaker
And you order the hard copy. I'm going to charge you a shipping charge. It costs like 10 bucks to ship that thing. However, I give you the digital magazine for free and that's updated all the way through September. So Barnes and Noble books, a million, Phil steel.com. But two other things to talk about real quick.
00:29:27
Speaker
I have an FCS magazine, which has two full pages on every FCS team. You can become an instant expert, uh, like when Louisiana plays McNeese and you don't anything about McNeese, boom, two full pages, just like we have on the FBS on every FCS team. That's on philsteele.com, digital only. like And I also have an NFL magazine out there for your New Orleans Saints or Atlanta Falcons.
00:29:50
Speaker
ah We have four full pages on every NFL team. That's digital only, but that's up right now as well. So head over to philsteele.com and check out that homegrown talent blog I put up. I think you'll find it pretty pretty interesting.
00:30:03
Speaker
Absolutely. Phil Steele, thank you so much again for joining us. This has been a special edition of For Weather Fans.