Troy: 8-4 (6-2)
Offense: The lose of conference player of the year QB Levi Brown will hurt, but both Jamie Hampton and Corey Robinson who are battling for the job will fit right into the Trojans spread offense. The RB tandem of Shawn Southward and DuJuan Harris will help keep pressure off whoever wins the QB battle. WRs Jerrell Jernigan and Tabiarus Grill are threats to score on any play and will be nice targets for the new QB. Troy’s offensive line will have to replace both its guards but has solid players to help the new guards at both tackles and center.
Defense: The front seven is in for a major over haul as the top three tacklers are gone and six of the seven starters. Senior OLB Daniel Sheffield is the only returning starter and will have to lead the group. Athletic defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi should be able to apply a good amount of pressure on opposing QB along with Mario Addison, while Riley Flowers and Emanuel Dudley look to stuff the run up the middle. The secondary returns corner Bryan Willis, who led the team with 4 int last year, and Barry Valcin at strong safety.
Special Teams: Jerrell Jernigan will once again handle punt and kick return duties. Troy also returns both K Michael Taylor and P Will Goggans.
Overall: The Trojans will be a young team this year but have been around the program enough to have the winning mentality they always have. Troy year in and year out also has some of the leagues best athletes which are always tough to stop. Having the Middle Tennessee St game on the road this year will cost them the conference championship though in the end.

Arkansas St: 5-7 (5-3)
Offense: Last year the Wolves offense derailed the teams pursuit of a conference title, and now they have a new offensive coordinator in Hugh Freeze and his no huddle spread philosophy. Freeze will have a group of all new starters at the skill positions this year. Ryan Alpin started three games last season and is the favorite to start at QB this year. But due to his recovery from a knee injury over the spring that has given Phillip Butterfield a shot at the job as well. JR Derek Lawson will be the lead RB this year and will be helped with FB Jermain Robertson clearing a path for him. Junior College transfer Dwayne Frampton could be the top WR option; with sophomores Taylor Stockemer, Allen Muse, and TE Kedric Murry providing a good supporting cast. While all the skill position players will be new to starting the offensive line return all five starters, which will be a huge help.
Defense: Arkansas St’s defense returns his top four tacklers from last year in LB Demario Davis, FS M.D. Jennings, SS Kelcie McCray, and LB Javon McKinnon. DT Bryan Hall is the only other returning starter on the defense this year. The defensive line will have to find a way to replace DE Alex Carrington’s production from the past few years and will do so with a few players. Nick Nelms looks to take over at MLB. The Wolves has really no experience at corner which could prove to be a problem, but juco transfer Darron Edwards arrival will help.
Special Teams: The Wolves are looking to find a new kicker, punter, and returners. Brandon Parker and Neely Sullivent look to be the kicker and punter respectfully. Dwayne Frampton looks to be the leading candidate as a returner.
Overall: The offense will definitely go through so growing pains in the new system and all new skill players but an experienced line helps out a lot. The defense has some glaring weaknesses but the returning the top four tacklers from last year helps out a lot and will hold the defense together. Even with some of the questions that the Wolves have they still will compete for the Sun Belt Title.

Florida Atlantic: 5-7 (5-3)
Offense: Head coach Howard Shnellenberger has a strong QB returning to his team this year in Jeff Van Camp who threw only 2 interceptions in five games last year. WRs Lester Jean and Avery Holley will prove to be good targets for Van Camp along with TE Rob Housler. The run game will also be very strong behind returning starter Alfred Morris. The offensive line is a huge question though, as the Owls will have new starters at all five positions. There is really no experience for any of the new starters and they will need to jell quickly with good talent at the skill positions.
Defense: FAU returns nine starters this year, but they need to improve after giving up 33.8 points per game and 453.2 yards per game. New defensive coordinator Kurt Van Valkenburgh has the benefit of first team all conference DE Kevin Cyrille on the line along with DT Dino Cox. Second leading tackler LB Michael Lockley returns along with LB Malik Eugene. The secondary returns all four starters led by SS Marcus Bartels.
Special Teams: The Owls return K Ross Gornall and P Mickey Groody, along with return man Tavious Polo. Special teams should be a strong area for FAU this year.
Overall: The Owls have plenty of talent at the skill positions but the new offesive line will be key in how much the offense produces. If the defense can improve it will help out the team a lot, and should be able to with all of the experience.

Louisiana-Lafayette: 4-8 (4-4)
Offense: The Ragin’ Cajuns have some possible problems with the run game this year but the pass game should be solid led behind QB Chris Masson. Masson top target looks to be TE Ladarius Green and WR Marlin Miller. Protection might be an issue though with only two starters returning. Ian Burks moves to center after playing guard last year and will be a huge key into how well the new line performs. There are a lot of RB but not a clear cut choice for starter. Julian Shankle and Robert Walker look to be the leading canidates to split the duty this year. If the line and run game can be productive, it will take pressure off the pass game and possibly bring in a few more wins.
Defense: Last year Lafayette forced 26 turnovers (16 int, 10 fumbles) and look to do that again this year. DT Derreck Dean and DE Terrell Richardson return on the line and look to get some good pressure on the opposing QB. LB Grant Fleming and Daylon McCoy return and look to cause havoc against opposing teams. The secondary returns good depth including starting CB Orkeys Auriene and Dwight Bentley. If the Ragin’ Cajuns can force two or more turnovers a game they look to be in good shape as they were 6-0 last year when doing that.
Special Teams: K Tyler Albercht and P Spencer Ortego return and will be solid for the team. Year in and year out they also lead the nation every year in blocked kicks since 2002.
Overall: Lafayette will be solid on defense and will look to produce a lot of turnovers again a year to help out the offense. The pass game will have to carry the team early but will need the run game to step up at some point to give the team a chance at a Sun Belt title.

Florida International 4-8 (4-4)
Offense: The Panthers enter the season with a heavy heart after the murder of RB Kendall Berry. Syracuse transfer Jeremiah Harden is the leading candidate to take over the starting the job in the unfortunate situation. Going into fall camp there will be a battle for the starting QB between fifth year senior Wayne Younger battle Mississippi St transfer Wesley Carroll. Who ever wins the battle will have one of the top playmakers in WR T.Y. Hilton. Along with Hilton WR Greg Ellingson and Jason Frierson return as some top targets. The line only returns two starters which could provide trouble for th new QB.
Defense: New coordinator Geoff Collins looks to improve one of the worst defenses in the nation from last year, and has a few pieces that should help. There will be new starters all along the defensive line, but DE Tourek Williams played some as a back up last year. LB Toronto Smith is the only returning starter in the line backing corp, but is surrounded by good young talent in Aaron Davis and Larvez “Pooh Bear” Mars. CB Anthony Gaitor and FS Jonathan Cyprien are the only returning starters in the secondary, but SS Ashlyn Parker could provide a boost if he can stay healthy unlike the past two years.
Special Teams: FIU will have a new K and P this year but has T.Y. Hilton back to once again be electrifying in the return game.
Overall: The Panthers are not afraid of playing a team and once again prove it this year with non-conference games against Rutgers, Texas A&M, Maryland and Pittsburgh. Both sides of the ball have a lot of questions but will be able to do enough. T.Y. Hilton will consider to be a great playmaker and the defense can only improve from last year is something you can count on with this team.

Louisiana-Monroe: 4-8 (3-5)
Offense: Monroe will be led by the run game and RB Frank Goodin on offense again this year. Goodin would benefit with a quality back up to help take some of the load off his shoulders. Surprisingly there is a battle at QB between last years starter Trey Revell and red shirt freshman Kolton Browning. Revell is more of a passing QB while Browning is more of a running QB. A problem with the pass game is that there are no returning starter from last year and very little experience. WR Anthony McCall looks to be the top target of who ever wins the QB battle. The blind side of the QB battle winner will be very well protected as both LT Justin Roberts and LG Jonathan Gill are the only returning starters on the line.
Defense: The Warhawks defense was senior led last year and has some big holes to fill this year. Monroe uses the 3-3-5 scheme and return only one lineman, DE Tory Evans, and one LB, Theo Smith. Both were role players last year, but will have to take on major roles this year. The secondary only returns CB Nate Brown and S Darius Prelow. Expect a drop in the production from the defense this season after a strong season the last year.
Special Teams: K Radi Jabour needs to improve on his 12-20 FG last year or may be out of a job. Thomas Giddens takes over as P. Luther Ambrose will return kicks again but would benefit with a TD or two from it to go with all his yards.
Overall: New coach Todd Berry has some rebuilding to do with this team on both sides of the ball. The line is the key to how the offense does. While the defense just needs some players to step up from being role players and be star players. It could be a long season or a suppressing one if all the questions get answered the right way.

North Texas: 2-10 (2-6)
Offense: Multiply arm injuries have forced QB Riley Dodge to change to WR and put the Mean Green in between a rock and a hard place on finding new QB. The competition is between senior Nathan Tune and red shirt sophomore Derek Thompson. Tune has some experience and is the leading candidate, but Thompson has more of the duel threat ability. Thankfully UNT returns playmaking RB Lance Dunbar. Dunbar only played in eight games last year but averaged 147.5 yards per game and had 17 total TD. UNT also has plenty of depth at WR as well, returning all four starters from last year led by Jamaal Jackson and Darius Carey. Someone that could step up to be a more vertical threat would help out a lot. The only new starter on the line is LG Coleman Feeley.
Defense: The Mean Green’s pass defense did well last year leading the Sun Belt and returns three starters in CB Royce Hill, S Dawaylon Cook , and S Ira Smith. The defensive line could help out the secondary by getting more pressure on the opposing QB. With plenty of depth they should be able to keep fresh bodies out there, and be led by DE Brandon Akpunku. Last years leading tackler LB Craig Robertson is also back to lead the LB this year.
Special Teams: Last year UNT had eight kicks blocked and missed six PAT. True freshman K Zach Olen looks to take over, he was one of the top prospects for kickers. P Will Atterberry returns this year but will look to improve from last year. Jamaal Jackson and Darius Carey will share the return duties.
Overall: This is a make or break year for head coach Todd Dodge. He hit a little bump in having to find a new QB but has plenty of fire power and protection to score a lot. The defense really needs to improve to get this team over the hump. The secondary did their job last year and now needs the front seven to help them out this year. The Mean Green could be a surprise team in the Sun Belt if the defense improves a good amount, with all the talent they have on offense.

Western Kentucky: 0-12 (0-8)
Offense: New head coach Willie Taggart has made a lot of changes including changing the offensive scheme from a spread to more traditional west coast. JUCO transfer QB Matt Pelesasa looks to take over with the new offense over last years starter Kawaun Jakes who had an injury this spring. The offense will still revolve around RB Bobby Rainey. The line returns three starters, but will have to learn a new blocking scheme for the run game.
Defense: Just like the offense the defense is changing schemes from a 3-4 to a 4-3. The line will be lead by DE Jared Clendenin. The Hilltoppers return all three LB led by MLB Thomas Majors, who recorded 101 tackles last year. The secondary returns CB Jamal Forrest and SS Mark Santoro. New defensive coordinator Clint Bowen will have to work on allowing less then 39.6 PPG like this defense did last year if WKU wants to win any games.
Special Teams: Bobby Rainey is WKU do it all guy and will once again contribute to the return game. K Casey Tinius returns, while Hendrix Brakerfield takes over punting duties.
Overall: This is Western Kentucky’s second year as a full fledged FBS member, and there will still be plenty of growing pains for the new coaching staff. The Hilltoppers last year showed they can be competitive and even a win or two this year would be huge for this program in making forward progress.